Newsletter 8: What Time Is It for You Today?
1 November 2023
TL;DR
Exploring the metaphor of the “clock of life”
Sam J’s reflections about his first visit back to China in 3.5 years
VNUWC (UWC Vietnam Campus Project) gains legal status
Sam J’s upcoming trips to Chicago and NYC for three weeks
Our ongoing fundraising effort continues through the 100 Founders Initiative and pledges from supporters like you. Please help us spread the word!
Dear Friends,
Before anything, let’s kick things off with a fun mental math exercise (I bet you didn’t see that coming!)
Here are some pointers and hints:
Let’s assume that the average human lifespan is 80 years (now debatable, I know—bear with me), and… convert that into a 24-hour clock.
At birth, you are at midnight, so 00:00
At age 1, you add on 18 minutes, so 00:18
At 2, you add on another 18 minutes, so 00:36
Now, the question is:
What time is it when you are 20 years old?
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*hint: (18 minutes x 20 years) / 60 minutes
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Correct! Assuming an average human’s lifespan of 80 years, when you are 20 years old, it’s… 6am.
I often used to ask my students, most of whom are seventeen, “what were you doing at 6am today?”
“…Sleeping…” they’d typically reply.
“Yea, so keep on sleeping and dreaming,” I’d respond. “You’re not even at 6am yet!”
“🤯”
I came across this math problem and metaphor online when I was 20. I was captivated by the idea that, according to this clock, I still had the entire day ahead of me, even if I were to snooze for a little while longer. I did not have to have everything figured out, like my classmates seemed to; I did not have to feel constantly worry about life post-graduation. I was perfectly fine where I was.
Over a decade later, I still find revisiting this “clock of life” metaphor. It always offers a fresh perspective:
6am: 20 years old
9am: 30 years old
12pm: 40 years old
3pm: 50 years old
6pm: 60 years old
9pm: 70 years old
12am: 80 years old
What time is it for you today? For me, I haven’t even had brunch yet! But oh boy, I am eagerly anticipating an afternoon swim, cooking a late dinner, and playing boardgames until way past my bedtime. Everybody’s day is different, and there is no “right way” to live it.
Happy November to all of you. It’s my birthday month, and I’m very much looking forward to turning the clock forward 18 minutes.
Wishing you a fantastic day ahead!
Back to China!
In October, I had the opportunity to return to China for six days. My last visit was in April 2020, when I tried to outrun COVID (before it was declared a pandemic) and ended up quarantined in a hotel for two weeks.
I was thrilled and humbled to be invited by Professor Emily Tsiang, a professor at NYU Shanghai who teaches in the Interactive Media and Business department. In Emily’s Life Design course, I shared about my “adult gap year,” where I talked about my decision to give myself a year to think about a career pivot (where this project was born!) and also learning to trust my “gut feeling.”
The students had been working on a digital storytelling “brand story,” and I was able to give direct live feedback to a few students who were willing to share their projects with me in class. It was a delight to attend and I loved being a part of the class!
After the class, I had the opportunity to present our initiative to establish a UWC campus in Vietnam to a group of faculty, staff, and students interested in learning more. It was wonderful to engage with alumni from UWC and other mission-oriented schools like EMIS who were interested in discussing how education can serve as a catalyst for peace and a sustainable future in Vietnam’s context.
The next day, I visited UWC Changshu China, my former workplace of 3 years and where my personal UWC journey began. It was a surreal experience. It was strange to be in such a familiar place with few familiar faces, especially the students. I had the chance to chat with board members, the school leadership team, former colleagues and now friends, and of course, the four amazing Vietnamese students from UWC Vietnam’s National Committee who are now first-year students at UWC-CSC!
I had last seen them during the selection event in December 2022 back in Ho Chi Minh City, and it was amazing to run into them at a place where I called home for three life-changing years of my life. Though they were each coping with the demands of the IB curriculum, it was delightful to see these students from Vietnam being known on campus as people who are kind, dependable, and trustworthy. They’ve won school-wide Imperial Exams, formed a “lunch crew,” made friends from countries they hadn’t heard of, and in their own ways, carry out UWC’s mission statement. This was an absolute highlight, and I already miss them!
I know I will return to China in the near future. I just hope it isn’t after another 3.5 years. It was exciting to meet with champions of the project in China and see their excitement for the project to take shape. I will surely be back!
VNUWC: The UWC Vietnam Campus Project is a legal entity!
We are thrilled to update the community that VNUWC, the official name of the UWC Vietnam Campus Project, is now incorporated as a legal entity in the United States! We have our Employer Identification Number and are now awaiting our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Now that VNUWC has been established, we will be applying for incorporation of the legal entity in Vietnam as subsidiary companies of VNUWC to handle ground operations and land acquisition.
For our U.S.-based subscribers: we are hoping to receive an expedited application processing for VNUWC, which needs an endorsement from a current member of Congress. If you have any contacts in Congress, please reach out to sam.nguyen@uwc.vn.
Thank you all, as always, for being a part of the VNUWC Village!
Market Research: We need your help spread the word!
Exciting news is on the horizon! We're thrilled about the opportunity to bring a world-class UWC education to even more brilliant Vietnamese students each year. And who better to help shape this dream than you, our dedicated supporters and subscribers?
Whether you're a high schooler navigating your way through classes, a parent enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines, or you already have connections to UWC as a current student, alum, or finalist, your unique experiences and aspirations are the key ingredients in our recipe to create a UWC school that is attuned to Vietnam's vibrant culture.
We invite you to take a survey to share your high school experiences and help us envision the future UWC Vietnam campus. Your insights will guide us in crafting a dynamic and inspiring school that truly reflects the spirit of the students it will serve.
Ready to make a difference? Just click HERE to get started. Your voice is invaluable!
Sam J heading to Chicago and New York
I will be heading to Chicago from 21 - 29 November and to New York City from 29 November - 12 December (with a couple of days in Washington DC).
If you will be in the area or if you have contacts that you think I should meet with to chat about the UWC Vietnam Campus Project—potential donors, supporters, partners, etc., please let me know directly at sam.jeong@uwc.vn. As I have said time and time again, building this school is most certainly a village project. I look forward to hearing from you!
Want to support the UWC Vietnam Campus Project?
Here are three easy ways:
Spread the word! Share our newsletter with friends, family, and colleagues who might be interested in our cause.
Connect with our project director, Sam Jeong. Schedule a call to learn more about our mission and how you can get involved.
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Looking for more ways to support us? Consider making a donation, volunteering your time and skills, or hosting a fundraising event. Thank you all for your kind support and interest.
Yours,
UWC Vietnam Campus Project