Sam Lim, who I have mentioned before on this blog, recently wrote a blog post on Scholarship Junkies where he shared some encouraging words about the difficulties of applying for scholarships that I wanted to share:
Now, how did a college student like me, who entered college with no more than $500 in the bank and with parents who had already taken out large amounts in loans to help my older sister with her college tuition, get the chance to study abroad in Berlin, Germany (twice, actually, August 2007 and June 2008), Rome, Italy (August 2008), and now Athens, Greece?
You probably already know the answer: scholarships.
If it weren’t for the vast number of scholarships that I applied for during high school and into college, there is no chance that I could come study abroad four times, let alone even once. Scholarships such as the Gates Millennium Scholarship and other funding opportunities through my university have made it possible for me to fully experience the global education that I hoped for when I entered the University of Washington–and much more.
Scholarships are an amazing thing, and yes, I know they are difficult to win. Don’t get me wrong. I was rejected over 50 times when I applied for scholarships, so of course, I know the competition is cutthroat. However, I also experienced success a number of times, and because of that, I am now sitting on the roof of my guesthouse here in Athens, a few hundred yards south of the ancient Acropolis.
Wonderful story of perserverance! Congratulations! Not only is this a wonderful personal experience but studying abroad is a great way to show future employers that you have global skills and knowledge. It certainly puts your resume in a better position when graduating from college!