GS Spotlight: Kata Koloszar

1. What inspired you to apply for this scholarship, and how do you feel it will impact your educational journey?

I was very interested in going to North Carolina State University and I was told by a current Goodnight Scholar that I should apply for this scholarship. I began to research what the Goodnight Scholarship Program was and I very quickly fell in love with their mission. I truly loved the idea that this was not the usual scholarship students often come across, but rather a place where the scholars of the program create a community to achieve their dreams with the help of a wonderful team of supporting staff. Goodnight Scholars also contribute to making communities around them better by attending various service events that they are interested in, which further fueled my desire to apply. For the past months, I was able to experience the support, love, and care of the Goodnight Scholarship’s community – the students and staff have helped me in many ways. Furthermore, I have only met amazing people, some of whom want to follow a similar path career wise. Other scholars will definitely motivate me more to achieve my dreams; the events, resources, and trips are opportunities provided by the scholarship that will no doubt get me professionally ready for my future.

2. As a new student, what has been your first impression of the university and its community?

Whenever I heard of NC State, I was told that there were going to be a lot of bricks here. That is true. However, I didn’t know how friendly and interconnected the campus truly was. I love walking around campus and the overall environment was one of the things that I really enjoyed about campus. Additionally, the community here, especially the Goodnight Scholarship Program, has been wonderful at making students feel like they are at home. The staff and the upperclassmen offer so much support to help adjust. In my classes, the professors are also amazing – I feel so lucky to be around and be taught by people who care so much about what they teach. There are so many events, especially in the beginning of the year, that students can go to and meet new people. Any interest people have here, they will find a club that was created for that. I am very excited to explore many of my interests through these organizations, making me feel more welcomed in the Wolf Pack community.

3. What are you most excited about as you begin your studies this semester?

Firstly, I cannot wait to explore more of what the university and my scholarship program have to offer. There are so many more exciting things that I have not yet had the chance to get involved with. I am excited to attend club meetings, play intramural sports, and go to different events. Additionally, I want to get to know as many people as possible. My goal is to talk to and get to know all members of the Goodnight Scholarship Program. Another thing that I am very excited about is learning more about my academic interests and future plans. The classes I am taking for my major are fascinating, and the GSP 250 class I have to take for the scholarship has been very helpful and fun so far. I am thrilled to improve my career readiness and work on my professional development in that class. Already, I have been inspired to obtain a research position as soon as I could, and am currently making myself a more competitive applicant in my field of interest, medicine. 

4. How do you plan to balance your academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities or personal interests?

I plan to balance my academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities by staying organized and staying on top of my schoolwork. I always do any work I need for school as soon as I can. That usually means doing homework right after class and starting to study for a test a week before just so I never have to do anything last minute. Thankfully, procrastination is not something I do or like to do. To stay organized, I rely heavily on my planner that has everything I need to do, not just for school, but for other extracurricular activities as well. Following that calendar is very important to me, because it allows me to get my work done fast to have plenty of time outside of academics. All the events or meetings I have to go to are written in there, so I can see ahead of time how my week is going to look like. It also always allows me to understand what is important and what I need to complete sooner to have more time later.

5. What advice would you give to future applicants of this scholarship based on your own experience so far?

It is not hard to notice that every single Goodnight Scholar has the kindest heart and is extremely passionate about STEM. Everyone here is motivated to reach their goals and wants to be part of and better the community that is not just about the money. Goodnight Scholars love helping others and contributing to whatever is needed. Being your true self and being humble, supporting, and helpful are top qualities that the program embodies. The community is very diverse here, everyone came to NC State with different backgrounds and experiences. For example, I was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, and moved to the United States in high school during the pandemic. The different cultural and mental challenges I faced helped shape me into who I am today, discovering my true interests and goals. I would recommend future applicants to simply be honest and passionate about what they want to do. Be open to everything, let it be meeting new people or doing something you have never tried or heard of before. Lastly, make sure that you are not only ready, but excited to face challenges.