No way! I was like most of my fellow fellows: Most of the time, I just thought to myself, "I'm not going to get that anyway. There are much more successful and better students around you". One tends to talk oneself smaller than one is. To be honest, I only learned that when I was applying: to be proud of what you have already achieved and to present it with confidence. During my first seminar from the foundation, it came out in conversation with my fellow fellows that everyone had this feeling at the time of application. I would argue that this self-underestimation is also often the reason why students decide not to apply. So it is very important to educate more about the requirements and application process of different scholarships so that more students feel confident to apply to the appropriate foundation.

I became aware of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation through a fellow student who had already been a scholarship holder there.

I was particularly impressed with my voluntary work at the children's and youth hospice. There, I accompany a family with two life-shortening children on a weekly basis. During my application process, I was able to talk a lot about this and was also asked interested questions about it by the foundation.

In addition, at the time of my application, I was involved in the mathematics student council and am a member of the Jusos.

Every socio-political commitment counts! The focus here is on being a committed person who is interested in helping to shape his or her environment and social interaction.

The fellowship has had a great deal of influence on my life. In the three years of my fellowship, I have had the opportunity to meet many exciting people from a wide range of professions. Through the wide range of seminars on very diverse topics, many discussions have developed that have definitely broadened my horizons and changed my view on many things. The Ruhr region in particular offers many opportunities for networking: We as HSG Dortmund have already organized several activities with the HSGs of the other Ruhr area cities and also have a cross-city "HSG Ruhr Area" within which we regularly meet and exchange ideas. Here, working group meetings and joint activities are planned and organized or we just sit together and exchange ideas about current topics.

Furthermore, a scholarship also offers many opportunities for stays abroad. In addition to the financial support for a semester abroad, there are always exciting offers for internships, which are provided and financially supported by the foundation.

The scholarship has definitely enriched my life a lot. Through the foundation, I am gaining experience that is shaping my professional and social thinking, and I am getting to know people that I probably would never have met without the scholarship.

Take heart! A scholarship offers so many support possibilities and opportunities to educate yourself beyond your studies and get to know the world better. The effort of applying is definitely worth it! Even if you think you don't have the prerequisite for a scholarship, you should still try! Sometimes underestimating yourself leads to lost opportunities. One should always keep in mind: You have nothing to lose. If it doesn't work, then nothing changes. However, if it does work, then many opportunities open up to you!

Inform yourself about different portals about a suitable scholarship. There are so many scholarships that there is something suitable for everyone. Talk to people, find out about the application process and dare to ask the important questions. Go to scholarship information sessions and talk to your teachers about scholarship opportunities.

And most importantly, keep in mind what you've already accomplished and why you deserve to get a scholarship.