This weekend was fairly uneventful for me, but I did get a chance to catch up on my T.V. watching. On Sunday, The Discovery Channel aired an all-day "Deadliest Catch" marathon. You might have seen it, or heard of it. The show documents the experiences of the Alaskan King Crab fishermen. Wow, these guys are nuts!
What struck me (while I sat, comfortable on my couch) was their emotional and physical endurance. Sure, they complained and yelled, but they kept going, even when their "pots" (crates that catch crab) came up empty. These guys battle 30-40' waves, crushing ice, and 40 hour stretches with no sleep. And they keep working. Why? They know, eventually, their hard work will pay off in a huge way.
So, what can you learn from these iron-men?
1. Put as many "pots" as you can in the water. In other words, apply to as many scholarships as possible. Sure, some might come up empty, but others will provide big rewards.
2. Fish where you know the fishing is good. Apply for awards that you are extremely qualified for (you have the right bait). Also, search for those secret fishing holes--look for awards that only a few people know about--your chances are better where you have less competition.
3. Don't put all your hope in one "pot." Instead of only applying to one huge scholarship (which you may not win), try to string together a bunch of smaller ones where it's more likely you'll experience some form of pay-off.
4. Keep a positive attitude. When the crews on the fishing boats got down and crabby, everything seemed to go wrong--parts broke, fishing stunk, and injuries happened. Now, applying for scholarships is not life and death, but your attitude shines through the work that you do. Believe me, scholarship committees can tell if you feel passionate about the application.
5. It's all worth it in the end. After a season of fishing, the guys were awarded with a big check, reunited with their families, and all wore huge smiles on their faces. Hard work paid off for them, and it will for you, too.
OK, now that I've worn out the whole fishing metaphor, I hope you realize that a big pay off is within your reach, if you keep working for it.
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