Introduction

Hi! I’m Meghna Borah, and I’m a student at the United World College (UWC) Mahindra in India, part of the larger UWC movement. I’m currently under the IB program, International Baccalaureate Program. But let me tell you one thing, I never ever thought I would end up in UWC. Hailing from Assam, a state in Northeast India, an overlooked part of the country, I have been constantly shaped by contrasts from tradition vs modernity to limitations vs opportunity. My journey thus far to UWC is anything but straightforward. It involved rejecting a prestigious scholarship, adjusting to new cultures, and learning how to stand up not just for myself but for an entire region that rarely gets represented.

Growing up

I have spent most of my life in a quiet corner of Assam, raised in a tight-knit community. In a place where our culture is different lifestyle is different, I have grown up with certain expectations about education, opportunity, and what success looked like. Growing up in Assam is really different from the place I am right now, but this also meant that I knew early on that our region, the North East, was constantly overlooked, underrepresented, and even misunderstood. While other regions had easier access to resources, global opportunities and exposure, we had to work harder just to get noticed. I didn’t know what UWC was back then, but all I knew was that I wanted to create the change and not just wait for it.

Without any outside support, I started doing the only thing I knew I wanted to do: build from where I was and follow my passion, which was empowering others. When I was just 12 years old, I founded Guzaarish, a grassroots nonprofit focused on making education accessible to children living in slum communities in Assam. We didn’t have fancy resources, but we had determination. I helped create learning materials, taught them, and worked directly with kids who otherwise wouldn’t have access to education. That experience taught me that real change starts with small, consistent actions. That grew my passion for empowering others.

Later, I founded Querencia, a youth-led platform that focuses on equipping students with 21st-century skills beyond traditional academics. In its first year, we impacted over 10,000 students through mentorship programs, offline conferences, and internship opportunities. The feedback from these students, especially after our workshops, keeps me motivated to drive a change.

Beyond these projects, I built a LinkedIn community of over 5,200 followers where I regularly share advice on scholarships, post opportunity lists, and personally reply to every message I receive. Whether it’s reviewing scholarship applications or mentoring students, I’m committed to helping anyone who reaches out. I know firsthand what it feels like to have no one to turn to, and I want to be that support for other,s which I haven’t gotten.

I wasn’t given these platforms; I created them. I wasn’t trained as a leader; I learned by serving. Through Guzaarish, Querencia and my LinkedIn community, I’ve realised that you don’t need a perfect background to lead, you just need purpose and the courage to start and everything will fall into place on its own.

GIIS Singapore Scholarship

However, everything began to shift and change when I was offered a scholarship at Global Indian International School (GIIS) Singapore. I had applied without giving it a second thought, just to try my luck, but fate had other plans for me. This is a dream for many students from my background and yes, it was a dream for me too. I had worked for this valuable opportunity and when I finally got the offer, it seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Contrary to what you might have thought, I had to make a difficult decision to turn it down.

This rejection wasn’t due to the lack of ambition but rather the sacrifice, fear and timing it demanded. Leaving home at this age felt like abandoning the place I had grown from. Yes, it was one of the hardest decisions of my life and for sometime I believed that I had missed my only door. I still remember the heartbreak, guilt and confusion, that vortex of emotions which I couldn’t explain. But… missed opportunities aren’t endings, they’re redirections and this one missed opportunity led me to where I am today.

And after that, UWC happened.

How a new journey began

My passion to bring social change brought me to apply for UWC. A movement focused on peace, sustainability and international understanding sounded like everything I’d been working towards. UWC’s core principles were exactly my passion.

Application Process

The application process was intense, with essay questions which were like the Common App prompts and interviews that asked me to reflect on my values, identity and role in a global world. I didn’t think I would get in. I didn’t go to a top-tier urban school. I wasn’t from a metro city. And still, I got in.

Honestly speaking, I never thought I would make it past the endless stages and requirements. The application process was as rigorous as applying to the Common App admissions portal, in the USA. There were long essays, supplemental questions and interviews which dived into my values, personality, aspirations and hopes. Every question didn’t ask me what I had done but instead who I was. For the first time, I felt that I could openly talk about growing up in Assam and not be overlooked but seen as uniquely resilient. When the acceptance email for the offline admissions process came in, I sat still for a long time, rereading the words. I made it thus far! During the offline admissions process, those who made it through the first step were observed by the teachers. They observed how you were as a person, how we approached challenges, how our mindsets were. Then, came the final email from them… I was in, I got in! I reread the letter multiple times. I was in. I was the 2-3% that made it in. Cherry on top, I got in with a full scholarship of USD 80,000. Happiness, disbelief, relief, pride, every emotion collided in my chest. I remembered the GIIS offer I had let go of, and it all suddenly made sense. That was not the end. That was the beginning.

Stepping into UWC wasn’t just a celebration for me, it also came with weight and pressure. I was the only student from all 8 states of the entire Northeast region of India. Places like Tamil Nadu had at least 15 students going to UWC but I was the only one from all 8 states. The only one. This means that there was no one who spoke my dialect, knew my region’s food or even understood why my story matters. There was no one from “home” to go to when things got hard. As time went by, I adapted, learnt and made new discoveries about a new part of India, Pune and instead of delving into the negative aspects, I looked at the positive aspects and I’m grateful and living up to these beautiful moments right now.

I wasn’t just there for myself anymore, I was representing a whole entire region. I was introducing people to the entire Northeast, to our stories, our languages, our resilience, through UWC. 

My take on UWC

UWC itself is not like traditional schools. It's not just about grades or stressing on exams. It's about 21st-century skills, holistic development, cultural understanding, leadership, community service and sustainability. The academic rigor is real, but what truly stands out is the emphasis on who you are becoming. From project weeks to volunteering on ground, from dialogues to intense group debates, this place has taught me more about empathy, adaptability and vision than any textbook and lecture ever could.

Of course, there were challenges. Changing people's perceptions was definitely hard. Sometimes you're met with blank stares, microaggressions or questions that are well-meaning but ignorant. You learn to educate and not lash out. You learn to pick your battles. You learn that even the strongest people sometimes feel alone but they keep going because they believe in something bigger than themselves.

Looking back, everything I had gone through, rejecting GIIS, getting into UWC, navigating Mumbai and becoming the only one from Northeast India in a place like this, built the person I am today. I used to think success was about the right school or the right score. Now I know it’s about having the courage to speak when no one else does and the resilience to stay when it’s easier to leave.

If you’re reading this and wondering if your story matters, yes, it does. If you're from a place that’s underrepresented, don’t let that make you feel small and let it fuel you. You don’t have to speak like everyone else, dress like everyone else or think like everyone else to belong in spaces like UWC or anywhere else. You can bring something no one else can.

And if you’re facing decisions that feel like crossroads, like letting go of something you worked hard for, trust that life doesn’t just open one door. The right opportunity will come, and when it does, it won’t just accept your achievements; it will celebrate your identity. For me, that opportunity was UWC.

And this is just the beginning.