You don’t know who else might be applying (London)

 

(This is based on the situation then.  Details of deadlines might have changed since.)

Sebastian joined the Grade 1 (beginners) class late — in November when term had already started in late September or early October.

    Applications for scholarships to Taiwan, on offer by this particular establishment, came out soon after:  one month’s language study or a whole year’s.

    Seb was keen to go for it, but worried that:

(a) he was only beginner level (why should they give him a scholarship to learn from that low level?); 

(b) there must be other people who are of higher level, and therefore more competitive, more "worthy".

    My arguments to him, in the style of Paul Thompson’s mode of advice, were:

(i) What have you got to lose?  At the most is: you get rejected, which is the same as not applying at all.

(ii) You don’t know who else might be applying for the scholarship.  Maybe all the ones you think are more eligible than you are can’t get away during that time window.

(iii) Strategically, go for the one-year scholarship, as that would cut down the number of competitors, as not everyone can get away for that long a stretch.

    A bit later, I found myself unable to resist phoning him at home, rather than wait until I saw him in class the following week:  “Are you sitting comfortably?  I have news for you.”

    Olivia:  this blog is for you.

(London)

For Dr. Paul Mulligan Thompson’s mode of advice, read:  

https://piccola-chinita.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-guardian-angels-in-ones-life-03-ex.html 

https://piccola-chinita.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-guardian-angels-in-ones-life-04.html