Student Spotlight - Martina Gazepova

By: Andrej Stojanov

This month’s student spotlight features Martina Gazepova, a dedicated and inspiring student. Martina Gazepova is a 2nd grade UWC CSC Student who is finishing her finals at UWC CSC China. She was chosen because she exemplifies the values of a UWC, and before UWC she was also an exchange student in the USA. At school Martina enjoys the satisfaction in the moment when a project she has been shaping for weeks finally comes together. As a Film and Visual Arts student, much of her work requires patience, creativity, and constant revision, whether it is editing a visual project or refining an academic idea. One example was her research paper on the psychoanalysis of perfection in horror movies, where she spent weeks analyzing how fear and obsession are represented in film. Completing it gave her a strong sense of achievement because it combined both her academic curiosity and her passion for cinema. Outside of school she finds great joy in activities that allow her to connect with people and create meaningful experiences beyond the classroom. Volunteering as a Sex Education teacher in local schools in Changshu is especially important to her because it gives her the chance to support younger students and contribute to conversations that are often considered difficult but necessary. Leading her gym club, MOOV Girls, is another way she builds confidence and community, encouraging others to stay active while creating a supportive and motivating environment.

Three fun facts about martina are:

She taught herself how to play the flute and later had the opportunity to perform with members of the Vienna Philharmonic, which was a very special experience for her.

She also loves adventure and has many memorable travel stories. In Tokyo, she once had to sleep in a karaoke booth because it got too late, she got lost, and could not find her hotel.

She also spent three weeks solo traveling in Macao and Hong Kong with almost no cash, even though many places in Hong Kong only accepted cash payments. These experiences showed her independence and adaptability.

Something unique about her is that she is obsessed with horror movies and books and she have probably watched every single one on netflix and she also love to read Sylvia Plath, Hang Kang and Virginia Woolf.

And an achievement that she is really proud of is that she lived on three different continents by herself since the age of 14 and made friends from all over the world while studying abroad, traveling solo, or with friends. Being able to adapt, believe in herself, and push through tough moments (from the terribly cold nights in Wisconsin and missing my mother’s food) while living far away from home for so long.

For the future she hopes to travel the world especially Kazakhstan and Thailand, tell stories that matter ( from small children’s stories to overlooked communities and their traditions ) with her camera, and live in the moment.

Her main goal that she is working toward right now is finishing the IB Program, successfully transitioning into the University of Chicago next year (where she is thinking of studying Economics), and wrapping up filming for my podcast ‘Ecologically Speaking.

In conclusion Martina Gazepova is a great example of how students should be dedicated and focused on achieving their goals.