Welcome to issue #017 of ScholAfrica. Every Wednesday, I send an essay that helps you get the scholarships and visa you need to experience a better life abroad and give your family the life they deserve. If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here:
Announcement before we start:
The next Scholarship Accelerator Boot Camp begins on August 9th, but registration opens on July 1st. Spots are limited—I’m only accepting 50 students because I’m committed to giving personalized attention and helping each of you succeed.
Each student will get:
8 LIVE interactive sessions teaching you step-by-step how to craft competitive applications.
Personalized expert review of your SOP, CV, and entire application profile.
Proven strategies to secure scholarships and Graduate Assistantships, even if your GPA is low.
A supportive community of fellow applicants to research, apply, and win funding with.
Lifetime access to session recordings, resources, templates, and checklists.
If you want to start your graduate studies in 2026, this is for you. You can get more details here.
Let me tell you a quick story.
Back in 2021, there was a Ghanaian student named Michael. Smart guy. Passionate about community development.
He had a dream.
To study abroad, get funded, and come back to make a difference in his village. He found the Fulbright scholarship. It was a perfect fit for him. Full ride. Everything paid. But he missed the deadline by one day, because he hadn’t started writing his essays early enough.
Now, he didn’t miss it because he wasn’t good enough. He missed it because he wasn’t disciplined enough.
And that’s the gap no one warns you about.
In Africa, thousands of brilliant, ambitious students dream of schooling abroad. They pray. They fast. They talk to people who have “gone.” But when it comes down to the real work—researching, writing, editing, applying—many fall short. Not because they don’t want it. But because they haven’t built the one habit that makes every scholar lucky: discipline.
Discipline Builds Credibility With Both Man and God
If you're reading this, you probably love God and believe in His ability to open doors. Same here. But here’s what many people miss: God honors what we do consistently, not what we do once in a while.
Let’s break it down.
Scholarship committees receive thousands of applications. They don’t just look for intelligent people. They look for people who can follow instructions, communicate clearly, and meet deadlines. In short, they’re looking for people they can trust.
And that’s exactly what discipline builds: credibility. It’s how you say to a reviewer, “You can trust me with your investment.” It’s how you say to God, “You can trust me with this opportunity.”
I know students who prayed and fasted for 21 days… but never finished their SOP. And I know others who simply woke up at 6 am every day to write for one hour before going to work—and today, they’re fully funded in the US.
Discipline may not feel spiritual, but trust me, God respects it. It’s the seed you plant in faith. It’s how you prove, with your actions, that you’re ready for what you’re praying for.
Discipline Creates Daily Wins That Build Confidence
If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by the application process, you’re not alone. There’s so much to do. Researching schools. Writing personal statements. Updating your CV. Getting recommendation letters.
It’s tempting to freeze and postpone everything until next week. But the truth is: confidence doesn’t come before action—it comes from action.
There’s something powerful about doing one small task today. Maybe it’s just outlining your SOP. Or reading one scholarship blog post. Or drafting a rough CV. Every time you take a step, you quiet the voice of fear in your head.
I saw this during the last Scholarship Accelerator Bootcamp. When it was time to write the SOP, students commented that it was challenging, but they wrote it piece by piece. After a few days, they were through with their first draft. As I reviewed the essays, I was surprised at the quality of their SOPs.
Discipline builds momentum. And momentum builds belief.
You don’t need 10 hours a day. You just need consistency. When you show up repeatedly—especially when you don’t feel like it—you start to believe you can actually do this. You stop waiting for “motivation” and start building muscle.
Discipline Transforms Effort Into Excellence
The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Every day, you have to resolve to give your best to what’s in front of you at that moment. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Focus on today.
A lot of students underestimate how much time quality takes. They write their SOP in one sitting. Or ask for recommendation letters two days before the deadline. Or send a cold email to only one professor.
But when you operate like this, you’re not giving yourself a fighting chance.
You know my story, I applied for a US visa four times. The first time, I didn't know what I was doing and got rejected. The second year, I worked harder, but I was still desperate for the visa. Rejected again. The third year, I prepared very well, but couldn't correctly address the visa officer's concerns. I was denied again. The fourth time, I was calm and not desperate. I prepared but didn't memorize my answers. Then I was approved.
Now, I have coached numerous students to obtain their visas.
Excellence is the fruit of discipline. And discipline is the bridge between where you are and where you want to be.
So, How Do You Build Discipline?
Let’s make this practical.
Begin with this mindset: discipline isn’t about doing everything—it’s about consistently doing the next right thing.
Here are a few simple steps to get you going:
Write down your Goal. You don't have a goal till you have written it down, no matter how much you talk about it. “I’m starting my fully-funded master's in computer science in August 2026”. You can write that in your journal or notebook.
Choose your “focus hours.” Block out one or two hours a day (or even 30 minutes) for scholarship work. Guard that time like it’s sacred.
Work in layers. Don’t try to write the perfect SOP in one sitting. First draft → revise → edit → ask for feedback → polish.
Eliminate distractions. During your focus hours, put your phone away. It should be completely out of view. Study in a place where you can think clearly.
Track your progress. Use a notebook or Google Docs to write what you did each day. Seeing it build up over time will encourage you.
Invite God into the process. Don’t separate your scholarship dreams from your spiritual life. Always pray before you work. Ask God for wisdom and favor. Trust Him with the outcome, but give Him something to bless.
Putting It All Together
Discipline won’t always feel exciting. Some days, you’ll want to quit. Other days, you’ll feel invisible. But keep going. Because when you show up with discipline, you are never truly working alone.
You’re building a version of yourself that can handle success.
You’re preparing a table that God can bless.
And you’re placing yourself in the right position—for the right opportunity—to become “lucky.”
The truth is, “luck” is often what happens when consistency meets divine timing. And that single habit, discipline, is what brings them together.
So take the next step. Start today. And trust that every little effort is seen, both by scholarship committees and by the God who rewards diligence.
You’ve got this.
That’s it for today!
As always, thanks for reading.
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Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:
The Scholarship Accelerator: This 6-week Bootcamp is designed to help you secure fully funded scholarships (Graduate Assistantships) by submitting 5 high-quality applications in just 6 weeks, with expert guidance every step of the way. The next cohort begins on August 9th 2025, and registration opens up on July 1st.
F1 Visa Interview Consultation: Get your F1 visa in your next interview. I combine my five F1 visa interview experiences with my expertise in learning from visa officers to prepare you for your visa interview thoroughly. We will identify your strengths and prepare you to deliver them confidently. Your story is the secret to your visa approval.