Scholarships are very good for education as its importance is now regularly increasing, especially for higher studies. If students, who offer excellent qualities but are unable to pay steep tuition fees, will not be able to study then it will be a big loss of human resources. On the other hand, scholarships provide motivation to all kinds of students and establish the importance of studying. I believe scholarships should be granted to students who are willing to study while they are working in jobs. Most of the time we stop our studies once we start our professional life, but I think the best time to study and keep oneself updated with his/her studies is while working. It adds to your job profile and helps in professional growth. Most of us don't focus on studies because we have other financial needs to be met and if we get scholarships based on our job performance we would surely continue our studies. n Hala Jabbad Grade 9 student Manarat International School (GS), Jeddah A scholarship is one of the few ways the government helps graduates find a job doing something they're good at. It rewards them for their hard work and gives them a chance to express their talents and achieve their dreams. In my opinion, it is actually a great way to inspire people to work hard and helps students achieve their potential in life. n Lamyah Salih IGCSE student Obhur International School, Jeddah Getting a good scholarship can be challenging, and even frustrating. However, the rewards of getting the scholarship are worth the challenges. The first powerful benefit of getting a scholarship is cost. It isn't much of a secret that the costs of education have continued to rise in the last 20 years. This has made it harder for students from low-income families attend college, and some have even went as far as to say that this has caused a larger wealth gap in society, since those who are educated have a tendency to get better paying jobs. With scholarships, the student doesn't have to pay back anything. Another powerful benefit of scholarships is their prestige value. Because most scholarships require students to maintain good grades in order to keep them, it takes a great deal of responsibility to use them effectively. n Nazima Bano Coordinator of the senior section Obhur International School, Jeddah Students with a scholarship are given more respect and more importance in their career, as a scholarship proves that a student is hardworking. Getting a scholarship is very difficult and only given to very talented students. Scholarships also allow poor or disadvantaged students to choose their field of interest, whereas some students are forced to pursue a career that does not interest them but is a cheaper option. n Sahar Sultan English teacher in the senior section Manarat International School (GS), Jeddah To some students and parents, the word “scholarship” is just another one of those confusing college terms: student loans, FAFSA, tuition and fees, EFC, grants, and work study. Little do they realize that knowing more about the scholarship process could save them thousands when trying to cover the cost of their education. Each scholarship application has its own deadline, such as spring and summer deadlines, and fall and winter deadlines. The key is to never stop searching for new scholarship leads, even after beginning the freshman year in college. A good rule of thumb is to continue searching for scholarships for the duration of the college career.
