Doro (Malaysia, RBC ’20): A Journey He Never Expected
Doro first stumbled across UWC almost by accident. A scholarship application landed on his table, one that mentioned “UWC” only in passing and spent far more time explaining the IB than anything else. It didn’t catch his imagination at all, until his mother encouraged him to “just try.” What followed was a daunting interview with the Malaysian National Committee, six adults opposite a 17-year-old who barely knew what UWC was. Yet something about the way they spoke, the seriousness with which they treated him, stayed with him. By the time he was offered a place at UWC Robert Bosch College, he already sensed that this was an opportunity that could open his world.
Arriving in Freiburg on 24 August 2018 — a date he still remembers — was overwhelming. It was his first time leaving Malaysia, and he stepped off the plane in a formal suit, quickly realising Germany was far more relaxed than he had imagined. Homesickness stayed with him for a long while, but what eased the transition was the warmth of the community: some of the second years who took him for ice cream that very first night, housemates watching films together, peers who were curious and genuinely wanted to understand one another. Coming from a competitive environment, this openness felt new and freeing. RBC pushed him to see the world differently, through stories told directly by classmates from Palestine or Angola or even refugee backgrounds. The experience taught him to listen deeply, to recognise the limits of a “single story,” and to appreciate diversity not just as variety, but as shared humanity. It wasn’t perfect, cultural shocks, food challenges, and interpersonal tensions all played their part, but these moments shaped his confidence and resilience in meaningful ways.
Graduating in May 2020 in the midst of the pandemic brought its own uncertainties, but Doro embraced them with characteristic intention. He spent a gap year in Malaysia, working in the non-profit world and rethinking his future education. That year helped him approach university with clarity, purpose, and a deeper sense of personal responsibility. Eventually, he joined the University of Richmond on a full scholarship, even creating his own major in performance studies — a blend of theatre, gender studies, and anthropology, echoing his IB roots. Today, he is back in Malaysia working in a non-profit by day while dedicating his energy to his true passion: theatre-making. He is writing, performing, and preparing new works, including a deeply personal solo piece exploring identity, family, and belonging.
Doro’s story reflects the heart of a UWC education: curiosity that turns into understanding, difference that becomes connection, and personal challenge that leads to growth. He continues to carry these values, compassion, courage, and respect, into the spaces he creates through his art. Whether he is unpacking complex themes on stage or simply offering an honest story that helps others feel seen, his work is an example of how UWC alumni keep shaping their communities long after the two years are over. And while his path has taken many unexpected turns, Doro’s journey shows how transformative it can be when someone takes a chance and decides to step into a wider world.
