1) The author recounts their long journey to attaining a university scholarship abroad. They were motivated by seeing a graduate being celebrated at the airport and visiting a prestigious university near the destination of a trip with a friend. 2) After failing to meet the grade requirements on their first attempt at qualifying exams, the author was motivated to study harder. They succeeded in passing the exams and was accepted to a one-year training program. 3) The training program presented many challenges as the author had to adapt to a new living and learning environment. Through commitment and hard work, the author succeeded in the program and was able to choose Oxford University for their scholarship.

1. Surname 1
Name
Professor
Course
Date
MY LONG JOURNEY TO UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Every individual has a desire in life, and people tend to work hard so that the dreams may
come true. My dream had been to study in the prestigious universities overseas, and attaining the
entry to them needed good grades as well as a sound financial base. One of the requirements was
easy for me to fulfill, especially the one for the grades. I was not poor in class, but my family
was not well up financially. The implication was that I had to get a scholarship that would enable
me to proceed to meet my dreams. My long journey commenced at a time when my close friend
invited me to travel with him, to one of the richest oil companies in the universe. That invitation
caught me by surprise because I had not experienced travel to the home capital city, leave alone
abroad. However, I decided to take advantage of the offer and use the trip to explore the world.
The funny thing was that my parents and other family members were against it, but I had to stand
my ground and move on.
My friend was well aware of my naivety when it comes to traveling, and he took good
care of me as if he was a close family member. Upon arrival to the airport, I came across a group
of people celebrating in songs and dances. Upon a closer scrutiny, I saw a lady dressed in a
graduation gown, and I could tell that she had been a student abroad. She immediately became
my motivation factor, since I would also wish to have such a welcome. We traveled and arrived
safely to the destination. A few kilometers from the airport, there was one of the biggest

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universities in the country. My friend and I decided to pay a visit to the premises, and what I saw
rendered me shocked and interested in equal measures. The structures inspired my dream, and I
had to surf the internet to see how people land there. In the meantime, I managed to come across
an advert for a scholarship to any of the great universities in the world, fully paid course. I went
through the requirements and saw that I had to sit two main examinations and attain a certain
pass mark to qualify. After the two exams, a one-year training awaited all the lucky applicants. I
sat the exams but could not manage the grades required for the first time. However, I knew that
winners never quit, and quitters never win. Remembering the people, whom I met at the airport, I
had all the reasons to do the best and get the grades.
I designed a method of doing my studies, and it worked well. I could not manage to lose
the scholarship, and yet I was not poor in class. As such, failure was not part of my vocabulary.
Back home, my family members were not aware of what was happening to me. I remembered
that they were against it, but I needed to give them a surprise upon my success. The second test
came, and this time round I managed to get a mark far above the cutoff point. My joy was
incredible, and it gave me a reason to push on with the next exam. Due to the motivation I had,
the second test came and again passed well, such that my tutors got amazed at the passing of the
hard tests. At this time, I managed to let my family members see the reason why I fought so hard
to travel with my friend. I owe him much because of the assistance he gave me. I could not hold
my tears of joy when I received the appointment letter from the sponsor with all the costs of the
university education fully paid.
The acceptance of the scholarship was the first step towards the realization of my dreams.
However, it did not mean everything. The one-year training sent me into a world of confusion
and mixed up. I had to make new friends since I knew no one at the time. The most devastating

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thing was that dormitories were the main dwelling place. Back home, I never thought that I could
share my room with anybody. But things were different here because sharing was compulsory,
and the rooms were so minute to share for even one more person. Again, I was not accustomed to
the issue of having a tight program to follow. In this case, I had to reorganize myself and make
sure that all activities had enough time allotted to them. It was not easy, but I managed. From the
dorm rooms, I could hear the noises from the outside environment
. The noises from the other rooms came directly to our
room, and sometimes they were disturbing. Making new friends was a hell to me because I
needed time to scrutinize them and choose only those that suited my purpose. The environment
comprised of people of different cultures, some who knew God and some who were drug addicts.
I came across a guy who wanted me to be a drug user, but my wits could not allow me to fall into
his trap. The discipline instilled in me back home was a real defense against such vices. I have to
acknowledge that the process was not easy, but all the same, I had to push and see the conclusion
of it all.
The program was very difficult, and to succeed meant that I had to sacrifice all the joys
and goodies. It called for personal discipline and commitment, as well as making friends that can

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help one to sail true the tough units. I knew that since am all alone, and away from home, I had
to take full responsibility for any action that I undertake. Doing so was not easy at first since I
was not used to doing it. At times, I could engage in studies and read hard especially during the
first year. There was a time I extended in the study room, such that by the time I came out, I felt
as if someone was ringing a bell in my brain in a musical manner. I would hear Kong! Kong!
Kong! At that moment, I realized that I was approaching a point where I would behave like a
mad person. However, I thank nature because it converted me to be a responsible person. My
determination in pursuing the program secured me a chance to be among the first class, which
aimed at excelling well at the end of the program.
At the end of the program, I was so happy that I wept uncontrollably as I saw the colorful
graduation ceremony attended by friends and relatives. I could see my friends excel with me, all
happy faces glimmering. In the end, there came the announcement that we needed to make some
choices, of the University that one wished to join. Since my dream university was Oxford, I
chose it so that the scholarship arrangement could go through. It was all joy in the hands of my
family, and my parents, in particular, congratulated me for the victory in the entire journey. I
owed them a lot for their unending support that they gave me, given that it took their attention
and encouragement to sail through the hectic journey. When the admission day came, I was as
happy as a king. Since I am a lover of music, I kept playing the reggae music since it was my
favorite genre. I could listen to the music all day long, and even while asleep, I felt the music
playing its echo in me. I had received the admission letter a month before the admission day, and
I knew for sure that I had secured a vacancy in the university. All the same, I had all the reasons
to be happy and grateful in equal measures. I prayed that the vision I developed in the first time

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at the airport come to pass, at the end of the course in the university. I still long to have family
and friends coming for me in the same airport.

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at the airport come to pass, at the end of the course in the university. I still long to have family
and friends coming for me in the same airport.