2022 Diana Award Kanto Raveloson shares her story
Join the conversation with Kanto Raveloson founder of Better Tomorrow and recipient of the Diana Award in 2022.
Kanto’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kantoraveloson/
YouTube Link for full video: https://youtu.be/qYYBZc3S7bI
Facebook link (a series of light-weight videos): https://fb.watch/qq4fMb_NF7/
Kanto Raveloson:
And I actually met Prince Harry. So I think I didn’t expect that because when I first started better tomorrow, it came just from my heart I just genuinely wanting to help people and do what I’m passionate about.
Antsa: I am Antsa and welcome to my channel! Subscribe and follow to get updates to this video is with Kanto Raveloson, founder of Better Tomorrow and recipient of the Diana Award in 2022. Let’s jump in.
Kanto, Tell us about yourself.
Kanto Raveloson: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much Antsa for inviting me. So my name is Kanto Raveloson from Madagascar. And I grew up in Madagascar before studying here in the US. So I went to a French high school Alliance française Antsahabe then went to community college just because I really had bad grades in high school, and couldn’t get the scholarships that I needed. And then after Community College, I worked really hard. And now me in UC Berkeley with a fully funded scholarship.
Antsa: Okay, so how was your upbringing influenced your worldview?
Kanto Raveloson: Growing up in Madagascar, we experienced financial difficulties. And I think that not only taught me like resilience, but also like to be resourceful. And coming here in the US, I had the opportunity to study here and go into a really prestigious school like UC Berkeley. But then when I think of like my folks in Madagascar living in extreme poverty. And, here I am, having this big opportunity, it taught me like to be more compassionate and empathy in general. And, I think that’s why I’m studying what I’m doing. I’m studying global development. And I always try to, help people when I can, from my Facebook page, but also, my LinkedIn posts are encouraging African students, international students in general. Those are just my values and how I see the word.
Antsa: So what are some of the most significant cultural differences, you’ve experienced?
Kanto Raveloson: Talking about the US and Madagascar. So in terms of its education system. So first of all, here in the US, it really shocked me, I was sort of surprised when I first came in the community college I went to, everyone just, share their own opinions, points of views. And it just really, struck me because, in Madagascar, we were in a lot to, talk, or, things like that. And I think that was a really big change for me, because, I’m not really that kind of person. I was, really shy and all of that. And, but also, with the instructors here in the US, you can have close relationships with them. But in Madagascar, which is teaching and learning, and that’s it. But here you can go have no coffee with them, go to their office hours, talk about your personal lives even or, anything that you want. And I think that’s very, very good.
Antsa:
Let us talk about the most important social issues that you care about.
Kanto Raveloson:
I think the main thing is poverty, because I from Madagascar, of course, and then there’s education, quality education. And the last thing is gender equality, just because gender inequalities in Madagascar just really prevailed.
Antsa: Where can people find you?
Kanto Raveloson:
People can find me mostly on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kantoraveloson/) and my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554879297252), I do not really respond to like Instagram or my own personal Facebook.
Antsa:
Where do you study now? And when which year are you and what is your major?
Kanto Raveloson:
So I’m currently studying at UC Berkeley that’s like University of California, Berkeley, and I’m studying global development, and I’m in my fourth year.
Antsa:
When did you decide to pursue that path?
Kanto Raveloson:
Okay, so this is really funny, because unlike most people, they don’t know what I’m gonna do and all of that, but me, since high school, I always knew what I wanted to do. And I just don’t know why or how. I just did research, online with all the career options available out there. And then one day I saw, global development, with all like the flags, at the UN and all of that. And I didn’t even know what was that, in depth, but I was just really interested. And I always knew I wanted to do it. And since that, I always knew I wanted to get involved in nonprofit organisations and do my own one day. So that’s how I started to, get involved with Malagasy will rise, and then Girl Up campaign, and then Better Tomorrow.
Antsa:
Yeah. When How did you decide which college to go to?
