How I've Been Where I've Been

Song of the Day: Slide by H.E.R.

Charlamagne Tha God's take on Black Tech Representation at AfroTech 2019 curated and created by Blavity Inc.

Since middle school, I've traveled from coast to coast and abroad for moderate to no cost. Through being intentional, committed, and curious, I've been able to have some experiences that some folks can only imagine having. Traveling can either be very expensive or cheap depending on how much time you take to prior plan. Here are some ways I financed/paid my trips throughout college.

1. Saving
This seems basic and minute but it’s a key principal in traveling. You obviously can’t spend money you don’t have but in order to make traveling more cost effective is to save at least 40% of your income. Even if you don’t make much, this can at least cover meals and travel per day. Every place in the world has an affordable means of transportation and food. 

2. Scholarships/Fellowships
There’s a scholarship/fellowship for everything as we all know but there are some scholarships that will give you funding for traveling around the country and abroad. Scholarships like Boren, Benjamin A. Gilman, and Critical Language are usually highly competitive so in order to have a competitive application, you need a few things:

i. A specific purpose/intention
ii. A story worth reading (this is subjective but do your absolute best to sound like yourself in a way that’s easy to understand)
iii. Specific and measurable outcome/impact as well as why the experience is essential to your personal development
iv. Gather necessary materials 
v. Turn it in!
If you have these qualities then you’re in the ranks to get that scholarship. There are also fellowships and programs to apply for that will partially or fully fund your experience.
(Pro tip: if you want to learn/master a specific skill, language, etc., do service, or research then look into fellowships/scholarships. Again, these are very competitive so you have to be as distinguished and specific as possible. Click here to see databases with a list of fellowships and scholarships. Some opportunities are not limited to undergraduate students too! Here's a list for post graduates/ professionals)

3. Grants
Some Institutions offer grants to students in order for them to further their study and exploration of a specific issue/topic. The amount varies depending on the institution offering the grant. Similar to a scholarship/fellowship, grants are highly competitive but if you follow the guideline stated earlier then you'll be well ahead of the curve. I don't have a list of grants to apply for, however, click here for an example of a grant that I applied for through the United Negro College Fund. 

I hope that you gained something from this advice. Comment or email me if you have questions, comments, or concerns. If there's anything I can do to help you find more opportunities then don't hesitate to ask!

Beyond The Lights,
Mav