The journey of me getting the scholarship

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Going to the UK and getting a master's degree has been one of my dreams for a long time, most of my old friends from my previous workplace know that I dream of going abroad to continue my higher education. I can say for a long time that dream was only in 'sleeping mode' which means I did not do anything to achieve that, I have been busy with my teaching career, and I was in a comfort zone doing the same activities each day. 

My desire to learn and to improve myself started when there was a new program from the government, I took the activated teachers as the first batch in my city for nine months. That is the trigger that made me realize that I could do that, I mean I learned for nine months, and I got it, a master's degree is only one year in the UK, right? So, I said to myself; you can do it! Then, I got another chance that I qualified as the assessor for the pre-service teacher training. As an assessor, I learned more about teachers' struggles all around Indonesia and I loved to listen to those young teachers' stories about their schools or about how they wanted to be teachers in Indonesia. Being an assessor makes another of my dreams come true, which is become a blessing for my country. 

The realisation that I wanted to learn more led me to try every abroad programme, I tried FLTA from AMINEF which is a year teacher exchange to America. I tried SISGP which is a scholarship for a master's degree in Swedish, I got the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from the University of Malmo, but I did not pass the scholarship administrative. I tried the Chevening programme also, I got all the LoA from three universities to which I applied. Last, I tried this GREAT Scholarships from the British Council. 

So, this is the story of how I got it. First, I applied to the university, and I had to get LoA before I registered for the scholarship. The last day to register for the scholarship is 31st May 2024. I was so busy with school events and some English competitions, that I was in Jakarta until 25th May, so I rarely opened my email during that time. Then when I was already back to school activities, on 27th May which is on Monday, I checked the website and it was written that the last day to submit all the administrative and essays is on 31st May. I haven't written anything at that time! And I haven't gotten any email from the university about whether I got LoA or not! 

Long short story, I still tried to write my essay in a short time, and completed all the administrative things (luckily I already have it all on my laptop, since I already applied for a lot of scholarships). I have to wait until I get LoA, but the problem is the registration for the scholarship is 31st May, until 30 May I did not get any answer yet. So, I tried to find some information on whether I can still apply for the scholarship or not even if I haven't got any LoA and I found that it's allowed, so I wrote 'still in process' on my form. On 30 May, I sent all the administrative requirements and my essay to the committee (O, I asked one of my friends to proofread my essay). I remembered my prayer that time, this is the last hope and last try this year, because if I fail then I have to try it again next year but actually at that time I had already grown tired after all those rejections. hahaha.

I kept doing my activities as usual and actually, did not check my email everyday for the announcement, as I mentioned above I already 'pasrah'! Even I was ready if I did not pass, hahahaha. When you just give it all to God, He works on it. I guess, God knows the right time and He has a plan for our life, right?

At the end of June, I got an email stating that I got the scholarship, and the committee gave me one week to reply to the email whether I would take it or not. The scholarship is only for one awardee for each country, so I represent Indonesia. Is getting the scholarship is the end of the journey? No! Another problem arises, should I take it or not? 
Another story before finally I decided to take the scholarship I will share in the next writing. 

Liverpool, October 2024


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