OPPORTUNITY FUNDS-BULGARIA
For High School Juniors and Seniors
Success Stories
Kaloyan Valchev
AY2016-17 Opportunity Student
Doctor Petar Beron High School of Mathematics, Varna
I am currently a sophomore at Northwestern University, majoring in Economics and minoring in Business. I love every aspect of my college life and I consider my experience a huge success so far. I live on-campus in one of the nicest dorms which was completely renovated just two years ago. Academics can sometimes be overwhelming, especially at a top-notch university which uses the quarter system. There are exams, quizzes, papers, and homework assignments more or less all the time, depending on the program and the courses. Strategy and time management are key, and that is why I love how academics work at Northwestern.
Culture shock? Seriously? I had no such thing at all. It does take some time to get into the rhythm of the university, but it comes naturally. Socializing was much easier than I expected. I never felt any disadvantages being international. In addition, it takes only fifteen minutes to walk from one end of the campus to the other, so I meet friends all the time and everywhere: in class, at the dorms, at the dining halls, or walking between the buildings. I was surprised how friendly and approachable faculty members are. All one needs is to be open-minded, because everyone is unique and contributes to the Northwestern community in a distinct way.
Extracurricular activities are another important part of my college life. There is an on-campus organization for every type of student. As a former tennis player, I quickly stepped into the management of the Northwestern Tennis Club and cannot be happier about it. Once I wanted to play at the varsity level, but now I realize that being a leader among friends who share the same passion is much more valuable and enjoyable than being an instrument in the hands of a varsity coach. It was also not difficult for me to become a VP of the Investment Management Club, a career-oriented organization which assists future investors.
I was not looking for an on-campus job, but the job found me anyways. Northwestern Recreation invited me to become an assistant coach in tennis, and as of now I spend eight hours per week working with a variety of players, from middle school to seniors. This job is a great way for me to take a break from studying and put some money aside.
I love Northwestern’s location in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, on the coast of Lake Michigan. The scenery resembles that of my home city of Varna, except for the skyscrapers. That gives me strength. I was initially nostalgic about Bulgarian food, but there turned out to be a few Eastern European shops and restaurants not far away from the Northwestern campus.
Who knew that being admitted to and thriving in a top-tier university was so easy? Well, not per se, but once you have the right ingredients, you are almost there. Many successful students share similar ambitions and qualifications. Some of these, like me, feel the vast support of their families. But only about a dozen per year get the chance to be sponsored by the Opportunity Funds Bulgaria program. More specifically, OF helped me navigate the entire application process, from the exams, through the essays and documents, to my first footprints on Northwestern territory. Being selected as an OF scholar implies my potential to be successful in a world-class university, but my family and I would have never been able to figure out each and every necessary step to our final destination on our own. The financial support that OF offered also played a huge role in my success story. My family and I are extremely thankful to the US Department of State, to Fulbright, Education USA and everyone involved in the organization of Opportunity Funds Bulgaria, and especially to Ms Snejana Teneva who showed us the way to success. Without the Opportunity Funds Bulgaria program, I would have never been able to enjoy a single minute of my Northwestern experience.
Disclaimer: The text is published in its original and unedited version.
Opportunity student Kaloyan with his father at Northwestern
The Tennis Club team
Kaloyan with Willie the Wildcat at Ryan Field