Kanto Raveloson:
Like I mentioned, I went to community college before transferring to UC Berkeley. So Community College, just because my high school grades were really, really bad. So I couldn’t get like the scholarship that I needed. I didn’t get accepted to the schools that I wanted. I just didn’t know much about what the community college really is about, transferring to a four year university, or, just, anything about community college and its benefits. So, I just started to go there, just because it’s really easy to get in, like most of the community colleges have really high acceptance rates. So that’s why I decided to go there, but also they’re really affordable. I just want to go here in new ways, find a way to go here. And then, try to work hard and better myself. And then why I decided to go to UC Berkeley. Well, when I was in community college, I didn’t really like expect to do well in school. Even when I got here in the US, I didn’t really expect much, with, I’m gonna get good grades and all of that. But then, during my first semester, I did surprisingly well. And I think it was just its educational sySTEM. They’re just really different, I think that’s why. And then my counsellor at my community college, he was really, helpful. He really believed in me and just guided me in the process. So that’s how, he told me, I could go to like Stanford, UC Berkeley, Cornell, all of that. And then it just saw, a potential in me, and started to research, these big schools, and I was Is this even possible? How am I gonna afford these, they’re really expensive… But then I just started to apply, to Cornell, Boston, Brown, and that just, just to test the water, I guess. I didn’t have any, like support, my parents, you don’t know anything. I just want you to do it. And then when I was ready, I applied to the real schools, like Berkeley, Stanford, and other schools. And then for the scholarship, how did I get it? Well, it was just someone from my community college, I talked to him, I want to go to UC Berkeley, but I don’t know how I’m gonna pay for the tuition and all of that. So he basically told me about the scholarship, and he told me how to apply. And so I was Okay, I’m gonna do that. And then before, even, applying to UC Berkeley, I talked to like the office of UC Berkeley. So I talked to them, I met them and they told me what I need to do for a scholarship and all of that. And then I was but it’s UC Berkeley, how am I gonna get in and then they’re oh, but you have really good grades while you’re doing all this and that and you have a good chance and I was Okay, I’m gonna apply. And so that’s how I decided to apply. And then they gave me a scholarship and it was a fully funded scholarship. So that was really, like really good. He’s really changed my life because I didn’t really expect that and then for the other schools that I applied to, he also came me scholarships. So I was just Stuck between, like different choices, which was really amazing because, it’s not given to everyone. And so, even like some of the schools that gave me like the Chancellor’s and Regents Scholarship, which is for like the most, the best applicants because, the schools, they get like 700,000 applicant, and they only choose select 120 from them to give the scholarship. And I was like one of them. So that’s really wow. And, I could have gone to like other schools, but like UC Berkeley, just because it’s in California. And it’s UC Berkeley, and with what I’m doing UC Berkeley is one of the best and what else? and it’s also close to my community college, I didn’t want to go far, travel again. And I think that’s why I chose Community College and UC Berkeley in general.
Antsa:
What does your study habits looks like?
Kanto Raveloson: When I was in Madagascar, because Madagascar was in the French sySTEM, so we had like the “Séries” S, Es and all that. And I was in the “Série scientifique”, and I specialised in math, actually. So that’s why I did pretty bad because most of the smart kids were in that.
So I would say, I wasn’t that bad. But then I was in a classroom with all the smart people. So I think that’s why, and I think like going into STEM, and, being around these, smart kids really just shaped my way of studying and just, working hard and, heavy classes. So I think that really helped me, when, I get into UC Berkeley, because, UC Berkeley is very heavy. And
it helped me I even after all these years, but back then I say, I studied hard. Yes, I say, but it’s still wasn’t enough. maybe I just started the wrong ways. Or it just the educational system was not for me, maybe.
