Between the food and the music, give your dreams a small head start..

Christmas is here again.

For some, Christmas comes with laughter, family reunion, matching pyjamas, new clothes, beautiful hair, and food that for some unknown reasons tastes better every 25th December. For others, it arrives quietly after months of expectations and plans that didn’t unfold the way you imagined.

🎁 Before Anything Else… Let’s Settle This 😄

Since no Christmas conversation is complete without food, we might aswell just settle this once and for all 👀.

Please be honest

What would you rather eat for Christmas:

Jollof Rice

or

Rice and stew 😋 😉

And the real test of character…

Turkey

or

Chicken

There are no wrong answers here because we listen and we don't judge. (👀 I will judge you if your answer is not rice and stew and chicken 😂), whichever side you’re on, I hope your heart is light this Christmas. Whether your plate is full, half-full, or you’re still cooking, one thing matters most this season:

You’re here. And that counts.

Christmas Is More Than the Food, Blings and Jingle

Beyond the meals, the music, and the laughter, Christmas is also a moment to reflect and breathe after a long year.

And 2025 for me was long… really long. I know for you it may have come with applications, rejections, waiting seasons, quiet efforts nobody clapped for, and questions you probably asked yourself more than once:

“Am I doing enough?”

“Will this ever work out?”

“Should I try again?”

“What if it doesn’t work again?”

If that sounds like you, let this be your reminder:

You didn’t imagine the weight but you carried it gracefully anyway.

Let this Christmas remind you that light always shows up, even when the year didn’t go exactly as planned or if you are filled with uncertainties. And sometimes, making it to the end of the year is not just survival, it's strength.

A Letter From ScholarChitChat to You This Christmas 🎄💙💙

🎄 Enjoy your Christmas holidays… 😉

Yes, enjoy the holidays. Eat the food. Rest your mind. Laugh a little louder. Sleep without alarms if you can. But while you’re doing all that, there’s a quiet opportunity hiding in this season one that your future self will be very grateful for.

You don’t need to do everything right now. Just do something. Start somewhere.

This Christmas holiday try and do these two things or atleast one

🎄 Reach Out to Your Referees

This Is the perfect and best time to reconnect with your Lecturers and/or employer, because people are more reflective and more open to conversation. So this is your que to

1. Send that message.

2. Check in genuinely.

3. Wish them a happy holiday before asking for anything.

A simple, thoughtful compliment of the season message today can make asking for a recommendation in a few months feel natural.

🎄 Start Writing Your Essays.

Open a document. Write down all your thoughts, reflect on your story while it’s still fresh in your mind. Most importantly start your first or perfect the one you started already.

Enjoy Christmas fully. But maybe, between the food and the music, give your dreams a small head start. A little effort now will go a long way in 2026.

✉️ Bonus Tips From Santa 🎅 Jo'an 😉

Please get your pen and paper.

Tip 1

How to Reconnect With Your Referees Without It Feeling Awkward

If reaching out feels uncomfortable, keep it simple.

You can:

• Send a warm Christmas greeting.
• Briefly update them on what you’ve been up to.
• Mention that you’re planning ahead for 2026 applications.

The truth is most referees actually like hearing from former students especially when it’s not last-minute panic mode 😅

Tip 2

Prepare With an Application Tracker.

If your thoughts about 2026 scholarship/grad school application feel scattered, this is can serve as a fix.

An application tracker is giving your plans a home so they don’t keep living in your head.

Here’s a simple tracker format you can copy

Finally a gentle 2026 prep checklist

• Reconnect with 1–2 referees
• Open a document and start rough essay ideas
• Reflect on your 2025 wins (big or small)
• Save scholarships you’re interested in
• Rest, yes you read well rest, this counts as preparation too

You don’t need to do everything. Just don’t do nothing.

As the year winds down, we hope you rest not because you’ve given up, but because you’ve tried. Always remember that your journey is still unfolding, your story is still being written, and your breakthrough hasn’t missed its way.

From all of us at ScholarsChitChat,

Merry Christmas and here’s to a hopeful, kinder, and more grace-filled 2026.

Best regards,

Jo’an For the ScholarsChitChat Team