This program honors the memory of our alumna Sophie Spooner ‘09 who had a luminous presence that lit up any room. Sophie brought happiness and meaning, was full of life, and adventurous with a great love for exercise and being outdoors. From the day she graduated, she lived the UWC mission to reach out and help others, going as far as to dedicate her life to others’ services as a doctor. For three years, Sophie lived with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. She managed to control it well and was determined to make the most out of life and deal with this challenging condition. Sadly, when working as a junior doctor at a time of exceptional stress, the illness overwhelmed her even though she looked for help and had a healthy support system. Sophie’s family is committed to sharing her story and spreading the message about mental health and the necessity to look after yourself and those around you.
We have partnered together to ensure that mental health and wellness are the heart of UWC Costa Rica.