The Rhodes Scholarship was originally given out in 1903 and is regarded as one of the most prestigious and oldest higher education grants in the world.
Sara Alnajjar, a national of the United Arab Emirates, was sitting at the monthly family get-together when she got the call that changed her life.
After receiving the coveted Rhodes scholarship, Sara and Monika Mitova, a fellow NYUAD student, will be attending Oxford University in the fall.
“I was shocked to see the call coming in and to hear the announcement that followed. I experienced a wave of pride and exhilaration. The moment was absolutely unique because it was accompanied by an enormous flood of appreciation and an unexplainable sense. Sara told Khaleej Times, “My family’s reactions ranged from pure joy and happiness to a collective sense of pride.”
She intends to pursue an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice for nine months after completing a nine-month program in Global Governance and Diplomacy.
The 21-year-old continued, “This dual strategy will enable me to study a thesis that integrates the UAE’s dedication to preventing human trafficking globally and supporting my country as a diplomat.”
Sara clarified the intense application process, which includes academic transcripts, personal statements, and interviews with exceptional applicants from top universities in the UAE. She also said she put a lot of time and effort into her essays and made sure her application showed her actual potential.
“I think there was more pressure because I had to explain my ideas and experiences in a clear, sincere, and persuasive way because I was being interviewed by a distinguished committee,” the student, who is wrapping up her undergraduate studies with a focus on social research, legal studies, and public policy, stated.
However, Sara made sure to commit her time to both community building and her academic endeavors during this challenging time.
Maintaining a healthy balance between my community service and personal development has been essential to my path. It’s not only about achieving personal achievement; it’s also about using that success to positively influence people around me.
She went on, “Be genuine in expressing your experiences, aspirations, and the impact you wish to make,” underscoring the significance of authenticity in her application materials. In hindsight, the challenge of the application process was evidence of its fulfilling character, which matched my preference for endeavors that demand resiliency and promote personal development.
“I was astonished.”
Similar to Sara, Monika Mitova went through a tidal wave of emotions when she imagined herself walking inside the ideal school.
“I felt a plethora of emotions when I answered the phone and heard the good news from the Rhodes committee.” I had very little to say. “I think I just repeated ‘Thank you for the opportunity’ a few times because I was so shocked,” Monika said to KT.
She expressed her joy for the new chapter of her life as a Rhodes scholar in Oxford and described her most powerful emotion as “receiving the scholarship.”
The expat Bulgarian, who is presently studying political science, intends to become a journalist after completing a two-year Master of Philosophy program in Modern Middle Eastern Studies.
“I want to participate in culturally sensitive and impactful reporting on ongoing events in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region,” she stated when describing her future goal of joining the newsroom.
The 22-year-old clarified what she meant when she said, “Writing the personal statement was the most challenging part for me because it is not easy to capture who you truly are in just 750 words and do so memorably.” Before I was happy with what I wrote, I made a few changes to the anecdotes I wanted to include in my personal statement.
