Humans of AC

Humans of AC AC will forever be part of us. With so many diverse people and cultures it's impossible to get aroun Run by:
Jena Chen “21
Robin Kaikyll “22

There is no better word to describe Budapest than chaotic. Every time I bring someone to the city, they are mesmerised b...
13/05/2026

There is no better word to describe Budapest than chaotic. Every time I bring someone to the city, they are mesmerised by how eclectic it is - especially its arts and underground scene. My culture and childhood connect me to Hungary, but in an everyday sense, I don’t have many people tying me there; most of my friends have left. I still love my culture, even though I’m really mad at my country right now.
The UWC values align with my own, but a big part of coming to AC was about leaving Hungary. One thing I have really enjoyed here is AP, which shaped me beyond my studies and has led me to consider pursuing search and rescue with NGOs on the Mediterranean. I think the biggest advantage of Atlantic, though, is having not only such a diverse cultural environment, but also diverse class backgrounds. It’s more difficult nowadays to get to know people from different economic classes rather than different cultures because our world is increasingly globalised; moving horizontally in culture is easy, but moving vertically through the class hierarchy is rare.
Ever since primary school, I have always had a sense of self-righteousness, I’ve been questioning rules. As I grew up and read more and more, I started questioning the whole system we live in. I was an organiser for the Hungarian student protest movement from its beginning in 2022, when teachers who went on strike were threatened by the government and students organised events in solidarity. When we realised the government was failing to do anything, it shifted to become more anti-establishment.
Organising protests involves a lot of work. You have to acquire contacts for all sorts of things: sound, tech, people. You have to make posters, communicate with police, and maintain the internal affairs of the movement so that everyone is satisfied with their task and ideology is coherent.
The police don’t scare me, and most of our generation in Hungary—and globally—is of the mindset that we have nothing to lose. I’m going to stand up for my values and for others who are unable to stand up for themselves.

Domonkos Toth - Hungary/Germany ‘26
Writer: Lilla Riches ‘27
Photographer: Martina Garces Toledo ‘27

I grew up in the capital of Paraguay - Asunción - where it feels like summer all year round. My dad always pushed me to ...
11/04/2025

I grew up in the capital of Paraguay - Asunción - where it feels like summer all year round. My dad always pushed me to succeed, so I tried many activities like swimming and football. But, the first time I felt truly connected to something was when I started performing music at age 10. My teacher invited me to join the choir, and soon I was traveling on national trips and to the Music Conservatory. But it wasn’t until writing my university essay that I realized music had always been part of me. I grew up singing with my dad after work. I’d help take off his boots, hand him his guitar, and we’d sit together drinking tereré and playing music. Wherever we went—family events, football matches—his guitar came too. I would sing and he would proudly show me off. Now that my two younger sisters have grown up they join as well.

My dad has many skills and he passed them on to me—teaching me to to build a bench, fix a pipe, work with my hands. My mom grew my passion for service. We are very close and would go to church together and volunteer after. But in Paraguay, success often depends on your background. Having gone to both private and then public schools, I just didn’t see myself staying home for university. I had an open mindset but felt people back home were set in their ways of thinking. Then I saw an advertisement for UWC, my parents thought it was fake at first because of good the oppurtunity was. As I graduated from high school I applied to AC. I arrived super open-minded, wanting the perfect high school experience you see in movies and it has surpassed my expectations. I hope my NC will continue sending students from Paraguay and Latin America so many more can experience this.

AC is where my parents have always pictured me since I was a kid and they are so proud of what I have accomplished here. Whatever comes next, I know music will always stay with me—reminding me of home and helping shape my future.

Merardo Pezoa - Paraguay, ‘25

Written by Sienna Perera - ‘25

Photographed by Rowan Sampson - ‘25

I grew up in the capital of Paraguay, Asunción, where it feels like summer all year round. My dad always pushed me to su...
11/04/2025

I grew up in the capital of Paraguay, Asunción, where it feels like summer all year round. My dad always pushed me to succeed, so I tried activities like swimming and football, but the first time I truly felt connected to something was when I starting performing music at 10. My teacher invited me to join the choir, and soon I was traveling on national trips and to the Music Conservatory. But it wasn’t until writing my university essay that I realized music had always been part of me. I grew up singing with my dad after work. I’d help take off his boots, hand him his guitar, and we’d sit together drinking tereré and playing music. Wherever we went—family events, football matches—his guitar came too. I would sing and he would proudly show me off. Now that my two younger sisters have grown up they join as well.
My dad has many skills and he passed them on to me—teaching me to to build a bench, fix a pipe, work with my hands. My mom grew my passion for service. We are very close and would go to church together and volunteer after. But in Paraguay, success often depends on your background. Having gone to both private and then public schools, I just didn’t see myself staying home for university. I had an open mindset but felt people back home were set in their ways of thinking. Then I saw an advertisement for UWC, my parents thought it was fake at first because of good the oppurtunity was. As I graduated from high school I applied to AC. I arrived super open-minded, wanting the perfect high school experience you see in movies and it has surpassed my expectations. I hope my NC will continue sending students from Paraguay and Latin America so many more can experience this.
My parents are so proud of everything I have achieved at AC as this is where they have pictured me since I was a kid. Whatever comes next, I know music will always stay with me—reminding me of home and helping shape my future.
Merardo Pezoa - Paraguay, ‘25
Written by Sienna Perera - ‘25
Photographed by Rowan Sampson - ‘25

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