“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
NOWADAYS, education is very expensive. And with the current due economic situation of the country, a scholarship grant is the answer to students who cannot afford education. Although every student has his own story to tell, all scholarship applications boil down to financial shortage.
Despite hardships, the determination of students to obtain education shows their willingness to sacrifice time and effort to relieve their parents of the burden of financing their schooling.
I saw myself in the same situation when my father died three years ago. With the absence of the family breadwinner, I accepted the fact that financing my education would not be that easy. Although pursuing a college degree that time would test further the family’s financial stability, my mother and I took the risk.
Without any scholarship, I spent my first two semesters in college the hard way. To take exams, I executed promissory notes. There were times when I was filled with fear that the Treasurer’s office would reject my request. During those difficult moments, I sought courage from my mother and anchored my strength in God.
During the start of my sophomore year, I heard about of the scholarship grants for deserving students. Initially, I wanted a non-working scholarship, but since I was not able to meet the required grade, I turned to the working scholarship instead. As soon as I completed the requirements, I joined other Thomasians vying for limited scholarship slots.
After a semester of waiting, I was finally granted the scholarship. An overwhelming joy filled me every time I was handed the test permit without me spending even a peso. This semester, I enrolled without paying for anything.
Although I enjoy the benefits of studying for free, I have to admit being a working scholar has its difficulties. Since I have to render working hours to the University, the time I should have spent on finishing homework is often compromised. While a full-time student can control his free time, a working scholar has to effectively balance his time between school and work.
Working for one’s school fees is indeed the biggest sacrifice a student can take. It is both challenging and rewarding for working students to make sacrifices just to obtain the education that would determine their future.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for giving me and my colleagues the scholarship we deserve. Guide us in setting our priorities right and give us the wisdom to manage our time effectively. Help us realize that through Your grace, we can overcome the trials and pressures that come our way. AMEN
