On UWC Day 2024, our community had the privilege of hearing from Terence Steinberg, an alumnus whose remarkable solo rowing expeditions across the Pacific served as a powerful metaphor for overcoming life’s challenges. Drawing on his own experiences, Terence shared profound lessons on resilience, collaboration, and perseverance.

Terence opened his talk by reflecting on the concept of “two arrows”—the external challenges we face and the internal struggles we often create ourselves. During his time at UWC Adriatic, he found himself constantly comparing himself to others, a habit that led to self-doubt and a sense of being stuck. Terence therefore encouraged students to seek support from Peer Supporters and dedicated staff when facing difficulties, reminding them of the valuable support network that is made available to them at the College.

Terence then shared the pivotal moments in his life that shaped his journey, including a gap year experience in Thailand, studying at Macalester College in the US and at the London Business School. It was during his college years that he experienced the power of community support. When struggling with depression, it was his roommate who pushed him to embrace physical challenges, leading him to take part in a triathlon. Terence highlighted that action often precedes motivation—taking the first step, even when you don’t feel ready, is crucial in order to start feeling better and make progress. His later involvement in “A Tu Lado,” a paramedic training program he helped launch in Venezuela and Bolivia, emphasized the importance of working collaboratively toward meaningful change.

The pinnacle of his talk centred on his solo rowing expeditions, starting with his decision to cross the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii in 2020. Terence acknowledged the fear and self-doubt he experienced during his 71-day journey, recounting how he overcame setbacks by focusing on small, manageable tasks each day rather than the daunting end goal.

became a guiding mantra that helped him push through the toughest moments.

Terence’s expeditions weren’t just personal challenges—they were also efforts to raise funds for UWC scholarships and support ocean conservation initiatives. Following his most recent row from Hawaii to Australia, Terence worked with the Indonesian NGO Sungai Watch to install river barriers to reduce ocean plastic pollution, demonstrating the power of long-term, collaborative efforts for environmental change.

Throughout his talk, Terence underscored the importance of maintaining a growth mindset, both at UWC and beyond. He encouraged students to set ambitious goals, reminding them that who they become in pursuit of those goals is just as important as achieving them. His final lessons were: «If you don’t like what you do, fall in love with why you do it» and «good things take hustle, great things take time». These reflections offered a realistic view of success and reminded students that achieving their goals requires perseverance, passion, and patience.

Terence’s inspiring talk left students with valuable insights on grit, resilience, and the importance of working together to create meaningful change—a message that resonates deeply with this year’s theme for UWC Day: Together we change.