If it's for a good reason, will they rig the lottery so I can win?
Evaluated scholarship applications yesterday. The people I feel the most for are the ones in the middle. People at the bottom, enh. People at the top should obviously be very proud of their achievements, will probably be rewarded for them, and absolutely deserve it.
But each year there's always that sinking moment when you realize not everyone who deserves the help will get it. This guy yesterday, you could just tell he is an awesome guy. His personal statement, while hardly the most polished effort, just made you like the guy. He was in that category of good marks, but not great enough to place high. Same with extracurriculars - you could see the commitment and the joy he brought to and received from them, but there were just a couple - ditto for community involvement. Reading just for the first two pages you know he's not going to be a contender as much as you'd just like to write him the cheque. Then the reference letter tells you this guy walks 45 minutes (each way) to help out at various fundraising functions for a group he's involved with. That's heart. (I know for some, that's not heart, that's life. But to me, for what he was doing, it's heart) His family just immigrated a couple years ago and his brother is working trying to support him and his ill mother. Everything about him screams goodness and heart and yet there's no way he can compete against the over-achievers who will eventually be finalists for this award.
Those are the applicants who get to me the most. And there are so many of them out there...
But each year there's always that sinking moment when you realize not everyone who deserves the help will get it. This guy yesterday, you could just tell he is an awesome guy. His personal statement, while hardly the most polished effort, just made you like the guy. He was in that category of good marks, but not great enough to place high. Same with extracurriculars - you could see the commitment and the joy he brought to and received from them, but there were just a couple - ditto for community involvement. Reading just for the first two pages you know he's not going to be a contender as much as you'd just like to write him the cheque. Then the reference letter tells you this guy walks 45 minutes (each way) to help out at various fundraising functions for a group he's involved with. That's heart. (I know for some, that's not heart, that's life. But to me, for what he was doing, it's heart) His family just immigrated a couple years ago and his brother is working trying to support him and his ill mother. Everything about him screams goodness and heart and yet there's no way he can compete against the over-achievers who will eventually be finalists for this award.
Those are the applicants who get to me the most. And there are so many of them out there...