Good Experience

Scholarships are gifts in the form of financial assistance given to individuals to be used for
the continuation of the education being pursued. Scholarships can be provided by government
institutions, companies, or foundations. This scholarship can usually be found on social
media, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, and many more. At that time, I
found a scholarship on an Instagram page, namely a school spirit inspiration scholarship, I
thought of registering because it was to fulfill my academic needs and help my parents fulfill
their daily needs. When registering, there are several documents that I prepared, including a
student card, birth certificate, and family card. Several questions need to be filled in
regarding parents' biodata and salary, as well as the meaning of education from my
perspective. On the form, I was also asked to write an essay about myself, my school
activities, and my activities at home. Writing this essay took up more of my time because I
needed to pay attention to the language I used. Apart from that, I was also asked to develop a
framework for my academic journey until I enter the world of work that is related to my
dreams, in the academic journey that I described, I plan to enter State High School 28 Jakarta
and choose the Social Sciences route. During college, I will take the international relations
faculty and realize my dream of becoming a diplomat of the Republic of Indonesia. My
dream was inspired by Mrs. Retno Marsudi, namely the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Indonesia, where she was someone who struggled from zero to success because she was
determined that she was optimistic that she would achieve it. While I was carrying out the
preparation process for the essay, I repeatedly double-checked the documents I created,
during that process, my parents only provided a little support, even so, I remained optimistic
about making the essay and educational journey clear so that it was easy for readers of my
essay to understand. A few days after I prepared the things I needed, the scholarship
registration closing was just a matter of fingers, I started double-checking and making sure
everything was neat, and then I sent the online application form while continuing to hope that
good things would come to me.
On November 13, 2023, it is time for the scholarship announcement to be announced. I was
quite doubtful because maybe the results I made were not satisfactory, but when I opened
Instagram, it turned out that there was my full name and my school origin. That's something
that makes me proud because I managed to pass the first stage of selection, the second stage
of selection was an interview, but at least I have passed the first stage. Several days after the
announcement, I immediately looked on the internet for questions about getting a scholarship
that might be asked later. This is my first time, although I have previously been interviewed
during the MPK selection, but this is about scholarships, so maybe the nuance is different. I
prepared answers that made sense and were not long-winded, with the help of my classmates,
Revina and Naysilla who acted like interviewers, they asked about me, my family, the reason
for joining the scholarship, and my daily activities, all of these questions were the results I
made for preparation. Later. I get a lot of input from them, I practice with them regularly so
that I can present my best to the interviewer. My interview was held on November 18 at four
in the afternoon, while waiting for the interview I prepared clothes as neat as possible to give
the best impression, and with answers from my previous work, as well as my way of speaking
which had changed due to repeated criticism from Revina. When the telephone rang, I
immediately picked up the phone and carried out the interview session. I chose my words
carefully and answered the interviewer's questions logically. I thought the number of
interviewers was only 1 person, but it turned out to be a surprising number, 4 people. I try to
relax even though my mind is all over the place. The interview session was over, and I
breathed a sigh of relief. I think that I haven't done my best, I'm still not enough, still not
good enough. But my mother said, “Leave the rest to God because you did your best.” I tried
to calm myself and wait for the next good news.
After passing the interview session, it was true that efforts did not betray the results, my
name was listed in the announcement that I had passed the second selection stage and was
selected as a scholarship recipient. I am very happy because I can increase my experience in
terms of education, this is the first time, and I am grateful. My cellphone notification
appeared there was a direct meeting at the Jakarta library, this was a meeting between friends
and other scholarship recipients, along with mentors in January. I asked my parents for
permission, and I was allowed, before, I had never gone without my parents, but this was the
first time for me to go far away alone without any knowledge, I needed to ask someone. That
day, I went to Pasar Minggu station, accompanied by my father, when I got there I
immediately took the train to Cikini Station, got on a motorbike taxi, and arrived at Jakarta
Library. I was confused because I didn't know where I was supposed to enter, but someone
helped me, I went to the room that was promised, and it turned out that many people had
come, there were approximately 20 scholarship recipients. I met new faces and people with
extraordinary achievements, and we all got to experience and know each other, what was
unique was that there were only 4 junior high school scholarship recipients and most of them
were high school students. I got a mentor named Mrs. Santika, she is a good mentor. From
the scholarship program, I received not only financial assistance but also soft skills and
mentors. This scholarship has given me many benefits to date, and the knowledge I have
gained is applied in my daily life. I thought getting a scholarship would be easy, but it turns
out there were a lot of things I needed to learn more about, and it felt even more difficult and
stressful. But if we have done our best, then leave the rest to God and remain optimistic. This
scholarship helps me to fulfill all my family's financial shortcomings, so I feel very grateful
and proud of myself.