In the conversation with Ana, I confirmed to myself that it is always a loss if I don't meet the new students in person. This is my first year not being able to attend the orientation camp, so I didn't have a chance to chat without a screen separating us. "I'm very sorry that we haven’t talked to each other in person" – Ana said to me – she was a bit worried that I won't experience her character well enough. However, it was easy to recognize the positivity that Ana carried with her throughout the process and during our conversation. She is an optimist – "I believe that there is good in everything and I always hope that things will be good, because there is no point in thinking about things going wrong", said Ana, commenting on her outlook on life.

At one point, I gave her the opportunity to ask me a question that she would choose if we switched roles. Ana asked me what is most important for me in life, so I asked her that back. I wasn't surprised by the answer, given that we were already talking about the importance of loved ones. It means the most to her when she spends time with her family and company. She says that she gets wisdom and knowledge from the people around her, and that you can learn a lot about a person from whom they choose to be close to. What else would you expect from someone as friendly and communicative as Ana?

A testament to her sociability are the places she likes to go out to – walks and ice cream in the City Park in spring and autumn, cafes where there is room for more people to be at the same table, and the frontyard of the elementary school where she grew up (an open place with a lot of space). Ana feels the best when she is in the presence of good company and positive people, so the places she chooses are spacious and allow more room for conversation.

But Ana also knows how to be critical, certainly as a constructive critic (again, looking on the positive side of things). The same school yard, she says, is in a very bad state and she understands why someone who doesn't have a sentimental connection to the place wouldn't want to sit there. People constantly break the benches and bins, so it annoys her when the locals don't care about the environment, and that she is met with passivity when she wants to do something about it.

When it comes to UWC, Ana is excited about every part of the experience – from the International Baccalaureate, to the project weeks, CAS, and hangouts. She already knows that she will be taking biology and chemistry, because she has already been studying those subjects beyond her school’s curriculum. She has been participating in competitions for some time, and she won the third prize at the state biology competition – she modestly says "nothing huge, it can always be better" but she is proud that she does it with love and dedication.

This may have been my favorite sentence that Ana uttered, but when I asked her what she would pack and take with her, she said "I will take my smile with me, and the rest will come with time". I can say that I am really sorry that we did not see each other, but the impression she left on me was more than enough to confirm that Ana really radiates positivity.

Jana Kraleva,

August 2024