Brian Phillips

When I got into OU, it was one of the most exciting moments of my life. Until that day, I had never cried of happiness. After an afternoon of studying, I came home and my mom pointed to the Christmas tree. She told me I received something in the mail. When I opened the acceptance box, I was so ecstatic that I couldn’t hold back the tears of joy.

My time at OU has been nothing short of amazing. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in so many great organizations. As my time dwindles, the pressure of building my resume has become important as I prepare for the job market. This past school year I worked hard to find a summer internship and chose to join a tech company in Texas since my ultimate dream job has always been to work for Google.

I knew moving for my internship during a pandemic was going to be a financial challenge. My mom is a realtor and my step-dad is an airline pilot, however as most people know, there wasn’t a lot of work during this time. Very soon after moving and signing a lease, my internship was cancelled. My step-dad was furloughed and there was not a ton of real estate work happening. I was in two leases, had no income, and potentially no housing stipend because I was not receiving credit hours from an internship. At this point I just needed help.

Within a week I had another internship opportunity lined up, which I was grateful for. I was able to get my housing stipend back, however I still had summer classes to pay for and two leases. When I received a scholarship, my parents and I were so relieved, and it took a huge financial burden off my shoulders. This support came during a time I needed it most. It helped get me back on track financially and allowed me to focus on my internship and on my summer courses.

I want to make big social change using business practices and that is what attracts me to Google. I love their company culture and the idea they promote that if you fail, its not only a learning experience that will benefit you, but it will benefit the entire company. That type of culture is similar to the one here at OU. My professors, mentors and, especially the supporters of my scholarship, have shown me that even if I fail, I can pivot and it will lead me in a new direction.