Take This Chance: A Dispatch from Marshall Scholar Lawson Sadler

It is the last day of 2020 and I am sitting on Brighton’s pebbled beach, watching the golden sun sink into hazy waves along the pier. Though the games and stalls of the pier are all shuttered due to lockdown restrictions, the beach is dotted with people in family bubbles enjoying the rare blue sky and saying goodbye to the year.

I could not have imagined this time last year, when I was still reeling joyously from news that I had been selected to the 2019 Marshall Scholarship cohort, what 2020 would bring. There were moments where I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make the journey to the U.K., or if my program in Migration and Global Development would continue at the University of Sussex in the fall. In spite of the circumstances and collective traumas we continue to face, I arrived in the U.K. in September, determined to make the most out of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

In the face of each lockdown, new COVID19 variant, and tier system introduced, I can rely on the skills and knowledge I developed during my studies at Baylor to guide me through the unknown and unfeasible. My classes demand the same interdisciplinary rigor that I studied under as a University Scholar at Baylor. In my experience at the University of Sussex, the U.K. education system expects a high degree of independence from graduate students. Classes are seminar-based, with independent reading and research conducted outside of the classroom and brought into discussions with professors and classmates. This self-led study allows me to pursue my research interests in migrant detention policy and liminal legality, while broadening my horizons in classes like “Decolonizing Development” and “Refugees, Displacement, and Humanitarian Aid.”

My Migration Studies peers are bright, open-minded, and eager to share their own visions of the world. The cohort of my program is small enough that we all know each other personally, be that through zoom small group sessions or COVID appropriate hikes outdoors. Many of my peers are former professionals, having worked for organizations like UNHCR and immigrant support nonprofits; our conversations move past the theory of our studies, enriched by personal experience and vocational commitment. Even with the restrictions of our time, I find that I accomplish Marshall Scholarship’s expectation of ambassadorship through these relationships with my peers. My British friends are eager to discuss Brexit, the U.S. presidential race, and educate me on the proper way to drink a cup of tea.

Most of all, I have found my cohort of Marshall Scholars to be a lifeline. They are undoubtedly the most brilliant, curious, and generous group of colleagues I could find myself among. Despite being unable to meet in person for our expected orientation or large group gatherings, we have cultivated a community through Zoom book clubs, short day trips, speaker series, and an active Slack group. With them, I have discussed sustainable textiles, smart cities, repatriation of art in the British Museum, environmental justice and climate change, and the ethics of human gene editing. Within this community, learning is treated as a lifelong, interdisciplinary effort where all are welcome and cooperation, rather than competition, is expected.

Now, over a year past my application cycle for the Marshall Scholarship, I reflect on all I have learned and what I wish I knew during the process. Fellowships like Marshall expect applicants to extensively reflect on their personal history, limitations, and goals. Writing and rewriting the summation of your life thus far can feel daunting, but treating it as a restorative and revealing process allows you to celebrate your narrative and imagine a new chapter. I worried often while writing my application that my transcript, resumé, and story would not measure up to the unseen peers I placed on a pedestal. I have since discovered that this was a universal anxiety among my cohort. We have all been on the receiving end of many rejections and wondered what could have tipped the scales in our favor. Rather than dwelling on the unknown response of an application review board and interview, it is better to write an application that is truthful to your identity and reflective of your values. Integrity is not often a buzzword we hear alongside “success” and “achievement”, but it is a trait I would describe as integral to my fellow Marshall Scholars.

Creating an application that is an honest reflection of yourself does not mean that you cannot aim for lofty aspirations. Some of the best advice I have received is to announce to those around you who you are and who you want to be someday. Whether that pathway includes public office, a corporate position, or a high-profile career in the arts, name that goal as concretely as possible and outline a years-long method to achieve it. It is perfectly acceptable if this plan evolves over time, but fellowships like the Marshall are looking for applicants who possess both the ability and desire to enact change in their own small corner of the world. Ambition is a word many run from due to prejudicial connotations, but I believe claiming and naming your ambitions is an essential part of crafting an application for any opportunity.

In finding the balance between these components of your application that I have mentioned, rely on the guidance of your mentors. The Office of Engaged Learning at Baylor was an essential lifeline during my application process from the very first stages of considering applying to a program like the Marshall. Along with support from other professors and trusted mentors, I was incredibly lucky to feel supported during every stage of the application and interviewing process. You as the applicant are the ultimate expert on your own life, but mentors, family, and friends can offer insights into yourself and your aspirations that will aid you in this process.

To end, I will offer you the final piece of advice that I needed to hear at the beginning of this journey: take this chance. Whether it is applying for your dream job, fellowship, or any other opportunity, do not let the fear of rejection and the effort of the process force you out before you try. Even when the results are not what you desired, the attempt is always worthwhile and a valuable learning experience. And when you do receive the one acceptance that takes you into a new chapter of your life, be sure to look back behind you and lend a hand to the next person climbing on the same path.