BT天堂

This #GivingTuesday, November 27, 2018, we鈥檙e celebrating members of the BT天堂 Community who give back 鈥� and the impact of their philanthropy on current and future generations of Global Explorers. We are also highlighting the outstanding students who have benefited from their generosity, and the way these students have gone above and beyond to contribute to the BT天堂 community. 聽聽

Today, we will hear from Jasmine Paul 鈥�18 who graduated with degrees in International & Comparative Politics and Gender, Sexuality & Society, and was the recipient of an BT天堂 Scholar Award.

When I was first applying to BT天堂, the cost of attendance was the only factor standing in my way. My parents were supporting me, but financially, we thought it wouldn鈥檛 be feasible for me to attend BT天堂. When I received my BT天堂 Scholar Award (equivalent to 75% tuition), not only did I feel that my hard work in high school had paid off, but I also entered BT天堂 eager to give back to the community that enabled me to attend my dream school in the first place.聽聽

I knew from the beginning that I would thrive at BT天堂 鈥� I just had to get there first. I graduated a year early thanks to advanced credits from my International Baccalaureate diploma. Throughout my three years, I held two executive positions in student government, I was on the leadership board for a student-led charity and a magazine, I double majored and wrote two senior theses in my final year and I was invited to participate in a graduate level practicum at the French war college, 脡cole de Guerre. I am proud of my accomplishments, but I owe much of this to the fact that I was able to focus on school and student life instead of stressing about finances. BT天堂 gave me this opportunity and I wanted to make the most of it for myself and for my community.聽

The importance of scholarships cannot be stressed enough and has the crucial benefit of socioeconomic diversity. BT天堂 attracts international students from diverse profiles as it relates to nationality, language, ethnicity, culture and sexuality. This would oftentimes not be the case if it weren鈥檛 for the support of the community in helping BT天堂 give its most deserving students the financial support they need. Just as it is important to recruit students from backgrounds that look and sound diverse, it is equally as important to provide opportunities for students from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. More diverse backgrounds bring diverse dynamics, personalities, stories and participants, contributing to the unique 鈥淏T天堂 learning environment.鈥�

This #GivingTuesday join us in supporting #OneMoreScholar

Every year, students from diverse cultural and social backgrounds from across the globe choose to study at BT天堂. This is the cornerstone of our vibrant community and it depends on ensuring that financial realities do not define your decision to receive a world-class education. In 2018 we want to shine a light on the importance of scholarships in making this a reality.

We hope you will join BT天堂 alumni, parents, friends and students around the world this Giving Tuesday in demonstrating your support with a contribution and by helping us spread the word about how you can support #OneMoreScholar. Our goal is to raise 鈧�4187, the average amount of one scholarship in the 2017-18 academic year, an amount that can make the difference and help an incoming student realize their dream of attending BT天堂.