so when I came here in the US, it was really different. We didn’t have to, like write tons of essays, write a lot of things, like have long lessons, but it was more voicing yourself, or expressing your opinions, and like quizzes, multiple choices. So that was in community college, and I was pretty, easy. And then hear at Berkeley? Well, I’m in social sciences. So that’s different from STEM. So which means we have tons of readings, and it’s really hard actually, the readings and all of that, that you can get 400 Pages for one class for like a week. So that’s kind of a lot. but, you just have to, use what we have, which means the technology, mostly when English is not your first language, and you use what you have everything you go to, like the GSIs, the office hours, GSIs(Grad Students Instructor). They help run the classes, they teach the classes. And so you can go to them, asking about, lectures and all of that. So, I’ve been doing that here at Berkeley, that that really helped me a lot. In terms of study habits, I always create a schedule, just so I know what needs to be done, when and how much needs to be done. I always try to, stay organized, and you know, I have different things going on. So like being organized is really crucial. And then also like breaking the tasks, the most important important things and, the deadlines, and assignments. I always listen to music when I study. I just can’t concentrate when I don’t listen to music. And I always like to, study alone to I don’t like to go to libraries and all of that, because, the people going around, in and out, just doesn’t help me. So I’m just studying at home in my room. Yeah. And then, like I said, try to seek help as much as possible, going to the Learning Center, for like writing, reading, essays and stuff like that. And then, and also, I’m very, old style. I use notebooks and pens, even though we’re supposed to use, like laptops and all of that, but even in my classrooms, I always use our notebooks, to take notes and even like to write my essays, which is kind of weird, because we like we’ve like all the technologies that we have right now. We’ve like proofread and all of that. I still use like pens. But I think every one is different. So, really depends. So you have to know yourself first, and what works best for you and try to adjust based on that.
Antsa: How do you manage your time?
Kanto Raveloson: I use Google Calendar, I also use different apps for remember up, and the other one I forgot, but it’s like for notes up for like different tasks, like the smaller ones that I need to do. So this helped me like to stay organized and also like management plans. Oh, also like the calendar, it helps me like visualize, my time and, what I need to do and all of that, and the smaller apps, they helped me, break, like the small task. Yes. Because, in order to, do the bigger ones, you need to, do the smaller ones first. And, I also use time blocking. So basically, I set aside besides dedicated time, that to, work study, or even cooking, I have pretty, strict schedule, I need to do this now. And so I don’t multitask, or, do two different things at the same time. So that really helps mostly when it comes to like exams.
Antsa: So talking about exams, how do you prepare for them?
Kanto Raveloson: The first thing for me, really important, before the exams, I really tried to, create a healthy environment for me, the apartment, I keep cleaning the apartment. I go shopping for the two weeks of hibernation, that’s how I call it and try to, even mentally, I tried to, prepare myself mentally. And, so before the exams, what I usually do also is three weeks before the exams, I tried to, see ahead of time, what I need to do for the exams, like how much I need to study the content, the readings that I missed the lectures that I didn’t really catch. So, that way, I have, like a sense of, how much should I be prepared, and, just to organize myself in advance with everything that I’m doing, but also just, to be mentally prepared and ready. And also, just in case you have, you missed anything in class or didn’t do some kind of assignments or readings, you have time to, catch those up and go to the instructors, the GSIs and talk about that. So, that’s what I usually do before, the exams, and then I try to go see the, again, the GSIs as much as possible, just to, prepare myself, with what I need to study. And, just before revising, the course material, and that way, I’m really prepared mentally, and also not to procrastinate, because I think most people like procrastinate, just because they’re really stressed out, with, the things that they need to do, and the things that they missed in class, and they don’t know and, and all that. So that’s why I just prepare myself in advance. And then during the actual studying for exams, well, I tried to stick to the schedule as much as possible. So I study well, I always avoid like studying at night, just because it’s not healthy. And, as always, try to go to bed early. And then I like study for let’s say, two hours for like something and take a break for like 20 minutes. I mean, just that’s just me, I can go very long studying and then, I just study all day. Yeah. And also, I’m a very slow learner. So that means I have to, like get as much information as possible for from the topic, the subject. So that means doing a lot of research, on the subject, but also like reading a lot like many times about the subject. So my brain can retain like as much information as possible. But also for me, like as a social sciences major, it’s really important to, like understand the materials rather than, memorising the contents. I think that depends on the course, yes, but that’s what I usually do. And then I after, studying all of that, like researching, reviewing materials and all that I tried to, formulate my own questions. I tried to even though like the instructors, they already give you study guides, I still, try to formulate my own questions, and then answer them like, writing, like in forms of essays, but also out loud. So, my brain can retain the information in different ways. So for me, like writing is really important, but also saying things out loud, just because, English is not my first language. So it’s hard to just read it, by yourself and saying it out loud. I think that’s just like a tip for, international students. And also, I think, because for my classes, we usually write a lot of essays during exams. So it’s mostly based on essays. And so that means, you can’t just read because you want reading and writing is not the same when it comes to like English as like a second language. So that’s why I write them before and read them out loud. So that’s how I do it. Yeah.
