Falling in Love Through Chevening

Siti Nurfateha, better known as Teah, is the recipient of the 2014/15 Chevening Scholarship in Brunei. She is currently studying a Masters in Anthropology in Development and Rights at Goldsmiths, University of London. Read her guest blog about  her time so far in London as a Chevening Scholar & why you should also take this opportunity to apply for a Chevening Scholarship.

There was a surreal feeling when I was informed that I had received the Chevening scholarship. A large weight was lifted from my shoulders because I had initially planned to pay for my own education, something I couldn’t really afford but was determined to do. In the midst of packing, it was difficult for the information to sink in—I am a Chevening scholar, and I’m going to start living in my favourite city, London, for the next year.

When I finally stepped foot in London Heathrow, that was when I realised that it was really happening: I am a Chevening scholar from Brunei! I will be pursuing a Masters in Anthropology in Development and Rights! And oh my goodness—how can it be this cold in September?!

This is London! You Shouldn’t Feel Lonely!

Cities can be very impersonal with the large crowd avoiding eye contact rushing back and fore. The tall buildings can come off as claustrophobic. Sometimes, the city doesn’t really give you much opportunity to find friends immediately.

However, feeling lonely was never really an option when you’re a Chevening scholar. The second you are a Chevening scholar, you are automatically a part of a vast network of unique individuals. Through social media, I quickly made friends with people who have strong interest in social justice and gender issues. We chatted over things we plan to do, places we have to go, and resources available to us in London before we even received our plane ticket to the city. When the time came to meet them, being friends with other Chevening scholars felt almost natural, like I’ve known them for a really long time or that I’ve found people I can talk issues I have always been concerned with easily. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what gender you identify with or what your beliefs are—being a Chevening scholar means being under an umbrella where the general consensus is to make the world a better place, whether you are an activist, a policy maker, poet, engineer, or doctor.

Applying

Writing personal statements is a complicated process. Being a Bruneian, I find it very difficult to talk about myself without coming off as egoistic. But it is crucial that I sell myself to get this scholarship. Doing the personal statements will give you the opportunity to reflect about yourself and decide whether you have what it takes to represent Brunei as a Chevening scholar. I had graduated from a top university in Singapore for my bachelors five years ago, and I have founded several organisations in Brunei that I am very proud of. When I asked myself if I have what it takes to be a Chevening scholar, I realised that I did.

I used everything I’m proud of in my life as a resource to sell myself. I wrote in my statements about the dreams and plans I have for the future of Brunei. I emphasised on my writing and leadership skills, hard work, and perseverance to justify that I have the quality to be a part of the Chevening network.

There is no right or wrong way to write your personal statements. I’m kidding, there are a lot of wrong ways to write a personal statement, like for instance, writing a recipe on your application probably won’t help you. And as a potential Chevening candidate, you have to write two personal statements! The idea of writing two essays to sell yourself may stress you out, but I took it as an advantage! One of my statements took a professional and serious tone, while the other touched more on the human and vulnerable side of myself. This strategy was to counter any form of conceitedness I felt in my serious personal statement. When my friend read through my statements, he said that I was taking a huge risk for doing the less professional one.

I took that risk, and it worked out. As an applicant, you should take risks too. But please, don’t put recipes in your personal statements, and make sure someone edits your work. I had the advantage of knowing where I want to go prior to doing my applications. You’ve probably never heard of Goldsmiths College. Its tucked away south of the River Thames where sunflowers bloomed the day I arrived at my flat. And I came to fall in love with it.

I had more prestigious universities in my list of choices, but my heart was stolen by Goldsmiths. I’ve spoken to the other Chevening scholars at Goldsmiths, and they too fell in love with the university.

University rankings may be important, but you need to look at how the course you’re taking suits you too. Other universities offer Development Studies by learning from a top-down perspective. I wanted to learn more about how communities can get involved in the process of development. Goldsmiths offered learning about development from an anthropological approach, where we learn things from various angles via ethnographic work. What attracted me the most about my course is that every student is required to work for an NGO for one semester as a part of our assessment. For me, this was a great opportunity to learn about the processes and complexities that entails in forming such an organisation.

My course was everything I wanted in a programme—the classes are small and intimate, students can forge good working relationships with its lecturers, and we are provided with various tools and classes to help those who have been out of academia to integrate back into student life.

I wouldn’t get that kind of opportunity in a bigger university, and I regret nothing of my decision to go to Goldsmiths.

At the time of writing this piece, I have only been here for five weeks. It has been the most eye-opening and fulfilling five weeks I have ever gone through. I have made good friends from my course and the Chevening scholarship, seen One Direction in Lego form, and learned so many valuable things from my programme. If my five weeks here have already been fulfilling, I cannot imagine what the next 11 months will be like. I would like to thank the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Chevening committee at the British High Commission for giving me the opportunity to learn more about myself and the world through a unique lens it has provided me.

Insya Allah, next year, you can join in my footsteps too.

If you’re interested in applying for the 2015/16 Chevening Scholarship, visit the Brunei country page on the Chevening website for more information!