When I was applying for university, I did not expect to be accepted into Durham, nonetheless be awarded the Fiona Hill scholarship. To say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement.
If you qualify, give it a go
At first, I did not even consider a scholarship a possibility for me; however, when my friend recommended that I look at the university website and the eligibility criteria, I found that I qualified for a few of them, so I decided to apply. The process is quite simple; it is a series of questions which do not take a long time to answer. I recommend the same advice that my friend gave me: Give it a go, ultimately, you will not lose anything in trying.
Receiving the scholarship means a lot to me. Growing up as an immigrant, I did not receive the same opportunities as others did. Coming from that background, I did not receive the proper education. Receiving that scholarship was ultimately a testament to my perseverance and success. The scholarship is more than financial aid, but it is about identity. It proves to a person that life cannot define who they are and that their circumstances do not decide their future.
New opportunities
The scholarship has opened the door to so many new opportunities for the future and has helped me immensely. I bought a laptop, which is quite essential for my classes. I have many more things I plan to do for the future, which I would say could not be possible without this support. This scholarship has not just helped financially, but it has also provided opportunities for personal growth. Writing this blog is an example of that.
College and societies
I am allocated to Collingwood College, but I am living at home as it’s not far away. My time in Durham so far has been nothing but amazing. I have made so many new friends, and I have met so many people who are passionate about the same things as me. I feel like I truly belong here. I joined a few societies, like the Theology Society and the Discussion and Debate Society, as well as the Catholic Society, which has been a blast so far. I have met so many interesting people through these societies.
A new language
I am studying theology and religion, which has been great. It is a broad topic, so I have learned about research and writing, history and philosophy, as well as learning a totally new language, Greek. It has been fun finally learning about something so important to me.
I was informed that I was awarded the scholarship at the end of my A levels. I had to give three references, which my teachers were more than happy to give. I am thankful for their help, and I want to acknowledge that I was not alone; many people helped me along the way.
A lot of effort has gone into making me who I am now. I want to tell people that it is okay to ask for help, that you don’t have to do things alone, and that receiving that help can truly make a difference in your life and your attitude. I want to thank the marketing team for reaching out to me. I really appreciate that you want to hear my story, and I’m thankful for all the opportunities Durham has provided so far.
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