When we all packed our bags and began our journey from home to where we are today, we signed up to be in a community. Like for myself, I imagine that the application process for our Master’s degree - from identifying the course that we wanted to do to the university we wanted to attend and every single essay we had to draft, revise and upload - was very daunting. I had to give up and let go of many things during the whole ordeal over 2021. And when I heard back about my application for GREAT Scholarship, it was as if my efforts and my sacrifices were all validated for the right purpose. My dreams were given the boost they needed to take off. It was the start of something new and something bigger.

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The Study UK team had invited GREAT Scholars for a welcome event at Manchester last weekend and I was delighted to attend representing Nepal as a GREAT Scholar and Belfast, Northern Ireland as a master’s student. Getting to meet and interact with fellow GREAT scholars over the last weekend was one of my biggest highlights of the past year. Just being in the same space as everyone else who had potentially gone through a similar emotional trajectory as me while uncovering their studies in the UK was a camaraderie like no other.

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Speaking with fellow scholars about their programs and their university experiences, was a refreshing energy boost for me as someone who feeds off of energy from people despite needing long hours to recharge by myself. I always feel delighted to see people pursue something that they are passionate about, it inspires me to continue my pursuit as well. Over the past few months of living by myself and trying to navigate adulthood and growing up, I have had a lot of time to self-reflect and relearn a lot about myself. And in the process, I have hit roadblocks that have also made me question my decisions, my worth, and my stance in my pursuit. The scholars’ event became an opportunity for me to recharge my beliefs and be inspired by fellow dreamers pursuing their calling in their own ways.

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All the alumni present at the event were so graceful and eager to share their personal stories and experiences as students and as professionals working in the industry. Having been in our shoes last year, they had fresh memories of their time at university and had a load of tips and tricks up their sleeves for us to take on as GREAT scholars. From how to make the most of our time at university amidst our deadlines and exams to how to build soft skills and experiences needed to brush up our CV, they had a lot to share. It was a wonderful experience to get to connect with them during the workshops and even during our lunch and snack breaks.

Meeting and talking with the brilliant Study UK alumni at the event and learning about their ongoing legacy of work established a brilliant sense of dreaming new dreams. I am a firm believer of giving back and paying forward and all the examples from the scholars at the event working in their respective fields carrying their own morals and values was very inspiring. As GREAT Scholars, all of us present at the venue were ambassadors of the legacy that British education hold across the world. Seeing the passion and the vision that the alumni share in bringing change in what they believe needs to be better than how they found it is the kind of ambassadorship I would like to pursue as well.

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I had the opportunity to speak with Israel Balogun about his journey in academia and his impact so far and I was left in awe with the brilliance he exudes. The hustle it takes to establish relationships and pathways to opportunities that can help create an impact for the greater good is remarkable and Mr. Balogun’s efforts have certainly been fruitful. His journey so far has shaped him to work for the greater good and he is contributing to his level best to give back to where he comes from and beyond. As someone who strongly believes that the key to changing how the future can look is to evolve and adapt teaching and learning practices, my conversations with him gave me an example of a line of action. In my conversation with Eunah Hong, I was able to see grace and elegance in working with passion for a cause in a selective niche of a largely male-dominated sports sector. Ms. Hong spoke from a place of passion with a spirit of change in making sports education welcoming for girls and women. Her realization of the importance of role models and opportunities and her stance in building the space is admirable. Sheila Lumsden gave relatable examples of working in diverse teams and being a leader and a team player. As students and professionals, we have to be accommodating and welcoming of the diversity we will be placed into and make our best effort in creating a comfortable environment for all to play their part.

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It is such a simple thing - being able to speak in your mother tongue. But in my past few months here in a foreign land where I have been confined to thinking, reading, writing, listening to, and speaking in the English language at all times, I now often find myself craving the comfort and musicality of my mother tongue - Nepali. I was happy to see people greet each other in their mother tongue as they met for the first time here in the UK. I was delighted to get to share a table with people from different walks of life. Watching them speak of their passion with a spark in their eyes, share a part of their dreams with hope in their eyes was also an honour. I got to speak with teachers, doctors, strategic managers, and finance wizzes. Someone told me about some amusing physics facts and formulae I had once learnt and now have forgotten all about, while I got to geek out about design and branding with some people. I asked questions to fellow scholars about environment science, law, and literature - subjects which have always intrigued me when I was younger. While we all dreamt different dreams, it all made sense; it was all unified. I am so grateful to have had that chance.

The next day as I explored Manchester and then later sat down for an impromptu “dinner” in the park in one corner of the city with two new friends I had made just last day, I was giddy with joy. We walked into the heart of the city - our hungers calmed and our hearts lighter, and took trams to the opposite ends, we marked the start of a new friendship!