ACCOZZAGLIA

There was a scholarship I found which perhaps sounded like it was created with me in mind. Even with a thousand, or even ten thousand applicants, there’s little doubt that I’d be in their top 1, maybe top 3.

Only one thing was preventing me from applying: where I attend university (outside the U.S.). My citizenship requirement was met, my life experiences (queer, limited life chances, overcoming such indomitable obstacles, etc.) and demonstrated leadership (hi, like I’m sitting on a board of directors right now — leadery enough?) were also a green light. So I asked the foundation whether they were aware of similar scholarships awarded by similar organizations that welcomed applicants who met all these criteria and who are also attending university outside the U.S.

A woman replied promptly with a curt response: “Unfortunately we do not grant to any university other than in the U.S.”

I made with a small Marge growl when I read her response. So I replied with the following, which wasn’t responded to: “I am aware of this. Please re-read what I was asking: are you aware of other organizations relative your own that might not restrict on this basis?”

This is coming from a foundation which touts itself as “a scholarship lifeline” for certain kinds of students: literally like me, if not me.

In other related affairs, I did not win a scholarship I applied for in December. It’s not unexpected. It was for a peek fifty years into the future in under 500 words. I took a pragmatic approach, not a pie-in-the-sky approach. Some student at Stanford won, of course.

Also, my financial aid review/interview with the registrar is next week, and it’s not looking so fantastic. On the bright side, since I have apparently one of the highest marks in my Can Studies class, my prof said she would gladly write a positive letter of reference in my favour. Whether it helps or not is unknown.