Although our group’s camp was not that long ago, it was still great to see each other again before we finally scatter for the summer. We gathered at the Community House, in person, while some were able to join online. Our mentor invited us to a very useful conversation, where we had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding—now through personal involvement—of the Foundation’s scholarship system for university students, the requirements needed to earn the academic scholarship, and the tasks required for dormitory placement; in addition, we received information about the distribution of laptops, our program and project plan for next year, and everything else we had questions about. We discussed current calls for applications, university student meetings, dinner events, and received clear guidance on how a real university student should communicate—including in writing. It was a very strange feeling to look around at all of us, and perhaps I only truly realized just now that we have grown up. Of course, our community and foundation life does not end here, yet I look at my friends with pride that we have made it this far as a team. Instead of excitedly talking during the morning snack break between a logic class and a reading comprehension class about the new board games that had recently arrived, the conversation with this same group suddenly turned to social scholarships, “Neptun” enrollment, and planning mentor assistant work.
I would like to congratulate my groupmates, my Szeged peers, and all applicants who have made it this far from the bottom of my heart! I am grateful to my mentor and developers for accompanying us all along this sometimes bumpy road, supporting and helping us with all their hearts despite every difficulty, standing by us, and standing up for us during our high school years. I would like to thank the Foundation for the endless support I—and we—received financially, intellectually, and spiritually. I consider myself truly fortunate to leave my high school years behind with such a community at my side, as something entirely new begins, which we can now embark on with serious help.
Sarolta Kovács-Nagy