Scholarship Winner Kornelia Shares Her Journey

Read Kornelia's story

After submitting her essay, Kornelia from Poland went on to win a 100% fully-funded scholarship onto the Immerse Education Business Management programme, where expert MBA tutors explored fascinating management and entrepreneurship topics, such as organisational behaviour and the management of organisations, as well as finance, strategy, marketing, and leadership.

Kornelia submitted her essay in the 13-15 category.

What made you decide to submit an essay for the competition?

“My school invited everyone to participate, and the further I read about Immerse Education, the more motivated I was to enter the competition. Not only did I have the chance to study a subject I love, I would also be able to expand on my essay skills since writing has always been a passion of mine.

One of the most attractive aspects of submitting an entry, was the opportunity to study at such a prestigious university. Not only that, but it included the chance to stay for two whole weeks on campus. Of course I was incredibly excited to meet friends from around the world, and we still keep in touch with each other. It truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity!”

All entrants write essays in different ways, taking from a couple of days to a couple of months to complete.

Can you tell us about your essay-writing process?

“Once I heard about the essay competition, I immediately set to examining the questions. After deciding on a question, I spent a few days analysing it in order to get the best outcome possible. Soon I began planning; which included the outline of my structure, topics I would include and what my research should contain. This itself took a few weeks.

Then came time to do the actual research. It was long and difficult but I knew it was the most important aspect of it all. Finally came time for me to write my first draft. The writing did not take long as the planning had been quite detailed already.

I had to read over my draft and I was quite pleased with it, so my second was very similar but with improved vocabulary. All that was left was to include my references from articles and websites that my research was based on.

Of course throughout this process I took advantage of all the amazing resources and support that Immerse provided. Overall, writing my essay took a few months.”

Immerse provides all candidates with free downloadable resources to get started with their essay

How helpful did you find the support provided by Immerse for writing your essay?

“I thoroughly read the advice that Immerse provided as I knew there would be no support more prepared for answering such essays. The advice given on research and attitude towards the question proved most valuable to me; especially when told to focus solely on the question at hand. The referencing instructions were especially helpful because I was not sure how to fulfil this requirement.

I am most grateful for Immerse’s support being available through multiple platforms, such as Instagram, Youtube, personal emails and their own website. The ability to ask real people questions through emails was most helpful and made my essay writing experience feel really personal and cared for.”

How did you react when you found out that you had been granted a scholarship?

“I was so taken aback, I could not believe what I was seeing! On my way back from school I decided to open my emails, not expecting much in all honesty. Immerse’s name popped up and I stopped.

Were these going to be words of congratulation? Perhaps condolences? Once I read the words that I had won, the words full scholarship boldly written on my screen, I felt so overwhelmed. I almost dropped my phone! All those times of work before, after and even during school had paid off in ways I could never have imagined. What felt too good to be true, in fact became a reality.”

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Kornelia now feels confident to apply to the UK university of her dreams

How did you find your experience on your residential Immerse programme?

“The second I entered Cambridge, I felt at home. The campus was filled with people just like me, excited but also scared. If only I had known it was going to be the best couple weeks of my life!

I was taught valuable lessons such as the art of research and the importance of commitment. Some of my favourite times at Cambridge are sitting in my room in the evening, working on my class project, eating food I bought from the nearby market. That’s another part of my scholarship that I treasure, being able to explore such a beautiful town. The evening activities deserve an honourable mention too. The endless entertainment that the mentors provided us with were key in the bonding that we were all a part of.

The mentors were truly special and answered our questions about university life with an honesty and humour that made me appreciate them incredibly. My time at Cambridge was a truly unique part of my life that I will never forget, alongside people I will never forget.”

Kornelia hopes to continue to study her passions

What do you hope to achieve in the future?

“I feel more comforted about the idea of attending a university now that I have first-hand knowledge of what such a life is like.
This has given me the extra push to attend the university I have dreamed of for years, the same university that I gained a two week scholarship to.”

I hope to achieve more of what Immerse has given me an insight into. I want to travel to unknown places and explore its surroundings. I want to meet people from around the world and listen to their stories. I want to study things that I am passionate about with no worry about the career it will provide me, only out of a pure love for learning.

Immerse has taught me that experiencing new places and people is the most valuable thing to me and nothing can compare to the wonder I felt. Although my time at Immerse is over, I will carry the experience with me throughout my life, and I will owe all my dreams that I achieve to them.”

Are You Ready?

What would you say to someone who was thinking about entering the Immerse Education Essay Competition?

“I would tell them to enter with no hesitation. To put in the work and strength to succeed. This is an opportunity like no other. They will have memories that they will reminisce about for years to come, and friends that they will have a very special bond with.

It is a place like no other and they will gain knowledge they did not even know was missing. Each day that was spent in Cambridge was worth so much more than the days spent working on the essay. I would do it, and more, all over again given the chance. This is no opportunity to waste, and you have nothing to lose.

My main lesson from my experience is to always always give it a go; because it is when you think you have no chance and the odds are against you, that you may just be surprised. If you have nothing to lose, there is no harm in trying and you never know, you may just hit the jackpot!”

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