EPISODE 2: THE JOURNEY (CONT’D)

After submitting the application I had taken my mind off it and was focusing on dealing with how COVID-19 had disrupted my life. My friend though, was checking on the application and following the Turkish burslari account on various social media platforms. She was my source of updates about the scholarship procedure. She’d text update me about when results would be released for selected candidates for the interview and other relevant updates.

On the 10th of June, the results from the first round of evaluation were released. I received an email I was not expecting detailing the fact that my application had been accepted for the next phase. Both of us had been successful and qualified to move on to the interview stage. The level of hope had increased now. We (especially my friend) watched several YouTube videos about the interview experience of previous scholars to prepare ourselves for the interview. Our interview was scheduled for the same date, the 16th of July of the same year.

On the 16th, I traveled for hours from the Volta Region to the interview location. I had barely any sleep because I had to wake up around 2AM and hoped I got a car that would get me to Accra before my 9AM interview. While on the road, I kept praying not only to arrive on time but for the interview to be successful as well. I was tired of the rejections. But Accra traffic that morning was doing its best to get on my nerves. Because why was I in that one lane traffic for over an hour? If you read UG Escapades, you already know about Okponglo traffic. Lord, my enemies cannot succeed!

Thankfully, I arrived at the interview location on time; need I talk about having to hail a taxi and paying extra because the driver realized how urgent the situation was? I met my friend and other applicants in the lobby of the school where the interview was taking place. After a few shy hellos applicants were called in for their interviews.

You know that feeling when you are wondering if someone’s experience is going well and you’re praying they give you tips but then you are lost for words when they say it didn’t go well, well that was how the morning went. Some applicants had good experiences while others did not.

My interview was with two gentlemen. I tried my best to look as confident as I could even though I was almost dying from hunger because my breakfast was around 2AM. After asking me about my educational and extracurricular experiences, the conversation shifted to my exchange year in the US. It was an intriguing conversation to have, nonetheless. They asked about how my experience in the US was, what I did, what I liked about the US, why I didn’t want to further my studies in the US and why I chose Türkiye instead of the US. I was wondering why they were so interested in that and was even scared I may not be accepted because of it.

Aside from that, I had selected Law as my course of study in my application and they were kind enough to explain to me that the course would be in Turkish and the restrictions on practice of Law would mean I’d have a very difficult time practicing Law should I return to Ghana. Thankfully, one of them asked if given the opportunity what course I would change to and I said I had selected Communications (Journalism) as my second choice so that is what I would change to, and he said he would work on it for me. How did I know he would? The man wrote it in his notebook! No shade but when a Ghanaian uncle says I’ll work on it, just forget it because they never write it down and they just won’t work on it. But this time, I just decided to trust the process. After figuring out the exact course I could take, the interview ended.

I left Accra to go back to the Volta Region on the same day. A few months after the interview, on the 25th of September, my friend texted me that she had received the results of the interview and she had been granted a scholarship. I was eating with my mom and cousin. I started screaming and everyone was just looking at me like I had gone mad. I checked my notifications and I had also received the update. I opened it and I had also been granted the full ride scholarship.

Zawadi was worth it!

We had gotten what we had been fighting for; a full ride scholarship that covers visa, travel, accommodation, tuition and offers monthly stipends.

to be continued...

PLAYLIST:

Try everything - Shakira.