Kimi Bwonya, '28
she/her
- kbwonya@middlebury.edu
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
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?
I love studying in my room on my couch. It’s a very cosy spot and I would like to associate studying with good scenery and atmospheres.
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. I also want to have fun! Lots of it. I won’t remember the late nights I studied but will remember the memories I made with the people I love!