College is undoubtedly a transformative period in a student's life, offering a plethora of opportunities for students to explore their passions, discover new interests, and shape their career aspirations. While the path of self-discovery in college can bring about challenges, there’s one significant element that can greatly help students find their way: social networking.
We had the privilege to sit down with Brady Lucas, Assistant Director of Foundation Relations for Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health, who believes it is more important than ever for college students to get engaged outside of the classroom and forge meaningful connections in today's fast-paced, virtual world.
For Brady, who graduated from Penn State in 2018 with a degree in biobehavioral health, the network he built through his out-of-classroom engagements as a student are what ultimately shaped his career path and led him to where he is today – a philanthropist, author, and speaker who works to create a more educated community within medical research.
Opening New Doors
Like many students, Brady started college with career goals that eventually changed. His original goal was to become a pediatric oncologist. “I went to college to become a medical professional,” he shared. “Little did I know I would graduate as a fundraiser.”
Looking back on his student journey, Brady credits Penn State’s comprehensive approach to the student experience for revealing alternative career paths. He shared that from the start, his professors and advisors encouraged him to get involved in a diversity of out-of-classroom activities to help mold his career aspirations and balance his coursework.
Taking their advice, Brady quickly became involved in several student organizations on campus. He joined clubs specific to his major, Greek Life, and THON, a philanthropic organization for pediatric cancer. Being a childhood cancer survivor himself, Brady had a deep appreciation for the support he received from THON growing up and was driven to get involved in the community that gave him everything.
Through THON’s community, Brady became more aware of what philanthropy and fundraising entailed. “Getting the chance to directly experience the impact that a philanthropic organization could make was truly inspiring,” he emphasized.
Brady’s network continued to grow as he explored more engagement opportunities in college. He found mentors through an internship with Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations who encouraged him to find his “why” and dream big. This internship, paired with his philanthropic experience through THON, opened new doors. “All I knew going into college was that I could take the clinical route for my career,” he shared. “I didn’t know I could pursue full-time fundraising or that there were more routes related to my field of study.”
By getting involved in a mission-driven community with like-minded individuals, and making connections with supportive faculty and staff, Brady discovered his dream career path. “My inspiration to do what I do today came from Penn State’s holistic approach to the student experience and the connections I made along the way.”
Finding a Sense of Belonging
In addition to providing guidance, the supportive community that Brady built for himself at Penn State provided a sense of belonging and encouragement. “Hanging out with friends, and all of the small moments we shared while studying late at night or going to student organization meetings, were critical moments in my college career,” he explained. “I didn’t feel like I was alone. And because of that, I was inspired to do more as a student.”
The large Penn State community also pushed Brady outside of his comfort zone. “I needed to look for what I wanted and work for what I got, and I think that was such a valuable lesson for me.”
Today, Brady encourages college students to chase after all opportunities, even if they might fail. “A lot of students may be afraid to ask for what they want, go to a professor’s office hours, put their resumes in pots that may not be the most favorable,” he emphasized. “I encourage students to step outside of their comfort zones and find confidence, because the worst that can happen is that someone says ‘no.’ And if they say ‘no,’ they could say ‘maybe’ later.”
Making an Impact Today
Beyond his professional role, Brady gives back to the communities that helped get him to where he is today. Brady actively participates in the Penn State Biobehavioral Health Alumni Group, which provides support and mentorship to students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Brady is also a co-producer of the Life on Pause podcast, aimed at filling the gap for young adults with cancer.
Most recently, Brady published his first children’s book, Smiley’s Smile, which follows the journey of a turtle, Smiley, who goes through a cancer diagnosis. The book aims to help children and their friends understand the journey of cancer and feel empowered during any healthcare experience.
When asked what advice he would give to students wanting to make an impact in their careers but don’t know where to start, Brady shared, “I would encourage students to first define what type of impact they want to have on the world and how much time they have to give. From there, I would tell them to figure out the scale of impact they want to have, and define who their audience is.” He added, “There's nothing better than getting involved in something with a mission that you live and breathe.”
To stay updated on Brady’s community involvement, click here.
About Navengage
Navengage Inc. delivers leading-edge, mobile-first student engagement software that helps higher ed institutions increase student engagement and boost retention. We aim to advance student engagement technology so that colleges and universities have comprehensive, accurate, and readily available data for decision making. We are committed to engaging today's students with tomorrow's cutting-edge education technology and envision a world where every student has the opportunity to safely and successfully pursue their education. Learn more by visiting www.navengage.com