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Hi everyone, and welcome! My name is Noela, and on this platform, I love sharing stories about the DV Lottery. Today, I’m thrilled to tell you my personal journey—how this incredible opportunity completely transformed my life.
A High School Dream and a Distant Hope
Rewind to 2012. I was in my final year of high school, and like many young people, I had big dreams. One of my biggest? Studying abroad. Growing up in the Congo, though, I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. My family didn’t have the financial means to send me overseas.
At that time, I didn’t know much about the DV Lottery. Thankfully, I had family in the United States who were well-versed in the process. They were helping other relatives apply, and when my uncle asked my aunts to get professional photos for the application, he also asked about me.
“Do they have their diplomas?” he asked, knowing the DV Lottery required a high school diploma and applicants to be at least 18. My aunts explained I was in my final year. My uncle’s response? “Get her photos anyway. By the time the results come out, she’ll have her diploma.”
So, we took the photos and sent them off. To be honest, I didn’t give it much thought. “If it happens, it happens,” I told myself.
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Manifesting My Dreams
Fast forward to 2013. The DV Lottery results were due in May, and coincidentally, so were my state exam results. Now, I had always told my parents I wanted to study abroad, even though it seemed impossible. My mom recently reminded me how often I said it—maybe I was manifesting it!
The DV Lottery results came first. When my uncle told my parents my name was selected, I was in disbelief. I thought he was just inviting me for a visit! But no, this was real. However, there was a catch: I needed my high school diploma to proceed.
In the Congo, the state exam is a huge deal. We waited anxiously for the results. Finally, in June or July, they arrived—and I had passed!
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My One-Time Miracle
Here’s the incredible part: that was my very first time applying for the DV Lottery. And my name was selected. Just like that.
From there, things moved quickly. My uncle guided us through the paperwork, and I traveled to Kinshasa for my interview. By March 8, 2014, I landed in New York City.
A Message of Hope
Why do I share this story? To encourage you. I know many people get discouraged after multiple attempts, but you never know when your blessing will come. My uncle’s push and my single application changed my life forever.
If you’re abroad, encourage your family back home to apply. And if you’re eligible, apply yourself! All you need is a photo and an internet connection. Don’t give up.
I’m praying that many of you will see your names when the DV-2025 results come out in May. And even if you don’t, keep playing!
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Your Questions Answered
Thank you for reading and supporting. I’m planning a Q&A post about the DV Lottery, so please leave your questions in the comments below. If you have an interview coming up for DV-2025, check out my previous articles on possible questions and answers.
Keep believing, and see you in my next post!
Key Takeaways:
- Persistence Pays Off: Even if you’ve applied multiple times, don’t give up.
- One Chance Can Change Everything: Noela’s story highlights the power of a single application.
- Encourage Others: If you’re abroad, help your eligible family members apply.
- Stay Informed: The DV Lottery has specific requirements and deadlines, so stay updated.
- Manifest your dreams: Noela says she was manifesting her dreams of studying abroad
