
We at BrightSparks wish each and every scholarship applicant the best, and we hope that each and every one of you is awarded the scholarship of your dreams.
But reality can be harsh. The truth that we have to face is that there are many more applicants than there are places, so some of you won’t be accepted.
That can be a crushing blow after all your hard work and effort. It can be especially difficult when you friends happily report their successes, or when you think back to all those hours spent preparing that now seem like time wasted. Let the disappointment and frustration run its course.
But don’t get yourself down! You worked hard and tried your
best. Even if you didn’t get a scholarship, the experience itself has a lot a value.
We’ve outlined some important learning takeaways from the process of
scholarship applications alone.
1. It’s not always about you
Your rejection is nothing personal.
It simply means that what you presented was not what the organisation was
looking for.
2. A chance to redefine success, for yourself
There is no single measure of success, everyone defines and measures it differently. By the same token, “I did not get a scholarship” is not an inviolate knell of failure.
Ultimately, the scholarship is only
part of the means to an end. Did you apply for a scholarship with travel
opportunities to broaden your understanding of the world? You can still do
that, you just may have to take a different route. Or you simply wished to
further your learning, in which case, there are many courses and credits
available.
Not getting a scholarship may
present a roadblock in your path, but don’t let it deter you from pursuing your
goals for yourself.
3. Learning from the process
Plenty of students judge the
scholarship process as they would an examination. They see only if they
“passed” or “failed”, and are plunged into despair at the latter.
But think back to all the work you
did. You networked at events, you wrote essays, you attended interviews and you
thought and studied. All these taught you valuable skills, and you should take
time to appreciate how far you’ve come.
4. Looking to the future
The scholarship is a big event, but
it is a single event. You have plenty more in store in the adventure of your
life! You can apply for a job, research alternate ways of getting educational
funding, or just go on a trip and let loose!
You may also wish to explore
alternative methods of funding, or wait and apply for a mid-term scholarship,
as well. Be sure to check the BrightSparks portal
for mid-term scholarships on offer.
Write some goals for yourself,
analyse what you want in the next few years. You have much more in store! As Chuck Yeager said, “You
do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can’t, you do the
next best thing. You back up but you don’t give up.”
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