“After my 53rd rejection, I stopped applying. I stopped talking about scholarships. I was emotionally drained. But eventually, I got up again.”
For most people, a single rejection can feel like a dead end. For Bashir Bilya, it became a detour not a stop sign.
Bashir is a brilliant and determined scholar from Zamfara State, Nigeria, currently pursuing his MSc in Biochemistry at the Federal University Gusau. He graduated among the top 1% of his class with a CGPA of 4.60/5.00, after previously earning a BSc from the same university with a 4.44 CGPA. His academic track record speaks volumes, but his journey has been anything but easy.
Now an Assistant Lecturer at Zamfara State University, Bashir is setting his sights on the prestigious Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship to pursue a PhD in Medical Science at Edith Cowan University. His proposed focus? Cancer biology and drug discovery.
And behind that goal lies a deeply personal motivation.
“I’ve watched women battle breast cancer with limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and rising costs. Many families can barely afford meals let alone treatment. This is my ‘why.’ I want to discover accessible drugs that save lives.”
A MAN WITH A PLAN
Bashir isn’t just dreaming, he’s planning with precision. For the past three years, he’s crafted an annual application calendar using Excel and Word to track scholarships, eligibility, deadlines, and requirements. His rule? Only apply when he meets at least 70% of the criteria.
This strategy has made him focused and intentional. It also protected his energy in a process that can easily drain even the most driven.
Yet the path hasn’t been smooth.
THE COST OF CHASING A DREAM
From waived GRE requirements to paying over ₦100,000 for a single application fee, Bashir has faced enormous financial barriers. One particularly painful moment was when he had to forgo applying to the University of Miami despite receiving interest from a professor because his request for an $80 fee waiver was denied.
Recommendation letters also became a silent struggle. Bashir has submitted over 60 applications, relying on four referees whom he rotates. While they’ve remained generous and committed, he often feels guilty about asking again and again without a breakthrough.
THE SILENT BATTLES
Behind the scenes, the pressure builds. Bashir confessed that the waiting periods after submitting applications are the most emotionally taxing.
“After my 53rd rejection, I didn’t just stop applying, I avoided conversations about scholarships altogether. I even ignored a task from Dr. Kelechukwu. Not out of defiance, but because I was broken inside.”
It was a phone call and a few encouraging words from Dr. Kelechukwu Onwukamike that helped him recover hope. He also found comfort in stories shared by scholars on LinkedIn and Twitter stories that reminded him he wasn’t alone and that sometimes, a hundred rejections still end in one life-changing “yes.”
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
Throughout his journey, Bashir has leaned on people and communities that believed in him.
He credits Abdulhafiz Lukmon Akanni for introducing him to scholarship platforms, giving him his first resources (like Asher’s scholarship guidebook), and even paying for IELTS and U.S. application fees.
He also received constant support from Abdulhadi Kabiowu, a PhD student at Virginia Tech, who reviewed his documents and stayed on the phone with him after every cycle.
Then there’s the DEKEMP community.
“The Dr. KC Mentorship Platform has been a blessing. From learning how to write winning essays to getting recommendation letters at short notice, DEKEMP has held me up during the hardest phases.”
He also holds deep appreciation for his academic mentors, Dr. Kabiru Usman, Dr. Ikenna Alaewe Obiora, and Mr. Haruna Umar Isiyaku who have all written multiple recommendation letters for his applications.
A Final Word For Other Dreamers
“Not applying guarantees a no. I’d rather keep trying. After all, I only need one yes.”
Bashir’s story is a raw, honest glimpse into what it really takes to chase scholarships from developing nations. It’s not just about grades and test scores. It’s about grit, belief, sacrifice, and the people who rally behind you.
To every aspiring scholar reading this:
Don’t give up. Keep your “why” close. Be strategic. Seek support. Learn from each rejection.
And always remember, it only takes one yes.
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