Ben Davies
Beyond Exams: UWC Friendships, Values and Purpose
During his time at UWC Atlantic, Ben discovered that his path wouldn’t be defined solely by academics. While he faced challenges with dyslexia and found exams difficult, he also learned resilience and resourcefulness.
His struggles with dyslexia led to questions as to whether he would pursue the full IB Diploma after scoring just 16 in his mock exams. However, Ben persevered and passed his final IB exams with a 24. “Most of my friends had no idea,” he says. “I was embarrassed and kept it to myself. Looking back, that was silly. My friends didn’t care about my grades and my grades weren’t a symbol of my worth. But I struggled with that for a long time.”
One of the most formative parts of his time at the college was his involvement with Atlantic Pacific, a charity based at the college and founded by UWC Atlantic alum, Robin Jenkins. As part of a small student team, Ben helped design and build a new model of rigid inflatable boat (RIB), intended for use in post-tsunami rescue operations. At the end of his final year, he was one of five students selected to travel to Kamaishi, Japan – a city devastated by the 2011 tsunami. There, he spent the summer training local fishermen, lifeguards and fire services in using the boats and new rescue techniques to better prepare for future disasters. The experience was eye-opening and one that stayed with him long after graduation.
Nearly 10 years on from UWC, Ben now holds a Master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh, an achievement he once thought well beyond his reach. He currently works on renewable energy infrastructure for the Scottish and Welsh governments at Water to Water, where he helps design and build projects that transition communities to greener energy futures.
The UWC Atlantic spirit lives on in more than just his career. In 2020, Ben reunited with two close friends from UWC Atlantic, Roo Smith and Thomas Joutsikoski (both AC ‘16), to launch a creative project called Goat Surf Club – an online documentary series that explores global surf culture while spotlighting grassroots environmental action. What started as a post-lockdown adventure in Morocco evolved into a powerful storytelling platform.
Each season of Goat Surf Club takes the trio to a new part of the world, surfing, connecting with communities and uplifting local environmental initiatives. In Ireland, they explored coastal reforestation and goat-based wildfire prevention. In Senegal, they worked with activists tackling plastic pollution on the beaches. Their aim isn’t to create doom-and-gloom documentaries, but to share hopeful, community-driven stories through the lens of surf culture and friendship.
Ben plays a key role as Producer and Presenter and ensures each film is grounded in environmental integrity. For him and his co-founders, the project is a way to blend their shared passions of adventure, storytelling and environmental impact into something that feels both authentic and joyful.
From struggling with academic self-doubt to co-creating a global storytelling platform and contributing to climate resilience in the UK, Ben’s story is a powerful reminder of how learning and growth often happen outside the classroom, and how the UWC mission can live on in many different forms.
You just have to try to get the most out of your time at AC, because it’s too short. You must value not only the academic achievements but also the friendships made, personal growth and meaningful experiences that are equally important in shaping your future.