OPPORTUNITY FUNDS-BULGARIA 

For High School Juniors and Seniors

Aleksandrina Dimova

Senior, Ivan Vazov Language High School, Plovdiv

The day when the opportunity came was cloudy. I ignored the grumpy skies and headed toward the next education fair on my list. The previous ones had not given many answers my questions but I kept going to new ones driven by optimism. I had finally found my vocation and I needed a place to gain the necessary knowledge. Unfortunately, my country does not offer the opportunity to specialize in treating eating disorders. Or at least not on a level high enough for my future aspirations.

Those aspirations seemed impossible to afford at times. As a child living with only one parent, my mother, who was diagnosed with an incurable chronic kidney disease several years ago, I have always had financial concerns. But I kept going from one education fair to another, guided by the shimmering hope that I would find an opportunity which could give me high quality education at an affordable price.

This hope made me become a part of the EducationUSA online program. Only in my wildest dreams have I imagined getting a bachelor’s degree from an American university. Studying in the USA simply seemed too expensive. The Opportunity Funds program made me change my mind.
I knew I would apply the moment I understood this program existed because it was the key that would open the door to the room where the stairway leading to my dream was. Becoming an eating disorder psychologist required a Ph.D. Getting this degree in the USA was and still is on top of my stairway. It is the ultimate goal. Getting a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from an American university would help me ascend toward this ultimate goal.

During the months that came after I was selected as one of the twelve Opportunity Funds students, I understood this program offered more than money that made applying to a college or university possible. It offered the opportunity to enrich one’s cultural knowledge. It has been an incredible privilege for me to learn more about American education, culture and society.

But why the USA? The first step toward becoming an eating disorder psychologist, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, can be taken in many counties but the quality of education I dream of is offered in American colleges and universities. My main objective is to gain valuable knowledge and skills which will bring me closer to acquiring a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and becoming an eating disorder psychologist.

What I expect from the US and university life is high quality of education and equity. Both will help me climb steps toward my dream. What I mean by equity, is being treated individually and being given the opportunity to benefit from the high quality of education despite my family’s financial situation. I expect university life to be vibrant and diverse. It would be wonderful if it gives me the opportunity to use my creative energy both in terms of achieving academic excellence and fulfilling my potential by participating in different student activities such as debating, dancing, performing on stage, and learning new languages.

Having spent months researching colleges and universities, I can say that the proper institution for me should have a flexible curriculum that will combine all my interests. All seven universities on my list have their advantages and their uniqueness makes it hard for me to choose a single institution. The research continues.

As an Opportunity Funds-Bulgaria student, I have done a lot of research. The program has helped me develop skills of finding and evaluating huge amounts of information. The courses I have attended as part of the program have helped me prepare for exams by providing academic knowledge and they have enriched what I know about American higher education, culture and society. I believe all those will assist me in achieving my academic goals.

I hope the program will keep helping students achieve their goals.
Dear future Opportunity Funds students,
APPLY.
Be brave, work hard, ask questions, and follow your dreams.

Disclaimer

The text is published in its original and unedited version.