Deepa Sapkota ’25’s journey to UWC Costa Rica is a testament to resilience and community. Hailing from Surkhet, Nepal, Deepa, a proud member of the Class of 2025, is a Grieg Scholar whose personal history and future ambitions are an inspiration.
Her background, as she notes with gentle sincerity, “a little different than others,” Was shaped by the profound influence of the SOS Organization. Following the loss of her mother at a tender age of three, Deepa found a new home within the SOS family. This intentional family unit taught her not just to survive, but to thrive, instilling in her the core values of shared responsibility and unwavering love.
“Everything I learned in my life, from focusing on my education to believing in close kinship and sharing bonds with people, I learned it in SOS.”
Her time at SOS served as her crucible, teaching her the importance of a stable community. Despite facing immense adversity at a young age, she experienced a meaningful childhood, promoting intellectual curiosity and emotional growth, thus laying the indispensable groundwork for her future global success.
The opportunity to join UWC Costa Rica represented a vast and exciting leap forward. Deepa admits she was initially overwhelmed. Having never traveled outside her home country before, the very thought of arriving at the humid, vibrant, and unfamiliar Costa Rica was daunting. She faced the classic fear of culture shock: the challenge of navigating new languages, customs, and a community comprising over 60 nations.
Yet, the moment she stepped onto campus, her fears began to melt away. She found that the UWC environment is built to embrace difference. The welcoming atmosphere—cultivated by her peers from distant corners of the world and her supportive teachers—made it easier for her to blend into the dynamic multicultural community. The campus became her new, expanded SOS family. The first moments filled with uncertainty were quickly replaced by a sense of shared experience, proving that community can be built anywhere, regardless of geography or background.
However, Deepa was concerned that her financial situation might limit her ability to truly experience Costa Rica beyond the safe limits of our campus, to connect with the local culture, serve the community, or travel around the country. This is where the Grieg Foundation scholarship proved to be genuinely transformative.
“Thanks to them (Grieg Foundation), I was able to immerse myself in the culture beyond UWC. They have really helped me build my confidence in this environment and grow intellectually and personally.”
This support allowed her to fully enjoy the cultural and intellectual immersion that UWC offers, extending beyond the academic program. Deepa participated in local service projects, traveled to various regions of Costa Rica to learn about its biodiversity, and experienced homestays with her Costa Rican Host Family. This allowed Deepa to go from being an international student in the country to becoming an active participant in Costa Rican life and traditions. This financial support not only provided her with an education but also a deep connection with other agents of change in action.
“The UWC experience has been one of the most transformative chapters of my life. From late-night conversations with my friends, to learning a dance for a performance, and even countless cups of coffee that kept me going through deadlines. Every moment has shaped my UWC journey.”
Through these interactions, Deepa gained a deeper understanding of the importance of community and the need to learn from each other around her. She grew both personally and intellectually, forging bonds that will last for a lifetime.
Deepa’s merit has awarded her a scholarship from The Davis UWC Scholars Program. She is enrolled at St. Olaf College in the United States, where she plans to study subjects related to children’s psychology and development. This choice is no coincidence; it directly reflects the values she received at SOS and reinforced at UWC. She dreams of pursuing fields that allow her to make a meaningful, people-centered impact, ensuring that the most vulnerable are visible, supported, and have the opportunity to enjoy a happy childhood, just as she did.
She is fully committed to carrying the UWC spirit forward. She dedicates herself to continuous learning, growing, and, most importantly, becoming an active, global agent of change.
“I will make sure to make this experience big,” signaling her commitment to leverage every lesson learned to better the world.
No matter where life takes her, Deepa pledges to remain part of the UWC community as an alum, dedicated to giving back and staying connected to the global family that fostered her transformation.
Deepa Sapkota’s journey at UWC Costa Rica (which continues as an alum) was made possible by the support of the Grieg Foundation.