Morgan Briand, ’22, completed six years in the Rising Scholars Program, and currently attends Kent State's Salem Campus, where she is now a mentor.
“Before I got into this program, I was just kind of ‘there.’ I was really shy and didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Morgan said. “Being part of Rising Scholars taught me about career paths that I never would have thought of on my own and helped me with my personal skills. This program bettered my leadership skills and helped me think about what I want to do with my life. There is no way I would ever be at Kent State without Rising Scholars,” she stated.
Through her years in the program, Morgan realized that she wanted to mentor future scholars. “I watched how so many people were helping me and the others find our places in this world, and I knew I wanted to give back in some way. Wanting to be a mentor pushed me to be a better person and to do better in school,” Morgan said.
“There is no way I could afford to go to college without this program and, knowing what I know now, I realize that I had a lot to learn before I ever got here,” she said. “Even my parents see a big change in me. They see that I am goal-oriented and much stronger as a person. Rising Scholars has changed my life.”