Antsa: Do you have some tips to help students that they stress when it comes to finals?
Kanto Raveloson: So Oh, like I said, I think most of us stressed out and procrastinate for exams or finals. Because how much the course is requires. And also when it comes to we don’t know much about the subject, we haven’t already studied well, during the semester, things like that, or just, being stressed out, because how much you have to study, right? So that’s why, I said, it’s, it’s really important to, be ready in advance, just mentally,
you know, how much not you need to study for this, this and that, and then, create a schedule in advance, and, go see, provide professors GSIs, on, things you missed, and things you need to catch up. And so, you don’t have to, study them, right, just like three weeks before, you can just, see how much like things you need to do. And all of that, so your brain can be ready. And then, I think that’s, that’s how I prepare myself, the just to not to be stressed up. And I think, it could be used for anything.
Antsa: Tell us about your language learning journey, where it how do you learn German, French and English.
Kanto Raveloson: So when it comes to French, I went to French High School, like I said, So that sort of speak French fluently. English and German, I also studied them in high school, but the language level is not really like enough, mostly, when it comes to studying abroad for this specific language. So for me, like English, my dad, he just really valued like learning multiple languages. And, that includes German and English. So that’s how I prepared myself, of, coming here in the US. So basically at home, or just, watch videos, movies in English a lot. And then read books in English as well. And even speak English, try to, and that’s how I really, like learn English before coming here. Because it was just really hard, you know. And then for German, well, in high school, I took German classes, but then I wasn’t really enough, of course, when I came here in the US, I knew how important it was, to learn different languages, mostly for like my major, which is global development. So I just, decided to take it seriously. So that’s when I taught myself, again, German from online courses. And then when I went back to school, because, I had gap year during my school. And so, when I came back to school, I decided to take advanced German classes, they were really intense in all of that. So that’s why I learned to speak German as well. Yeah.
Antsa: Now let’s talk about better tomorrow.
Kanto Raveloson: Yes, of course.
Antsa: What are the motivations, the stories who are involved and the impact?
Kanto Raveloson: Better Tomorrow is a global non-profit organisation that I founded almost three years ago now, which is crazy. So we work on bridging the gender gap in education and STEM fields. Regarding the impact, so far, we have completed turn 10 projects and events as a parent organisation, which are different from the local chapters projects. And those includes like rebuilding schools in Madagascar in Morocco, but also providing water and adequate sanitation facilities. Also, like the orphanage in Uganda, and other different things, and for like the events we had, like the fundraising events just recently in July, here in California for like the orphanage story building in Uganda.
We also did like the better tomorrow up challenge in Madagascar, also, like the global webinar, which was online and so that’s about like the project and events and then like from look how better tomorrow started. So we started off social media, which is pretty crazy. Because right now we’re doing on ground projects. I didn’t really expect all that. So basically, we started off social media, we have team, so only online. So most of our teams are from different parts of the world. We have team from Malaysia, Costa Rica, UK, France.
So those are like the main exec board. But then, of course, volunteers we have, from everywhere. And then we started to post things on social media, mostly Instagram, videos, lives. And then one day, we did like a call for members, and we actually got a lot of members from different parts of the world, which I didn’t really expect. So that’s how we started and that’s how we started our local chapters for these members from different parts of the world. Most of our sponsors, donors, partners, like I never met any of them. They just, reach out to us through social media. And then, say this and that, and that’s how we work together.
