"Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out". Chevening - Networking Question

Chevening is looking for individual with strong networking skills, who will engage with the chevening community and influence and lead others in their chosen profession. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your networking skills, and outline how you hope to use these skills in the future.

Here is my input. I appreciate your help in proofreading, and giving me an opinion of the written material.

prosperous and fruitful opportunities

Robert Collier once said that success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. I firmly believe in this concept; it is the collective output of collaborative people that forms great communities.

In my effort to implement what I believe in, I have participated in volunteer work that aims to spread insightful people's experiences and knowledge around the world. I have been a volunteer translator at ted. for quite a while now. During this time, I have been honored to work with some great reviewers and translators from whom I have greatly benefited and wish to think that I have benefited them too. A TED video has to go through the three stages of translation, reviewing and lastly approval, before it comes out as a translated video in the desired language. A video would never be published if it wasn't for the work done through every step.

Working in this collaborative platform allowed me to connect with a network of devoted translators, not just on a professional level but on a personal level as well. I have acquired some great friendships that I will cherish forever. Thanks to the encouragement that I have received from my fellow volunteer translators, I decided not to stop at an amateur level of translation and to take it a step further. I am now studying to earn the foundation certificate in translation and interpreting provided by the XXX. In addition, it has taught me the value of teamwork; not only does it positively affect the produced output, but it profits every single member of the team as well.

If I were to be accepted into Chevening, I will practice what I have just advocated. I will make sure that I enrich my 1-year experience by getting to know a diverse network of people, engaging in fun and productive community work with them, and keeping in touch with them after returning to XXX. The prosperous and fruitful opportunities that could emerge out of networking with international student peers are endless. I plan to utilize them well.

Mariam, while I do not belittle your networking skill that you developed while working as a TED translator, it is not the sort of networking skill that the Chevening program will consider usable or possibly worthy of integration into their currently existing network of professionals and country leaders. Volunteer work is admirable but in this case, not really applicable to the needs of the scholarship foundation. What you need to present is the information about how this network of translators has helped you reach some achievements in your line of work. What makes this translator network a true professional network in your mind?

You are merely describing the editing process of a TED video. Anybody will tell you that the editing process does not translate into a professional network. Unless, you started an organization of professional editors whom you have cultivated into professional contacts that can help you promote yourself in your line of work or promote others within the field as a form of professional networking.

In the end, the weakest point of this essay is the lack of a true professional network that can be used to promote Chevening in the future and also, allow you to mentor future Chevening scholars or assist them with their future career development. Remember, the existing network of graduate scholars will be at your disposal, should you become a grantee, to help you advance you career during your studies and after you complete the masters program. It looks like you will not be able to do the same for those who will come after you.