No, actually not at all. I was always a student with average grades, mostly between 2 and 3, so I thought I would never be considered for a scholarship and never looked into it. Then, at the end of my second semester, I became aware of the topic of scholarships through our student council mailing list and through advertising on campus.

I only became aware of scholarships through campaigns by the TU Dortmund. In addition to the displays that were distributed on campus during the application period and motivated people to have the courage to apply for the Deutschlandstipendium, scholarships were also advertised in circulars from my faculty.

At the time of application, I had the most involvement to show from my school days: I was mainly a member of the media scouts (media education/advice for young and old) and a member of our school's own environmental group. In addition to other AGs, I was active in various social activities such as mentoring disadvantaged children. I also mentioned in my application that I would like to get involved in committee work at the university soon.

The financial support of the Deutschlandstipendium enables me to shape my everyday life responsibly and in line with my political beliefs: For example, I can buy more expensive items that come with less waste, or eat a plant-based diet more often to promote environmental protection and animal welfare. In general, I can now eat healthier.

And right now, in the digital semester (summer 2020), I'm incredibly grateful that I was able to purchase a new device relatively spontaneously to make my daily study routine easier.

As a computer science student, I would naturally like to work in the technology industry later on. I aspire to be a software developer, or "programmer". I could also imagine to lead and plan software development or to take over the communication to the customer to ensure the requirements of the program. But above all, I would like to have so much freedom later in my career that I can continue to be socially involved.

Since I am a very ambitious person, it can sometimes be difficult for me to value my achievements. Being supported by a scholarship has definitely helped me with this, and also shows me that my efforts are valued by others.

It is worthwhile to simply dare! People often have the feeling that scholarships are only for "elite students" and therefore do not seem tangible or accessible. And because scholarships seem so intimidating, not so many apply. This means that the chances of getting a scholarship are not as small as one often thinks. So have hope and dare ;)

I think it's very good that there is the Deutschlandstipendium, which is enshrined in law and also takes into account special social, family or personal circumstances. This can make a significant contribution to equal opportunities.

The scholarship celebration allowed me to meet very many different, interesting people.