Student Excellence Award of the Diaspora Programme

Hello, my name is Estefania Fodor! I come from Venezuela and I am a second-year Hungarian Diaspora scholarship student at ELTE TOK in the International Kindergarten BA Program.  I first came to Budapest almost three years ago with my mother and sister, when I arrived thanks to Magyar Máltai Szeretetszolgálat (Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta) through a repatriation program for the Hungarian diaspora living in Venezuela. My grandfather was Hungarian, but I never had the opportunity to learn the language; this is the reason why I spent my first year in the country learning Hungarian. After some time in Hungary, I transferred to Germany, where I volunteered for a Jenaplan Kindergarten and taught my mother tongue, Spanish. Halfway through my volunteering year, I found the opportunity to apply to Eotvos Lorand University through the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship, where I was thankfully accepted and came back to Budapest to fulfill my wish of studying Kindergarten Education at one of the top universities in the country.

The Faculty of Primary and Pre-School Education immediately captured my attention, as it trains future teachers from all around the world about the education system in Hungary, its methodology and aims. Integrating pedagogical and psychological knowledge with bilingual education is a key reason of its high ranking. This faculty trains the future educators of Hungary to have an extensive knowledge in the optimal development of preschool children, and so serves as a guide for the best possible transition to the upcoming years of education. Now, as I am already halfway through my studies, I must say that my favorite thing about the faculty is the people in it, how everyone is willing to give you a helping hand; how open minded and well prepared the professors are, with years of experience and an astonishing background, including professors who are pioneers in the bilingual education in Hungary, all of which has helped me create a strong base for my studies and achieve high grades throughout my studies.

Thankfully, because of my hard work and the constant support of the people around me I was announced eligible to receive an award for academic excellence and achievements, the Stipendium Hungaricum and Diaspora Scholarship Programme Student Excellence Award. This award is granted to people who have exceeded the expectations, and not only in their studies, but also by contributing to their community and the Hungarian Diaspora. In order to receive the reward, I was first asked to write an essay regarding my achievements so far. I am more than glad that I did so because it not only gave me the opportunity to write about my achievements, but I was also able to acknowledge and give thanks to everyone that helped me get to where I am now.

 Speaking of giving thanks, after graduating from ELTE TÓK, I aim to volunteer for Hungarian diasporas around the world to teach about the Hungarian culture from my own unique perspective and experience. Later on, I look forward to pursuing a Master’s degree in education and languages, to get an in-depth view of bilingual education and so help the country that I call home, to receive an education that expands their point of view and gives every child the opportunity that was given to me.

I am sure that reaching these goals won’t be easy, but as my family always tells me “Hard work pays off”; I will continue to dream big because I know that I have never been alone in this path, but have always received help from my professors, my friends, the organizations, and especially my mother and sister, who have given me their unconditional support through all the rough times. When I found myself stuck or clueless about what the world had destined for me, they reminded me to trust the process, because something better will always come for you.

So, to whoever finds themselves dreaming big, take this article as a sign to never stop: remind yourself that help and new possibilities will always find you at the right time, and to always be thankful for the people who stand with you along the way. Strive to be the best, and then you might find yourself getting new opportunities that you had never thought of!