But the overall tone of the article seemed to be something along this line: You are from America; therefore you don’t really have challenges, so don’t try to act like you do. But here’s the catch: you asked the students to discuss their challenges. To them, these are challenges. Maybe they’re not on the same level as challenges for students from Sudan. Maybe it’s something that you would’ve easily brushed off. But to that student, it was a hardship that he or she had to overcome.

Like I said, I understand what you’re trying to say: “Really, guys, I understand that everyone has challenges they have to face, but is it really as big a deal as you think it is?” I just wouldn’t recommend sarcasm next time. It’s not something you can easily pick up through text.

I’m there with you-not crying into my macbook. If I can sit, typing responses in my over-expensive apartment (biding time until evicted, no less) instead of trading my day’s sustenance for a sheet of paper, so I can write requests for financial help then I count myself fortunate. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to obtain education funding. Recognizing and appreciating where we are, what we’ve done, and how we’ve lived is important. I don’t buy toys for my child though he stomps like a brat. Welfare doesn’t grant enough to buy ample toiletries, let alone Lego sets. I’ll tell you though, we have food, health coverage and education. Everywhere you are, in the Land of the Free, community support and assistance to meet every demographic, is set up on some level, so that no one has the grounds to expect cheese with their whine.

I am so glad I signed up for these updates. They are very entertaining and the sarcasm is completely appreciated! Especially compared to the dry style of my university textbooks (but, that’s another topic…)

I have the same thoughts as Amy. When a scholarship requires you to discuss a “hardship” you are experiencing (or have experienced and overcome) and you don’t have one to discuss what do you write in the space? I have, in the past, described some challenges I have experienced, but I have clearly defined them as “challenges.” Is this a good tactic to answering the question or could I be writing something that is more effective?

Thanks again for these tips and please keep them coming!

Overall, I think this was a good tip and wasn’t meant to be offensive. But I resonate a lot with the students who think it’s unfair to neglect your own country since other countries have it worse. Frankly, if the US doesn’t start paying attention to the way citizens are becoming complacent and dumber, people have to borrow money to make it anywhere, and how easy it is for someone like you to make fun of students mistakes when those students never had anyone to tell them of how judgmental judges can actually be, you can’t be surprised when they try to cater their papers to what they think you want to hear. I mean I’m sure those students answering questions like “tell me why you need/deserve this scholarship” are just trying to give you some reason to take pity, because you’ve just made a question that seems to be implying you think the needy are the ones who should get the scholarship.

I think students try to give the person with the power what they’re looking for, they’re not actually telling you that they think their life is harder than life is for people in third world countries. People describe themselves in comparison to their own environment.

Last but not least, in your comments you said something like most students do not know about other countries and their circumstances. That’s probably very true. But you’re also not acknowledging how other countries typically teach about other nations through their curriculum. America teaches people to be self-righteous, profit-seeking, go home and watch “reality tv,” and if you watch news, it better be tragic, entertaining, and scary. It’s unfortunate that growing up in this country sets you up to fail unless you put yourself in the shoes of someone who is not in this country.