I believe that I can speak on behalf of nearly everyone who has been in my shoes when I speak in this article.

First off, I'd like to start off with the idea that I feel like every day Penn State offers a new opportunity for me that just honestly makes me appreciate how hard I've fought through my life situations to land myself where I am today, and today I got to meet two of my few donors who made the financial struggle of this school not be so hard on me as it normally would be.

I've learned to not take these scholarships for granted. I'm special for them. They mean something.

Sitting in a room full of over a hundred donors and even more recipients is a heartwarming scenario. Hundreds of alumni. Hundreds of people who want to better the world. Hundreds of scholarships that helped hundreds of children not have to struggle along their ways – a way to tell them that their education is worth it – don't tarnish it.

The College of Agricultural Sciences alone at Penn State gave out over a million dollars to its students for the 2016/2017 school year. That is a lot of tuition.

To Jerry D and Alice A Frantz, I cannot express how grateful I am to have met you tonight. I'm sorry I stuttered when speaking, and my hands shook when I picked up my glass (if it's any consolation, I've never had to keep my elbows off the table for two hours before). I'm sorry I got flustered at the end of dinner and didn't get to say words I wish I would have, but most of all, thank you for giving me this opportunity to be your recipient. I hope that one day I can call myself a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Donor. One day I will make another student feel like you have made me. One day I will see all my hard work pay off. You will never be disappointed. One day. One day.

To my other donors, the same follows for you as well. You have made my dream career seem possible to attend this university.

To all scholarship donors around the world: all of your recipients appreciate you. Without the push your scholarship gives to students attending colleges all over the world, most of us would not be able to stand where we do. Please do not stop what you are doing. You are a hero to many.