Ongoing pressure in addition to my fearful expectations

I have been really busy this past week because my economic courses and my math midterm that is coming up soon. I have received much good news that I hope to share with everyone. But I will begin with the bad news. First, I got eliminated from the selection process for the Gates Millennium Scholarship. I was truly disappointed when I found out because this was a very important program to me. This program is very significant because the opportunity of receiving a free education up until medical school is very slim. I guess it just was meant to be; but there will be more chances in life, so I will continue to work hard. Second, I got put on the waiting list to one of my dream schools, the University of Chicago. Although this is not completely horrible, I do not like the chances I have of being admitted into the schools; but I will not allow this to brining me down.

Today I read a very motivating article about college rejections on the wall street journal website. I really enjoyed the quote from Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, “to allow other people's assessment of you to determine your own self-assessment is a very big mistake.” After reading this article, I came to realize the full extent of the opportunities I have received thus far and I am truly grateful. I will make sure to stay in high spirits because a few rejections will only motivate me to work harder in order to achieve my dream of being successful. I guess it’s time to share the good news. First, I received a Provost scholarship from Case Western Reserve University. It’s worth $20,000 and I could receive it every year if I could maintain some requirements—I absolutely know that I can maintain the requirements need. Second, I have just been awarded The Ohio State University Excellence Morrill Scholarship, so I am very joyful. The award pays for full tuition, so I am very relieved to be granted this award. Although I did not receive the highest award which pays for tuition, books, room & board; I will be grateful and thank the lord for what I have been awarded.

Two of my financial aid packages have recently arrived and I can’t wait for more to arrive. I am really satisfied with one and the other I am unsure how I feel about it. I will be sharing some info for the ones I have received in my next post. That might not be until next week because I got my midterm on Saturday—I have much to review. Furthermore, I have many papers to write so my next post will most likely be next week.

Muhammad Abdi

Accepted To

• The Ohio State University (Main Campus)
• The University of Wisconsin (Madison)
• Case Western Reserve University

Waiting For

• The University of Chicago (Waitlisted)
• Yale University
• Duke University
• The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
• Colgate University
• Carleton College

Differed From