I think like most people, they don’t realize the social, I mean, the power of social media, and mostly nowadays, so I think we should take advantage of it. And then, like I always said, most of the work art that we’re doing, or like from the local volunteers that we have, so without them, we wouldn’t have like the project that we’re doing right now. We better tomorrow wouldn’t be the same and my life wouldn’t be the same. So they’re the one who carry our programs and sustain better tomorrow’s impact. So yes,
Antsa: What inspired you to start better tomorrow?
Kanto Raveloson: I have always been passionate about starting my own organization. Since that very, like early age, I just didn’t know which nice or social issues I’m gonna work on and all of that. But then coming from Madagascar, and then going here in the US and having opportunity to, study here, I just really recognize, the transformative potential of education. So that’s why Better Tomorrow is focusing on education. But then we’re also focusing on gender inequalities. So why gender inequalities? I grew up in Madagascar, we’ve been a culture in the family, where, a woman don’t really have a prominent role in different areas of life, like workplace, businesses, family matters, politics, and all that. And I just grew up, really noticing woman in my life, like my mom, my aunts, not being included in family matters. And meetings, heritage, businesses,… So that’s why, focusing on gender equality, and then for STEM, I’m doing STEM, which is really, doesn’t have to do, it doesn’t have anything to do with, my major or anything. And people always asking me, why are you doing STREM? do you know anything about STEM, but the real thing is, this is like a story. But my dad here really like value STEM, you really, like instilled us, the importance of instant since a very young age. So when we were when we were young, we would learn how to do coding, and then we took computer science classes, at a very young age. And then, I just, I think it’s just from that. But then, when I was sick alter, my brother is studying computer science right now. So I think that’s also why, but then, on individual level, during the COVID, I just really wanted to learn different skills, and coding was one of them. So I just really taught myself, from different courses. And then my brother also helped me, he gave me programs and all of that. And then, a year later I found this job. And I applied, and I got the job. And then that job really changed my life, because I didn’t really expect to, pursue, that feel like really getting a job and all that because I just, wanted to learn and, discover things. I stayed with them for two years, actually. And so, they helped me with the different things they really changed my life for the better. they helped me with my housing, for my car. And then they referred me to like other jobs as well. Just because, like rent here in California is really expensive. And so that was really helpful. And also, I didn’t have like the money to buy a car and all that. So they helped me and all that. So, STEM really just changed my life, I think. And that’s why we’re focusing on STEM right now. And mostly as a woman.
Antsa: What are some of the biggest challenges you faced? Were running Better Tomorrow?
Kanto Raveloson: So when I first started Better Tomorrow, I didn’t have really experience. I mean, I did but not much. And so it was a really big change for me, running terms from different parts of the word, mostly like having college students in high school students in your team. That’s just crazy. Right? And so I think like the most, like the biggest challenge that I encountered was like the time differences, because we have teams from different parts of the world. And it was really hard to like schedule meetings to follow up with them because some of us like are sleeping. Some of us are like waking up, going to school and all of that you So that was really like a challenge. After that, maybe after three months, I just really restructured everything: the rules, the teams, … And that’s how we overcame this challenge. And then also, I think, like just team management, I think that’s just one of the biggest challenges for every, businesses, every business startup nonprofit, and so mostly, we have, just students, and that’s just really hard, working with students only, and you don’t have any experience. So, I’m still working on it, it’s just like a long process, and, discovery and all of that. Those are the main challenges that I faced so far.
Antsa: How do you measure the impact of Better Tomorrow’s work?
Kanto Raveloson: Well, for example, I said, we have impacted over 500, children recruited over 250 volunteers, done over 10 projects and events. So for the volunteers, we keep track of them. So that’s how we know how many volunteers we get. And for the countries, we also keep track of, where the volunteers are from. And, for example, we’re doing events, and we have forms that will take place just to know, how many people we reach where they’re from. So that’s how we, we keep track of, like the volunteers, and then for, the children and the young people. So that’s just basically how many beneficiaries for like the school we’re doing. For example, the Better Tomorrow app challenge, like how many applications we get. And then for, for example, like donations, in Bangladesh, we like we partnered like with an orphanage in Bangladesh.
