My name is Yoana Stoyanova and I was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. In high school, I was very interested in Biology and was going on every competition to represent my school. When I heard about the application process for UWC Bulgaria I saw that one of the needed tests to do was Biology and because I was curious to see how well I would do on it, I decided to apply. By that time I didn’t know anything about the UWC movement. None of my friends or family believed that I would ever get in. But there- magic happened and in 3 months I was flying to Canada to start a new exciting part of my life.
Going to Pearson College UWC was a real miracle for me. There I learned so much about the world and the people around me, their cultures and values and most importantly what it means to be happy, surrounded by your international family coming from more than 80 countries in the middle of the beautiful forest. In Pearson, I learned to dream big, follow my dreams and to love nature and outdoor life.
When I learned about Lewis & Clark College, I immediately decided to apply. The location of the campus, the sustainability and the stories of my friends there made it my top choice. I am going to major in Economics since I’ve always been interested in it. Since I was ten my biggest dream has been to become a hotel manager and even open my own hotel chain. I strongly believe that Lewis & Clark will give me the needed knowledge and skills to do that.
Outside of school, I love going on outdoor adventures like hiking, sailing and kayaking. I also love the city life since I’ve been living in the capital my whole life. I love discussing global issues and conspiracy theories, too. My passion for traveling has driven me to apply to many summer programs thanks to which I’ve visited many European countries as well as some of my UWC international friends in their countries.
At Lewis & Clark College, I hope to connect with people and learn from them. I am looking forward to exploring the surrounding nature and see breathtaking views. I am excited to share my interests and passions and find people with similar ones with whom we will be able to make a change in the world.