Kenneth M
Have you saved the World yet?
When Kenneth (AC 2004) opened his UWC Atlantic yearbook, the line on the cover stood out amongst the pages of memories: “Have you saved the World yet?”
The phrase captured the spirit of his graduating class. They had spent two years at the college during a period when the world was reeling after the attacks of 11 September 2001. For many, the events of that day and the conflicts that followed made the UWC mission more relevant than ever before - the idea that young people could, and should, learn and work together to build a peaceful future.
Kenneth arrived at UWC Atlantic from a rural and conservative part of southern Ohio, where global issues felt distant. The full scholarship that brought him to Wales opened his world. The experience of living and learning with students from every continent forced him to think about justice, conflict and responsibility in new ways. He still remembers the long conversations in the dayrooms that stretched late into the night, filled with sharp disagreements and shared laughter.
“I just remember arguing with my friends about the war in Iraq and what it meant and why it happened. My friends from the Middle East showed me I didn’t understand the history and that it went far beyond the first Gulf War, and it made me realise that I knew so little about the world when I thought I knew so much.”
Reflecting on the memory, Kenneth says, “I was a North American at 19 and really confident I knew the answer to almost anything. These conversations about issues around the world that directly impacted my friends made me realise that I didn’t actually know the full story and I should think about this a bit more before loudly having an opinion.” This realisation is something Kenneth has tried to take with him through the rest of his life.
After completing his Bachelor’s in the US, Kenneth pursued a Master’s degree in Human Rights at the London School of Economics, continuing the values that shaped his time at the college. Shortly after, he joined the United Nations Development Programme in Kosovo, where he gained his first direct experience of post-conflict governance. What had once been discussion topics in the dayrooms at UWC became the focus of his daily work on the ground.
Kenneth’s career path has not been linear. He began a PhD in Political Science but left academia after serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Mali where he realised that theory alone could not capture the complexity of real-world change. This led him to join the Canadian government, where he focuses on national security.
Looking back, Kenneth sees a clear line between the ideals of UWC and his career choices. To him, the UWC mission isn’t abstract. It’s about taking responsibility in whatever context one finds themselves in. Whether that’s the UN, a government office, or a small community, the question Kenneth poses is the same: “how can I address these difficult issues while thinking about human dignity and avoiding human suffering?”
The yearbook line still makes him smile. He knows now that saving the world is not a single act or moment. It is a lifelong effort, often invisible, sometimes frustrating, but always necessary, even when progress is slow.
Kenneth believes UWC gave him more than an education. It gave him a framework for living and working in a complex world. His time at the college didn’t make him an idealist, but rather taught him how to put ideals to work.
