I told a friend in the Netherlands, "I’ve been admitted to a school in your country without a scholarship." Excited, he messaged me about securing funding and finding accommodation, and he shared scholarship options. One message, in particular, stood out: "Beatrice, whenever you are free, send me your plan for securing funding by August." I laughed and replied, "I qualify for scholarships like Rotary and World Bank—I’m going to try for them."
His next message was direct: "I’m not asking you to try—everyone can try. Are you going to give your all to secure the funding? If yes, I’ll help all I can." He added, "You could live all your dreams if you get the scholarship. IHE is one of the best schools—and it’s on my street."
Reflecting on his words, I realize now that achieving what you truly want requires total commitment, not just effort. You either give everything or walk away. Merely trying is not enough.
Maybe you’re telling yourself you’ve done your best this year, but deep down, you know you’re not okay and that many of your plans remain incomplete. Yes, you tried—I get it—but where you are now isn’t where you pictured yourself. Don’t take pride solely in being alive; others aren’t. You’re not in a sick bed; some are. You managed to pay rent; some can’t. Be grateful, but reflect—why do you have these privileges, while others do not?
See, destiny is time-bound, and time is unforgiving. It doesn’t wait for you to feel okay, it doesn’t wait for you to be healed, it doesn’t wait for you to decide. The scariest thing about time is the fact that you don’t know the amount you have at hand and when it will finish—you can only measure it based on the outcome of what you traded it for. It’s so scary to the extent that you can’t stop it, you can’t control it, you can’t resist it, you can’t buy it, you can’t compromise with it, you can’t slow it down, and you can’t speed it up—all you can do is to manage it. Do you know what that means? It means what you are and what you become depends on how you use your time.
So, yes, you’ve tried; everybody else can try. But what sets you apart is taking action beyond just trying. You still have drive left—don’t quit until your life matches the vision in your head. Remember, it’s only a matter of time, and you have today. Get out, knock on doors for the job you want, apply to all your dream schools relentlessly, and actively create ways to secure the school fees you’re after. You are capable—push forward with everything you have.
It’s not easy, and it may never be. But don’t give up just because your efforts haven’t succeeded yet. The reward goes to those who give their all, not those who merely try.
There’s a quote from Peter Sorgenfrei: “Discipline doesn’t care how you feel; it cares what you do.”
So, work as if it’s up to you, and pray as if it’s up to God.
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