Student Spotlight: Nasiyah Isra-Ul

This week’s spotlight is on Nasiyah Isra-Ul, an inspiring young lady whose ideas about homeschooling are already changing lives and helping students.

Nasiyah recently won a $10,000 grant from the National Society of High School Scholars. She has also been a long-time user of ScholarshipOwl, from its inception.

Check out the interview and find out what homeschooling means for her, what is Canary Academy, how she started using ScholarshipOwl, and what her best tips are on applying for scholarships.

1. Congratulations on winning your grant! Now that you’ve received the $10,000 grant from the National Society of High School Scholars’ Be More Fund for the 2020 competition year, will you continue with your education? And if so, will your degree help you in your career in education?

Thanks! Yes, of course. The grant from NSHSS is simply for my nonprofit project, which is an organization founded to help homeschool students have equitable access to educational opportunities and resources. I definitely intend to continue my education. I am getting an interdisciplinary degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in history from Liberty University. Currently, I am an incoming sophomore with a 4.0 GPA. I think this degree can propel me towards state teaching licensure and help me pursue my calling to work in the educational field for students K-8. I’m extremely passionate about my faith and this is what propels me to pursue my career in education.

2. You were homeschooled just like your brother is now, how did you find the whole experience?

Yes, I was homeschooled, and I just recently graduated with honors in 2020. I loved the experience. Being homeschooled gave me a number of advantages, including being able to have more time to pursue my interests and getting more time to volunteer in my community. I could focus more on the fun of learning at my pace. This helped me excel in school and allowed me to obtain 18 credits hours (the equivalent of an undergrad certificate from Liberty University) in college by the time I graduated from high school in 2020. Homeschooling is an amazing system. That’s why I started my nonprofit, Canary Academy!

I started Canary Academy because I felt that there were too many options scattered across the web for parents and families to find, and as more people started to homeschool during the pandemic, it was evident that there wasn’t a straightforward solution at the time. As a homeschool grad, I knew what homeschooling could be like with the right tools, but not every family could access those tools due to a lack of affordability and ease of access. In 2020, the project and methods that I had developed over three years to improve access to homeschool resources ended up being selected to go before a panel of judges at NSHSS’s first annual Be-More-A-Thon competition. That’s when I was able to get feedback on my idea and polish it, pitching my idea in three elimination rounds beginning with 39 other competitors (students and educators), and won 1 of 10 $10,000 grants in front of a live virtual audience. The nonprofit launches in the Spring of 2021, and we’ve already started partnering with other educational organizations to help homeschool families everywhere have equitable access to homeschool courses, resources, and materials.

3. What are you planning to study in college?

I am currently enrolled in an interdisciplinary degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in history, however, I also plan on taking Spanish courses, business management classes, and continuing my education to eventually receive a Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology.

4. Now that you’re starting college, have you been applying for scholarships for yourself? If so, how has the process been for you?

Yes, I’ve applied to hundreds of scholarships, but I have realized that it’s much harder to get selected than it is to apply. The main place I apply for scholarships is through ScholarshipOwl and My Honor Society (NSHSS). I find I do better at scholarships where I talk or present than when I write or turn in a resume. However, it is very time-consuming to apply for scholarships, so I dedicate about 3 hrs per week to do it (during the summer, I spend nearly 3 hrs a day applying for scholarships).

5. Even though you’ve begun building a nonprofit, you’re still looking for scholarships to help you get to college. What factors helped you choose which scholarships to apply to?

I am currently in college thanks to a combination of federal loans, community scholarships, and federal grants. The main factor that helps me decide what scholarships to apply for is simply the community factor. I love applying for scholarships that ask “what are you doing to create change” or “what is your passion to make the world a better place.” I like essay scholarships better than drawing-style scholarships only because you have a better opportunity of being selected, in my opinion. 

6. Do you have a unique strategy when it comes to picking which scholarship to apply for?

I have never really considered a specific strategy to find and apply to specific scholarships. I enjoy applying for scholarships that are straightforward, easy, and fun.

7. Essays are an important part of scholarship applications. Do you have a secret tip on how you can make your essays stand out?

One word: Faith.

My favorite verse from the Bible is Romans 8:28, which talks about everything always working out in the favor of those who hold fast to their faith in times of difficulty or challenges. I do my ultimate best and allow the Creator to do the rest, that’s my method.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to other students, what would it be?

Don’t overdo it. Oftentimes, people over stress about paying for college. It’s a daunting task, yes. But I always make time for friends and family and ask for help when I need it. I feel that there needs to be balance in everything. Balance allows inner-peace, which can help make you a more productive individual.

9. How did you hear about ScholarshipOwl?

I remember searching for apps that would help me apply for scholarships back in 9th grade. I found apply.me, back then, that was the scholarshipowl.com of today. After that app was discontinued, I found out that the company behind apply.me had another program called scholarshipowl.com. Once I registered on the site and started using it, I immediately found it to be extremely useful and easy to use. I love how it continues to evolve thanks to student feedback. I have recommended it to a lot of friends.

10. Applying to and winning the scholarships you apply to will definitely help free up some time for more of what you love. Do you have any hobbies? Do you think hobbies help with applications?

Yes, I have lots of hobbies. One of my top hobbies include baking and practicing culinary arts techniques, like making pâté à choux dough, puff pastry dough, and artisan breads. Other hobbies include music production and vocals, piano, writing song lyrics, writing poetry, entrepreneurship, and tutoring. I don’t know how helpful these hobbies will be when applying for scholarships, but I enjoy taking time each week to pursue each one.

11. Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself that we don’t know already?

I am a member of the Student Council in my honor society. I am the founder, president, and CEO of Canary Academy Online (canaryacademyonline.org). I have studied three languages over the years, including a little Hebrew, basic Spanish, and beginner-level Mandarin Chinese.

12. Lastly, what is your superpower?

Let’s just say that if I told you, you’d never believe me. I keep my secret identity hush hush. ?.

Nasiyah is an example of a devoted, engaged, multidisciplinary student – ready to be proactive about her dreams. From her homeschooling experience to higher education and the academy she founded, her faith has motivated her to reach higher.

We at ScholarshipOwl are always happy to hear such inspiring stories. Nasiyah’s success shows what happens when a vision joins hands with faith and adequate support. Nasiyah’s been a long-time user of ScholarshipOwl and we are certain that loads of great scholarships await her.

If you’d like to read more inspiring stories like Nasiyah’s, check out our In the Spotlight section.

For additional tips and tricks on how to pursue your vision, and secure the scholarships you need, read our blog.