Hi, my name is Zennure Arga, and I studied at the University of Florida English Language Institute (UF ELI). 

Before moving to the United States, I was working as a university lecturer in Türkiye, and from the outside, I seemed to have a good career. However, I felt incomplete. All my life, I wanted to truly live and learn English to its core, and my current situation was not satisfying me. I needed to make a decision.

I did not have valuable savings; the only valuable thing I owned was my car. I sold it and decided to take the biggest risk of my life with that money. I was so tired of long, cold winters that when I opened the map of the United States, my eyes went straight to Florida, known for its warm sun. When I zoomed in on the map, the first name that appeared was the "University of Florida." I researched it and saw they had a great English Language Institute (ELI). I applied, received my acceptance letter, and went to my visa interview with great courage. The moment I found out my visa was approved on August 20th; I bought a one-way ticket to Gainesville for just two days later.

When I first stepped into America, it was midnight. I was on the other side of the world, I knew no one, and I had no idea what to do. Thanks to a distant request from a friend in Türkiye, a kind-hearted stranger—whom I still do not know today—picked me up from the airport and dropped me off at a safe place. That night, amidst this massive unknown, I held onto nothing but my prayers to Allah and the hope in my heart.

When my education started, I only had an extremely limited budget from selling my car, which had to cover both my tuition and living expenses. Throughout the process, I did not spend a single penny on anything other than basic food and transportation. I did not buy myself a new outfit, new shoes, or anything that could be considered a luxury. My only focus was surviving and completing my education in the best way possible.

But even though my money was limited, my desire to connect with people and create a positive environment was limitless. By nature, I love bringing respect, love, and excellent communication to every environment I enter. This enthusiasm in the classroom, the warm dialogues I built with my friends, and my dedication to my classes did not go unnoticed by my teachers. At the end of my first semester, something I will never forget happened: my teachers nominated me for the J.C. Casagrande Peace Scholarship, and I won! This scholarship was not just an honor; it was a miracle that allowed my limited funds to last for the next semester.

After taking a break and returning to Türkiye for a semester, I came back to Florida with almost no budget left to continue my education. But I did not give up. I maintained the work discipline and love for people that are in my nature. And incredibly, I was awarded the same Peace Scholarship for a second time. Despite all the negativities, and the financial and emotional hardships, I believed in the path I had set out on.

If there is any student out there right now, anywhere in the world, who wants to follow their dreams but is afraid because of a lack of money or because others say "you can't do it," I want to tell them this: If you believe, do your best, and spread good energy around you, you will always encounter good people and opportunities reaching out to help you.

The University of Florida ELI started as a random click on a map for me, but it did not just teach me English; thousands of miles from home, it gave me a new family and a future full of hope.