Graduate Stories

I grew up in Dublin, Ohio, so I’ve always been in close proximity to Ohio State. In fact, my family moved here because of Ohio State.

My parents are immigrants, and at first, we were living in Philadelphia. For a long time, my dad was working multiple jobs just to make ends meet, then in his 40s, he decided to go back to school for a degree in engineering. Ohio State was the only school that accepted him. My dad is so proud to be a Buckeye, so it’s only natural I decided to study optometry here.

When I was fifteen years old, I had an eye appointment at Ohio State, and my optometrist asked, what do you want to do when you grow up? I wasn’t sure, so he said, shadow me at my private practice. I was struck by how happy he was to speak with his patients about their care. Being a people person at heart, I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.

With a smaller class size, the College of Optometry was perfect for me. Even during the interview, it felt intimate and familiar. I sensed the staff and faculty would always sit down with me, one on one, at any time during my four years. Further, it was nice to have a campus within a campus, and know that my fellow optometry students were always looking out for each other. Due to COVID, we leaned especially hard on our relationships over the last two years. Frankly, none of us would have made it without those close bonds.

The scholarships I received made a huge difference. It was such a surprise to receive the email notification. I felt so honored and lucky, and it took a huge burden off my mind. I’m grateful for the way scholarships have enriched my learning experience by allowing me to focus on my studies.

The generosity I have received is absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait until I’m in a position where I can pay forward for a fellow Buckeye. Because of donors and the opportunities they’ve created, my life has changed for the better in so many incredible ways.

With gratitude,
Fareedah Haroun ’22 OD

After growing up on a farm and attending a small, private high school, I sought a college environment that would expose me to new ideas, cultures and ways of thinking. Being a Buckeye had been at the top of my list for years, and I even named my twelve-year-old Border Collie after our great mascot! Ohio State’s diverse array of student organizations, academic courses and research opportunities, along with the strong sense of fellowship and tradition made me feel at home.

My passion for veterinary medicine was evident from a very young age, showing rabbits and hogs for 4-H at our county fair. The on-farm opportunities gaining novel experience with sheep, cattle, pigs and poultry in class supported my career aspirations of protecting animal health and welfare.

In addition to my in-class experiences, I have assisted with research on SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer, influenza in swine and cattle reproduction. These experiences revealed passions for teaching, regulatory veterinary medicine and public health.I was extremely humbled to have received the Bob Evans Farms Animal Welfare Scholarship. Having this financial support has enabled me to dedicate more time toward giving back to my community on campus through membership in the Animal Sciences Community Alliance, planning community-building events for my college, and serving as a teaching assistant and peer mentor for five different classes. I had the incredible opportunity to study in Hawaii and observe how human-animal interactions are impacted by differences in climate, geography, and culture. These experiences cultivated my desire to expand our scientific knowledge, prevent and control infectious disease outbreaks, and protect animal, human and environmental health.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the donors who have made this possible. The support of scholarships has opened doors to new experiences that have played a significant role in my development as a student and future professional, and I cannot thank you enough for these opportunities that you and other donors have created for me.

With gratitude,
Elizabeth Ohl ’22

My parents emigrated from Ghana, and they stressed the importance of education to me and my siblings at a young age. They encouraged us to pursue engineering, medicine or the law, but also to do meaningful work and help people along the way. For me, nothing is more important.

When I visited the Moritz College of Law, I was fortunate to meet not only the dean of the college, but also activists Angela Davis and Bryan Stevenson. They deeply influenced my decision to go to law school. They helped me see that a degree in law was the best way to pursue social justice and make sustainable change. Understanding the law helps students like me think critically about speaking to power and influencing policy that will create a better world for everyone.

During my second year of law school, I found out about my scholarship right before I was about to go on stage for a forum on anti-racism. Literally, I was stage right! Because of my scholarship support, I was able to pursue work through Moritz that’s meaningful and tangibly helps people. I spent my summers providing a variety of legal work and aid, discovering all the different ways my passion can help the less fortunate.

My mother passed away during my third week at Ohio State. When I was applying to law school, she was asking about the process because she was thinking about applying, too. Even at age 65! It had been a lifelong dream for her. So for me, law school was really this connection to my mom and having the scholarship felt like a full circle moment of compassion, Buckeyes paying forward to take care of each other.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities you and other donors have created for me. Scholarships have brought me peace of mind and a true focus to my career. You helped inspire me to live my full potential as a Buckeye.

With thanks,
Joey Oteng ’22 JD

My path to dentistry started when I was very young. When I first got braces as a little girl, I knew that I wanted to do something like this my whole life: be a compassionate person who was actively helping others. For me, choosing Ohio State Lima made sense because I wanted a quality educational experience closer to home.

My first year was hard. It is a big transition from high school to college, something I expected but didn’t fully understand. I received my first lower grade, maybe ever, and I took it really hard. But my family is my support system, and they knew that one class wasn’t the end of the world. They encouraged me, and my grades were outstanding ever since. My professors were hands on, patient and engaging.

The pandemic has been a tremendous challenge for me and all of my friends. I didn’t realize how social I was until I was isolated from everyone. We all made the best of a bad situation and managed to make it through and thrive.

Before entering college, I received the Arthur and Marian Rudd Scholarship. I remember being in class when they called me with the good news. One of the people who interviewed me for the scholarship is now my research mentor! Thanks to this financial support, I was better able to balance my classes with my job. I work in a laboratory drawing blood, and so I get the chance to work with children and practice the compassion I will need to thrive as a dentist.

Scholarships removed a massive burden for me. I’m the oldest of five girls, so the financial support not only helps me, but helps my parents focus on my sisters’ college education. I was able to do work I was passionate about, and that’s the kind of devotion I’m going to bring to my career. I’ve accomplished so much at Ohio State, and I am forever a Buckeye thanks to the generous scholarship support I received, making my dreams a reality.

With gratitude,
Anna Walker ’22