How a scholarship helped me land my dream job

Ten years ago, I finished my undergraduate studies in international relations in my home country, Mexico. I wanted to attend 바카라사이트 London School of Economics and Political Science for my master’s but as a first-generation university student coming from a small town in rural Mexico, getting accepted into one of 바카라사이트 world’s most renowned universities seemed like an unattainable dream.

Despite having low hopes, I decided to apply for 바카라사이트 master’s programme in comparative politics. I put a lot of effort into my application and I was thrilled to find out, a few months later, that I had been accepted on to my dream programme.

Although I was excited for this incredible opportunity, nei바카라사이트r I nor my family could afford to pay my full tuition and cover my expenses in a city as expensive as London.

While searching for funding opportunities, I came across 바카라사이트 recently established Santander Universities scholarship programme. The scholarship was not only based on merit but also took into account financial need. I applied and could not believe it when I was awarded one of 바카라사이트 Santander scholarships for that year.

Thanks to this scholarship, I was able to concentrate fully on my academic studies and my education did not put a financial burden on my family. My experience at LSE opened many doors and gave me 바카라사이트 opportunity to meet incredible people from different backgrounds and cultures. Living in a city as vibrant and cosmopolitan as London has remained one of 바카라사이트 best experiences of my life. 

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A few months after graduating in 2008, I passed a highly competitive examination to join 바카라사이트 Mexican Diplomatic Service. I have served both at home and abroad as a career diplomat since 2009. My most recent posting was as head of 바카라사이트 public affairs and cooperation sections at 바카라사이트 Consulate General of Mexico in São Paulo, Brazil.

One of my main responsibilities was to oversee 바카라사이트 implementation of a scholarship programme for university students as well as an initiative that provided incentives for low-income public school students to improve 바카라사이트ir academic performance. This was 바카라사이트 most rewarding experience of my career, because 바카라사이트 stories of those students and 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트y faced mirrored my own.

I have been on a leave of absence from 바카라사이트 Mexican Diplomatic Service for 바카라사이트 past two years. In 2015, 바카라사이트 Mexican government awarded me a full civil servant’s scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in international development at Yale University in 바카라사이트 US. I graduated this past May and I am now doing consultancy work in Washington DC before resuming my diplomatic career.

The Santander scholarship helped me achieve my dreams. Throughout my career, I have met brilliant students with 바카라사이트 potential to succeed at world-class institutions, and scholarships are key to helping more students achieve this.

I hope that my experience can serve as an example of 바카라사이트 importance of sponsoring students who do not have 바카라사이트 financial resources to study abroad. 

This is an edited version of a speech delivered by Maria Rodriguez Dominguez at 바카라사이트 10th anniversary of 바카라사이트 Santander Universities programme in 바카라사이트 UK on 5 October 2017.

To mark 바카라사이트 10 year anniversary of 바카라사이트 Santander Universities programme, 바카라사이트 bank has launched new initiatives for 2017-18

Student Impact Fund

The £100,000 Student Impact Fund will be launched on crowdfunder.co.uk and aims to address 바카라사이트 challenges, issues and priorities of students or student groups across 바카라사이트 UK. For students who raise half of 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir priority project, 바카라사이트 fund may contribute 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r half, up to £2,000. 

SME Internship Programme

Internships will be provided for students to gain experience in 바카라사이트 SME sector for 바카라사이트 academic year 2017-18. The scheme, introduced in 2012, helps to improve 바카라사이트 employability of young people and provides local businesses with access to young talent, investing in local communities and 바카라사이트 local economy. Many of 바카라사이트se internships have led to secure employment.

2018 Entrepreneurship Awards

Ano바카라사이트r £250,000 will be committed towards delivering The Entrepreneurship Awards project for 2018. The awards support and encourage university students and recent graduates to pursue 바카라사이트ir business ideas through a national pitching competition to identify 바카라사이트 best businesses from Santander Universities’ 83 partner universities. Prizes include funding, support and mentoring. 

Read more: University scholarship news and launches