And so just how many children they have in the orphanage and all that. So that’s how we keep track of how many, people we have impacted. And so, also, like I said, we have local chapters, so these local chapters, they help us, keep track of all of this, we can do all that by ourselves. So they basically, like help us. And also like for the long term sustainability, they’re just really helpful that.
Antsa: What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had when working with better tomorrow?
Kanto Raveloson: I’m gonna say three of them. So the first one is when we first got a lot of applications from members to join us. I just didn’t expect much, just because we started off social media. But then that’s how I really knew like the power of social media, and the power, like what we post online. And, the interactions that we’re building, like the algorithm of social media. And so I think that it’s just really memorable, because I didn’t expect to get as many people. And then the second most memorable, I’d say, when we first got our grant, that was like the first grant that we got for like the school rehabilitation in Madagascar. We didn’t even have to apply for it, which was really unbelievable. They just reach out to us on social media, again, the power of social media. So they reached out to us because they saw, like the video that we recorded for like the school, the things that we posted, and so there is to us, they said that they will, they wanted to work with us. So this grant was from a nonprofit organization here in California. So they wanted to help, I think genuinely, and so we worked with them, they gave us the grant to do the school. And and so that’s how we like when I also knew, like this thing, like the work that we’re doing could be like a real thing, because, like back then I didn’t really expect to on ground projects, because like I said, we started off social media. So do we like school rehabilitation as like a first project that’s just really unbelievable. So and then the Third, I’d say when I got like the Diana Award, and then I actually met Prince Harry. So I think I didn’t really expect that because when I first started Barrow Tomorrow, it was just, it just came just from my heart. I just genuinely wanting to help people do what I, I’m passionate about, and then that set but then, all these people, they’re oh, doing an optimization can open know, a lot of doors for you and all of that, but then, I just it wasn’t really my plans or anything, you know. And so there was the Dinah word, and I got it. And then I met, I met Prince Harry. And that’s just when I realized, this is a real thing. this is really happening. It’s just, it’s not just like something on social media. It’s not just something we post about, we’re just really impacting, real lives of people, changing lives for the better. Those are like the three most memorable moments.
Antsa: What are your future plans for Better Tomorrow?
Kanto Raveloson: Well, my future plans for Better Tomorrow, oh, it’s the same has always been the same. Just, keep doing what we do, work, genuinely, with our hearts and, keep changing lives, for the better impacting as many people as possible. But I think in terms of like risk plans, it’s just really, expanding our projects, opening more local chapters in different parts of the world, and the, involving as many people as possible.
Antsa: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a nonprofit organization?
Kanto Raveloson: Starting a non-profit organization is really a lot of risk, massive responsibility. It’s not just about, your CV or college applications. So that’s really important, to keep in mind, and then you have to, like choose a cause you’re passionate about. So that’s really important, just like to keep going, because, things will get hard, mostly, when you’re young, and you’re just doing it for fun, that’s, that’s how it works, you’re, you have like commitment to these, like people to the community, to also with our teams. So that’s why having, choosing a cause that you’re really passionate about is really crucial. So I think finding your niche, and how do you find your niche, I think it’s just really researching, the different social issues. And also, connecting with people do a lot of volunteering work, working with, if you have the chance working with different organization, but also I think the most important thing is just really, listen and interact to to community that you want to work with, and, listen to what they need, and the issues, the problems that need to be, addressed. So, for my, for my part, I think, because we’re working on education, STEM gender inequality, so that just really came from my story from my, background, so I didn’t really have to, like search very far. So that’s how I find my niche. And then, for Better Tomorrow, I spent two years of networking, learning how to run an organization have been experienced, applying to like different programs, like leadership programs, and all that, just to, be ready when I, start better tomorrow. So, also, I think, advice is just really, learn as much as possible. I mean, this is a long process, and you need to be patient, and you’re not going to be perfect, you’re not gonna know, everything, once, that’s just not possible. And so, you just like keep, discovered things and have an open mind, because, things will change, things will get harder, and also at the problems that, like the committee’s will face will also change. So you need to keep that in mind, and then also let the teams I think, really important that you have to have like the right team for you. So that it really depends on who you are, like your values, the values of your organization, because, when you start like an organization, you have to have values in your cultural deck. So you have to keep that in mind and then just choose the right team for you, and so for me, I think my team really inspired me, to be where I am right now. Because, when I first started by tomorrow, I didn’t know I was going to get into Berkeley, I didn’t even think of applying. It just really inspired me because, just for the context, most of my teams are better tomorrow. They are really, really inspiring people. They’re at Stanford, Harvard, Duke, Oxford. I’m the founder, and I’m the exec director of this, I need to do better. And they’re just really inspired me and just, encouraged me to be better to better every day and just, know that I could achieve, more than I thought I could. And I think so I think like having like the right team for you is really important.
