The Golden Ticket: How to Apply for the Fulbright Program

When I was in my second year of film school in Morocco, I shared a room in a dorm with an architecture student named Salwa. This stranger became my close friend soon and she was the one who first told me about the Fulbright Program and encouraged me to apply. She always has made me believe that I was worth it and I mention Salwa because I believe that if you have the right support from people around you, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. I am blessed to have Salwa and other friends and family who believed in the girl I was and the woman I am becoming.

Studying in United States is one of the best things you can decide to do. Fulbright is a golden ticket to achieving this goal, however, it requires hard work, dedication, and a clear vision. After I got my bachelor’s degree in film studies, I started to work with a film production company in Morocco. In my first project, I worked as a personal assistant to a director in a British series produced by FOX productions. The director turned out to be one of the nicest people I have ever met and he encouraged me to pursue my studies and keep writing short stories and scripts.

Since I had a BA and some experience in film, I wanted to widen my horizons. I chose to study digital media to be able to apply concepts from film school and learn about the future of storytelling.

With a clear vision of what I wanted to study using the Fulbright grant, I devoted time to taking the TOEFL and GRE tests and filling out the required paperwork.

I am a storyteller, so I decided to apply what I enjoy doing to my personal statement essay, and it worked! When you are honest and transparent, people relate to you better, so don’t be afraid to express yourself and your inner beauty, aspirations, and dreams. Think of the personal statement and study objectives as an opportunity for people to see how special and determined you are. Believe me, you are worth everything you set your mind to.

A couple of weeks after I submitted my application, I got a call while I was sitting at the breakfast table with my family. I remember that I had goosebumps as I listened to the lady on the other side of the line tell me that I had been selected for an interview in Rabat. I walked into the interview room and decided to express myself in my own words and that was magical. Minutes after I walked into the interview room, I forgot I was in an interview. Instead, I felt like I was at a table with people trying to know me, asking me questions I wanted to answer. They asked me about films, my aspirations, and what I would like to do as a female filmmaker. I walked out of the interview with immense joy because I knew I was becoming the woman I always wanted to become.

I waited a long time after the interview. During that time, I began working on a Korean TV drama. After setting up a chase scene, I sat with the crew members in a popular coffeeshop in Tangier and received an email. My heartbeat became faster and my hands started to shake while I read the words “Congratulations on getting the Fulbright grant.” After that, while I was working on another set, I got an email saying that I was accepted to my top school: The University of Central Florida.

Currently, I am on the winter break after finishing my first semester as an MA student in digital media. I have visited Washington, Kansas, and Virginia. I have made friends from the United States, Egypt, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Europe, and so many other places. I have learned how to cook for myself, clean up after myself, balance studies and having fun, and manage my expenses. Fulbright is the process of becoming independent, strong, and educated.

Vincent Van Gogh said, “As we advance in life, it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties, the inmost strength of the heart is developed.” No one is born strong, and we learn through defeat. Fulbright is teaching me to become the successful African, Arab, female artist I want to become.

I want to let applicants know that they have a wonderful community of Fulbrighters. We will gladly help you go through the process. Don’t be a stranger, reach out to us. We are here to help you.

Hanae is a Moroccan Fulbrighter who is studying Digital Media at the University of Central Florida.

You can find more information about the Fulbright Program, Fulbright Foreign Student Program and the Fulbright Program for the Middle East and North Africa on our websites. For more application tips and to learn more about other Fulbrighters, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and visit our blog.