Here's a story that I hope encourages you to always give your best, no matter where you are.
In 2014, I tried to apply to the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for the first time and didn't succeed. Only the top 2 out of 10 people in the Embassy Track interview round got the scholarship, and I ended up being the 3rd on the list. This came after failing three other scholarship programs I applied to, such as MEXT, CGSP, and Stipendium Hungaricum.
When I found out I was so close to getting the Global Korea Scholarship, I called the Korean Embassy in the Philippines, asking them to consider me even as a waitlisted applicant. Unfortunately, they refused. I also contacted NIIED, but they said they couldn't do anything. I felt desperate because I graduated the year before, and my parents couldn't afford to support my college education anymore.
I was heartbroken because I believed the scholarship could finally change my life and my family's situation. I grew up in a poor neighborhood, and my parents worked abroad for minimum wage. I knew I couldn't rely on anyone else to save me. After a month of feeling down, I went outside, looked at the moon (quite dramatically), and told myself that I wouldn't give up until I got this scholarship. Tears rolled down my face as I imagined what it would be like to study in South Korea. I could already see myself playing in the snow, something that doesn't happen in my country, the Philippines. I had a dream, and I was determined to make it come true.
For the next year, as I waited for the next application round in October for undergraduates, I studied Korean language and participated in various online competitions. One of them even led me to win a trip to Japan.
I studied filmmaking, writing, acting, photography, painting, and drawing. One of the reasons I didn't do well in the interview round was because of my weak English and communication skills. So, I decided to practice interviewing with my girlfriend at that time. I owe her a lot because she supported me when I needed it the most.
A year had passed, and the application time came again. I was confident I would pass the document screening, so I focused on preparing for the interview. When I entered the interview room, the interviewers recognized me as the nervous guy from before, struggling with English. But this time, I was different – confident, smiling, and ready. One of the interviewers asked, "What happens if you don't pass the scholarship again?" It took me a moment to remember the tough experience from the previous year, and the question made me think, what if I didn't pass again?
I wasn't ready for that question, but what I said turned out to be the answer that mattered. I shared something like, "In the past year, I faced some of the most challenging failures in my life. Despite that, I persevered. No one else is going to do it for me. If I don't get this scholarship, it means I'm still not ready, and someone else is. I'll try again next year. I'll keep trying until you think I deserve it." They didn't have any more questions, and I left feeling proud. I gave it my all, and I had no regrets.
A week later, I received a call from a lady. "Congratulations, you've passed the first round of the Global Korea Scholarship."
I couldn't hold back my tears. I remember my knees giving in, and my grandmother, who understood what was happening, cried in our little kitchen, hugging me. She said:
"Your life will never be the same, son. You worked hard. I saw you every night preparing and practicing. I am proud of you."
Jumping ahead a bit, I find myself saying goodbye to everything — my family, friends, teachers, books, my room, our house, and the neighborhood where a little boy once dreamed while looking at the Moon on a lonely night.
Now, fast-forwarding another 5 years, I proudly graduated from Yonsei University, one of the top universities in Korea and Asia.
Today, my plans have taken a slight detour, but I've been in Korea for almost 8 years now. I've secured a stable job in a good company and am also working on building my own business on the side. Each year, I run an initiative in my neighborhood where I started feeding young underprivileged children and giving them gifts on Christmas day. I've upgraded our house, saved enough to start a few other businesses, including the mentorship program for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). Now, I can assist other students who share the same dreams I once had.
I don't consider myself special. In fact, the students who didn't get the scholarship when I applied had better grades, backgrounds, and profiles than I did. What I believe set me apart was how I presented myself. I rewrote my essay over 100 times, seeking feedback from more than 20 people, including friends and teachers, to ensure it was the best it could be.
I hope my story has inspired you. I'm still at the beginning, aware that more challenges lie ahead. I'll face more failures than victories, but I remain hopeful because now I have a stronger mindset.
"If you do your best in everything that matters to you, the only inevitable result is getting closer to your goal. So, whether you fail or not on your first try, maybe try a second time. Eventually, you'll exhaust all that stops you. Success then becomes natural."
– Ace Apolonio
