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The Energetic Excellent Mind

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Applying for scholarships requires you to be energetic and put all energy into the applications.

Scholarship application is a full time job and requires absolute determination and energy to focus on submitting a winning application.

Today, we have an energetic scholar who will share with us how.

Welcome to honournaija_blog, can we meet you?

I am Winlade Isreal. Preferably called Winlade or Iwinlade or Iwin. I am a graduate of French from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife popularly known as the most beautiful campus in Africa and greatest of all universities. I am an Erasmus scholar and I come from a town in Osun state known as the Home of Intellectuals. I think this is detailed enough.

What inspired you to seek scholarship and to study outside Nigeria?

I think the desire to discover new places and learn new things about people. We have often heard travelling is a way of learning. There’s also this African maxim that says knowledge exist beyond the mountains. To discover it, you need to travel. I wanted an all-round experience where I get to know what it means to be in a foreign land. Basically, the quest for knowledge inspired me.

What were the challenges you faced while applying for scholarships?

Challenges? I think the main challenge is getting to write what you think you want to do. I was actually concerned that my application might not stand out. I was constantly thinking about what another person in developed country with credentials from highly recognised institutions, more recognised than my Oba Awon University in Ile-IFE, may be bringing to the table.

Were you rejected?? How did you handle it? share your experience.

I was rejected the first time I ever applied for scholarship. I applied to two different programs. I was placed on reserved list for the first, which was my preference. Then, the second one, a program in African Studies outrightly rejected my application. It devastated me. I went straight to the barbershop to get a haircut. It was the first time I was doing that in like three years. It was a way to start afresh and it helped. I let it go and began preparing for the next application.

How did you feel when you got a yes? Share your experience.

Ọmọ… that yes hein. I was in Mushin. I first of all threw myself against the sofa in the room. I went back to my phone to read what I had just read. I ensured that there was no mistake. I tried some uncoordinated dance move. I wanted to jubilate. But I wanted to be careful not to over jubilate. I called my immediate sister. Told her. I called my eldest brother. Told him. I called few of my friends. Told them. Updated my WhatsApp status say e don reach my side ooo. Me sef see food chop. It was a coded message and only the initiates decided it. Next I informed EMA Nigeria.

Lol. From your experience, what are the needful things to be done before securing a scholarship?

I think the best thing is to make yourself competitive as much as you can. Read the content on application portals. Check out the documents you need and start the application process on time. Know your strength. If you can’t work under pressure like me, it’s better to start the process four months to the possible deadline so you can send your SOPs out for review and all.

Any platform that students can get scholarships from? please share.

I don’t know any. But I think OpportunityDesk could help. I got information about scholarship I applied too from friends.

Studying outside Nigeria, how does it feel?? Stressful, tasking or quite with ease? Share your experience.

 

Of course, the experience is different. I don’t find the experience stressful. Rather, I find it adventurous and nomadic. Some people may term it unstable. But for me, I have been able to travel a lot while also studying. For instance, I’ve visited more than 10 countries this year. Celebrating Christmas abroad made me feel lonely for the first time in my life. It was not easy. But I am used to it now sha.

What are your words of advice to intending scholarship applicants.??

Trying doesn’t kill.

Academically, what was your experience transcending from elementary school up to the University level?

Transcending from elementary school to university was very unpredictable. First, my parents enrolled me in school so I could know how to read and write because my mum believed that being literate would minimize the tendency of being cheated. It was when my sister got to primary 4 I knew it takes writing a common entrance to be admitted to secondary school. It was in JSS 2 I knew what is called Junior WAEC. I got to SSS 2 before I knew about JAMB and getting to the Uni was another feat my family wished I could accomplish but didn’t imagine that it’d come with such a ease (since I got admission on my first try while also making the list of top 90 candidates that scored above 300).

And for challenges, I think they are normal ingredients of life. I don’t think they limited me. I probably think they offer fresh learning platforms to know how to navigate through life and acquire a life skill. My parents tried all they could to give me the best. My mum managed the payment of my school fees. We didn’t bother about textbooks. I mean, we were doing well without having textbooks. The truth is that it wasn’t affordable. School fees was too expensive for us. But I helped out sha. It wasn’t mandated. But I did. I started hawking handkerchief at the age of 11 so I could get fancy learning materials to show off in school.

Thank you for coming. Any word for Honournaija_blog?

You’re doing well!

 

Thank You so much sir for offering value.!!

 

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