Antsa: What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned while working with tomorrow?
Kanto Raveloson: Yes. So some of the most important lessons, I think, there are tomorrow has taught me that no action is too small. everyday we have the power to make positive change around us, in the communities. And so, our actions like no matter how small they are, they can they have the potential to, have said that to inspire, to inspire positive change around us, but also in the lives of others, and that’s on a global scale. I mean, you could just say we’re just on social media, but then you don’t know what’s gonna happen or you could just be Oh, this is my first post on LinkedIn or anything but you don’t know what’s gonna happen.
Antsa: Let’s go through the questions from the followers on Facebook.
The questions were in Malagasy, I will translate the questions and summarize Kanto’s answers for them.
Johanness Ramiandrisoa:
ML: “Ahoana no ahalalana hoe misy frais de dossier na tsia ny oniversite na bourse?”
EN: “How to know whether a College or a scholarship has application fees or not?”
Kanto: Go to the official website of the university or the scholarship.All information you should know about the program is already there! Universities always have application fees. Scholarships don’t have application fees! If it has, it is a SCAM, not a scholarship!
Aina Faniriantsoa: ML: “Ahoana no nisafidianana ilay Université dia ahoana no nataonao tamin’ny nanao application?
EN: “How did you choose the university and how was the application process?”
Kanto: I already answered the first part of the question, the first reason I chose UC Berkley is that they offered me a scholarship! Also, UC Berkeley is one of the best university in the US! About the application process, Every information should be available in the website of the university: The application portal, application fees, application platform they use! UC Berkeley uses UC app (https://apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/my-application/login) as their application platform. UC App is the portal you use to apply for all campuses of the University of California. You can apply to as many UC campuses as you like with one application. The campuses may requests additional documents/interviews/recommendation letters after the first screening on the UC app! Some universities use the Common App (https://www.commonapp.org/) as their pplication platform. Universities using the Common App: Stanford, Cornell, Boston, … Those two platforms work very similarly: You have to write an essay, they’ll ask about your activities, your grades,… You have to check with your university of interest which platform they use!
Faniriantsoa Hermine: ML: “Ahoana no atao ahafahana misitraka vatsim-pianarana?”
EN: “What to do to get a scholarship?”
Kanto: In Kanto’s Facebook Page (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kantoraveloson/), there are detailed videos about scholarships! Check it out! In addition, make sure you do many extra-curricular activities! You also need to get good grades. You need to write a good essay relevant to the program you are applying for. You need to write a good essay relevant to the program you are applying for. Show them that you are the right student to receive their support!
Antsa: Your final words?
Kanto Raveloson: Thank you so much for watching the video, first of all, and second of all, just really know that every one is different. Every panelist friends, it could be here in the US in, in Europe, anything in Madagascar doesn’t really matter. But what really matters, it’s just you, personally, professionally and that you take this path as the continuous, path of learning but also discovery and you enjoy what you’re doing. You enjoy your life and you’re passionate about what you’re doing. So I think those are like the most important thing it’s not really like oh, I have to like achieve this or this it just really like enjoy yourself and like just be in peace with your mind. overall well being and like your life
Antsa: Thank you so much for coming here and I thank you also the viewers who made it to the end
Transcribed by https://otter.ai and edited manually.
