Bold.org: Finding Scholarships
My search for scholarships has been emotionally draining. Each new essay and scholarship topic asks you to prove yourself, share what makes you unique, and write about how you will use your education to help others. Many scholarships ask questions like:
“How will your education allow you to help your community?”
“Give us examples of your work ethic, academic credibility, and volunteer work.”
“What makes you special and unique?”
These kinds of thoughts had never crossed my mind before. I’m grateful for the topics that scholarships have forced me to explore because they allowed me to discover renewed self-esteem, become more empathic, and create goals.
I have struggled with many different emotional, technical, and practical problems during my scholarship searches, so I decided to put together a few tips for success for people that struggle similarly. Below are three steps that can help you write better scholarship papers and find better scholarship opportunities.
- “I haven’t overcome anything hard.” Do you find yourself struggling to think of challenges that you’ve overcome? Everyone has overcome challenges, no matter how insignificant or small you may think they may be. For example, I was diagnosed with several disorders as a child. I never considered my life difficult because it was all I knew. I told my cousin how I had no challenges to write about for my scholarship applications. She burst into laughter. “Are you kidding?” she asked. “You’ve been fighting hard stuff since you were a kid. We all overcome challenges, but we don’t realize it. That’s because life itself is a challenge.” This conversation opened my eyes to help me write about adversity differently. Instead of writing about conquering challenges, I started to write my life story. My essays became easier to write and felt more authentic.
- Water Your Plants. Picture a beautiful green lush plant in your home. This plant requires daily watering and ample sunlight. What will happen when you start to water this plant just once a week? The plant won’t stand a chance, and it withers and wilts. Scholarship searches require consistency, just like a plant requires consistent watering and care. Searching for new applications or working on current applications at regular intervals will keep your search up to date and current. You’ll find yourself less stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to do. Keep your scholarship search watered so you can reap the benefits when it flowers and grows.
- “I don’t have any motivation to work on scholarships.” If you are struggling with motivation, ask yourself if you’re happy with where you are in life. It’s beneficial to remember your emotional state; depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses can cause you to feel depleted, drained, and lack motivation. Changing your major or program of study won’t cure your lack of inspiration if you’re suffering from depression. Be kind to and patient with yourself as you look for the root of your lacking motivation!
I hope these tips are helpful!
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