Stop racing strangers

A few years ago, I came across a post announcing someone's scholarship success.

Then another.

And another.

Soon it felt like everyone was getting opportunities except me.

People were posting admission letters.

People were sharing visa approvals.

People were celebrating scholarship wins.

Meanwhile, I was still trying to figure things out. It felt like I had missed something. Like everyone had received a memo I somehow never got. Maybe you've felt that way too.

Perhaps you're reading this in June and wondering if you've already wasted half the year. Maybe you haven't started your applications. Maybe your CV still needs work. Maybe you're still researching programmes while other people seem to be collecting offers.

The feeling is understandable. But it can also be misleading. Because what you see is usually the result.

You rarely see the years before it.

You don't see the unsuccessful applications.

You don't see the abandoned drafts.

You don't see the mistakes.

You don't see the opportunities that didn't w

ork out.

You only see the announcement. This is why comparison can become dangerous. It convinces you that you are behind when you may simply be in a different phase of the journey.

Some people start earlier. Some people discover opportunities later. Some people move faster because they have more information, more support, or different circumstances. None of that changes the work in front of you.

The question is not whether someone else is ahead. The question is whether you are moving. Because progress compounds.

One application becomes experience.

One conversation becomes a connection.

One volunteer role becomes a story.

One skill becomes an advantage.

The people you admire today often built their success the same way: one step at a time. Not perfectly. Not quickly. Just consistently.

We've spoken about goals, agency, consistency, resilience, rejection, and preparation.

All of those ideas require the same thing: Staying focused on your own lane.

Not because other people's journeys don't matter. But because your attention is one of your most valuable resources.

Spend it building.

Spend it learning.

Spend it improving.

The timeline is less important than you think. What matters is that you're still moving.

And if you're still moving, you're not late.

—Ojonugwa

Scholar ChitChat

P.S. If you've been putting off your applications because you feel behind, this is your reminder that progress can start today. One school researched. One document updated. One application started. Small steps still count.

Opportunities This Week

Don’t forget to check out opportunities currently open. If any align with your goals, take time this week to review the requirements properly and start early.

Take note of the first two with deadlines this Friday.

1. Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship

Deadline: 12 June 2026

Official announcement Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship — Official announcement

SCC episode Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship — SCC episode

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1. Romanian Government ARICE Scholarship

Deadline: 12 June 2026

Official announcement: Romanian Government ARICE Scholarship — Official announcement

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1. McCall MacBain Scholarship (Canada)

   Deadline: 19 August 2026

   Official website: McCall MacBain Scholarship (Canada) — Official website

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2. Rhodes Scholarship

   Deadline: 27 August 2026

   Official announcement: Rhodes Scholarship — Official announcement

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3. GCUB International Mobility Programme (Brazil)

   Deadline: 6 July 2026

   Official announcement: GCUB International Mobility Programme (Brazil) — Official announcement

   SCC episode: GCUB International Mobility Programme (Brazil) — SCC episode

Good luck!