Kimi Bwonya '28
she/her
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
High School: Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa (UWCSA)
Major: International Global Studies
Minor: Chinese
Main Extracurricular Activities: International Students and Scholar Services Office (ISSS), Middlebury InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, International Students Organization, Umoja
Hi there! My name is Kimi from Kenya and I am so excited for your future at Middlebury!
Why did you choose to attend Middlebury?:
I chose Middlebury because Middlebury chose me. From the admissions letter to Orientation on campus, there was not a moment that I felt like a number on a spreadsheet. Middlebury, through their outreach and support teams on campus made me feel seen and appreciated as Kimi with all that I carry from Kenya to America. When looking at Middlebury in pictures, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of this campus. It was a canvas of scenic beauty but one of opportunity too. Being here, my expectations were and continue to be exceeded. Like I felt seen through an admissions letter on my screen, I feel even more seen walking through the corridors of this campus.
What’s your favorite course?
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a prolific Nigerian writer once delivered a TED Talk about “The Danger of a Single Story”. She dissected the dangers we pose to the world and to our own enlightenment when we have a one- sided perspective of the world. My favourite course so far has been my Intro to International Global Studies class. As we’ve spent a significant amount of time studying maps, I have been challenged to revisit my interpretations of the globe, to dissect the one-sided story I’ve told of a multi-faceted world. I am learning to see and tell other stories than my own.
What is your favorite study spot on campus?
The Allen 3rd floor lounge is a top-tier study spot, especially because I live on that floor. I’ve had the best bonding experiences there and have met some of my best friends at Midd right there!
Where do you hope to be in five years?
In five years, I want to look back at my college journey and smile having taken advantage of the buffet of opportunities presented to me. I would like to be fluent in Chinese. Middlebury has arguably the best language school in the world and it would be such a shame if I didn’t take the time to pursue this goal to its fullest. I hope to be doing work in policy and governance in a transnational organisation. It’s been a dream of mine to work in Kenya in revising education policies and improving the education system. In five years, I’d like to have taken many steps towards this goal.