Education & Opportunity

In my Jan. 25 newspaper column, I used the story of a kid named "Froggy" to discuss the importance of having persistence in the college scholarship game. Froggy, it turned out, was a true rejection artiste—a master of rejecting rejection. The kid practically asked out every girl he knew on a date and wouldn't rest until he had achieved ultimate success. And in this way, applying for scholarships is kind of like dating: Rejection is a part of the process and those who can shrug it off, move on, and stay focused on the ultimate goal have a big advantage.

In my column, I recommend applying for at least a dozen scholarships, but hopefully several dozen. How can you start to find such awards? You can start by utilizing a variety of free Internet search databases. These services ask for information such as your age, extracurricular activities, and career interests, and then provide you with a list of scholarships that match your profile. Visit my www.ScholarshipCoach.com website for links and more tips on how to optimize your online search.

You will also want to expand your search at your school's guidance office, career center, or reference library. What if your school doesn't have the greatest scholarship resources? Quietly check the scholarship libraries and guidance offices of other schools in your area to tap their resources.

Of course, such strategies are only the beginning. If you would like a 10-day action plan to find scholarships perfect for you--plus ready-to-go templates that make each step of your scholarship search a breeze--be sure to take a look at my New Year's Resolution Pack featured at ScholarshipCoach.com.

And remember, if you’re not afraid to fail, you position yourself to succeed.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that this principle leads to great results in many different arenas of life.  And you know what?  It could even help a certain twenty-something newspaper columnist get a date next Saturday night.  Viva Froggy!