Andrew Paquin (LPC 94-96) manages his own Los Angeles based production company and recently completed an independent film called Blue State, a political comedy that dealt with the 2004 US Presidential election. Andrew is currently developing his next film.

 

Previously, Andrew worked in development at a Warner Bros. based production company and investment banking at Morgan Stanley and a San Francisco-based private equity fund.  Andrew graduated from Harvard University in 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Social Studies. He wrote an article on ‘Chinese Democracy’ which was published in the Concorde Review and received high acclaim.

 

“Many of my best and closest friends are still my UWC friends even though we are separated by great distances and all have busy lives.  Some of my favourite memories from my time at UWC involve all the different people and the endless conversations we had together.  They were the type of conversations that would last all night and well into the next day.

 

“UWC is unlike any other kind of scholastic environment because it constantly explodes all the pre-existing notions of difference and sameness. In this environment of constant discovery, cultural understanding isn’t just an ideal but a necessary tool for communication with others and self development.  I believe UWC was instrumental in making me comfortable with the role of being an idealist. I have the proof of my own experience to hold onto even as the world currently seems so bent on destruction. I think that the world really needs schools like UWC and the short course programmes that bring people together who would normally never meet. 

 

“I feel very fortunate to have had experienced UWC.  I went to a large public high school in Lower Hutt, New Zealand and I was lucky to have some excellent teachers who helped fire a real interest in my studies.  My school principle at the time called my into his office one day and told me he’d like to nominate me for the UWC scholarship. He gave me some UWC promotional material and a short video. I was hooked.  I believe UWC has had a huge impact on my life and values and I am now who I am because of that experience.

 

“I think my major goal is to try and find some balance in the ways that I explore my interests, provide for my family, and look to help others. But I don’t think a perfect balance is possible, as without creating some chaos along the way you won’t attain your goals. So for now I am happy with not being entirely satisfied.