Thanks to the full scholarship she received to attend the Fisher College of Business, first-generation college student Brittany Goad has been living her Ohio State experience to the fullest. She credits her generous benefactor as the key to her current and future success.

How did you feel when you learned you had been awarded a full scholarship?
I was completely surprised. I never thought in a million years that I would get that amount of money. It’s so life-changing—I was just speechless. It was so great to feel that someone had so much generosity to help one student follow her dreams and not have to graduate with thousands of dollars in loans.

Have you enjoyed your time at Ohio State so far?
Never in my life did I think I would enjoy Ohio State as much as I have. It’s been absolutely remarkable. I’ve been able to take full advantage of everything Ohio State has to offer and that is in huge part due to my financial aid. I love sharing my Ohio State story. I hope more students can find their niche here and enjoy this university as much as I have.

What do you like the most about studying business administration?
I love that I am constantly learning timeless skills. Through my specialization—accounting and logistics management—I have learned how to be a decision-maker through real-life case studies. I love that my program of study has not only given me technical skills, like how to analyze financial statements, but also personal skills. The things I’ve learned are absolutely priceless.

Do you participate in campus organizations or volunteer opportunities?
I am actively involved in the Student-Alumni Council, a large organization dedicated to bettering the experiences of past, present, and future Ohio State students. I am also in the Honors Cohort at Fisher, where I have spent my junior year taking all my core business classes with the same 29 students. As a member of the cohort, I’ve performed over 30 hours of community service, including teaching second and fifth graders the basics of business. It’s such a rewarding experience to see the smiles on students’ faces when they’re learning.

Why is philanthropic support of students so important?
College is a huge growth experience and one I believe everyone should have. Any individual willing, able, and driven to go to college should be able to. But now that times are tougher, I’m sure many high-ability students won’t be able to go to college because of the financial burden it would create. Students are our future; if a high-ability student forfeits college due to financial constraints, we’ll never know what that student could have done or how that student could have changed the world. Potential donors should look back at how much others have helped them and realize how special it would be to pay that generosity forward.