A philanthropist at heart, Aaron Briggs (DC\u201915) \u201919, relishes the opportunity to lend a helping hand. \u201cI believe those who have more and who are privileged\u2014like myself\u2014have a responsibility to help those who have less,\u201d he says. Though his family is far from what most would describe as privileged.<\/p>\n
Growing up in suburban San Diego, Briggs says he had a great childhood and couldn\u2019t imagine needing more than he already had. \u201cI thought we were wealthy,\u201d he says. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until I grew older that I began to see my family\u2019s financial struggles.\u201d<\/p>\n
I believe those who have more and who are privileged\u2014like myself\u2014have a responsibility to help those who have less.\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
- Aaron Briggs '19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In contrast, Briggs\u2019s father grew up in a tough, crime-ridden Philadelphia neighborhood riddled by gang activity. With help from a benefactor who saw his potential, he attended a private school, which in turn helped him get into college. \u201cHe was lucky, breaking the cycle of poverty is difficult and the majority of his family is still stuck in the hood,\u201d Briggs notes.<\/p>\n
Although Briggs\u2019s parents made education a priority, the family\u2019s financial instability made it difficult for their sons to remain in a private school. With generous tuition assistance from their grandparents, the boys were able to remain in school until the end of Briggs\u2019s sophomore year. When he turned 16, Briggs began working in order to contribute to tuition. \u201cWorking during school was exhausting, but my father\u2019s experience taught me about the value of a good education,\u201d he says. \u201cI was willing to strive to ensure that my brother and I were able to get the best education possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Briggs understood the value of education, he recalls being unaware of how to prepare himself for college, though he dreamed of becoming a doctor. \u201cI didn\u2019t know that I should be taking advanced classes and didn\u2019t really think that I could handle them anyway. I didn\u2019t even know that you were supposed to study for the SAT,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Due to his lackluster academic record, he was reluctantly admitted to advance placement biology his junior year. But once there he found a mentor in his teacher, Mrs. Vandenbroek, who recognized his potential. As his interest in biology and medicine intensified, she urged Briggs to take challenging classes, and she helped him become a competitive college applicant. \u201cIf it wasn\u2019t for Mrs. Vandenbroek, I can assure you I wouldn\u2019t be here now,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
When college application season rolled around, Mrs. Vandenbroek encouraged him to apply to Ivy League schools because of their need-blind admission policies and generous financial aid. \u201cIt was really a shot in the dark,\u201d he says. \u201cI can\u2019t stress enough how much of a miracle it was that I got accepted into Dartmouth.\u201d He was one step closer to becoming a doctor.<\/p>\n
Briggs\u2019s experience, coupled with that of his father, made an indelible mark on him\u2014it contributed to his growing awareness of the role mentors and philanthropists play in the lives of others.<\/p>\n
He entered Dartmouth with an eye toward community service and philanthropy. Along with his roommate Haider Ghiasuddin (DC\u201915), who shared similar values, the pair first embarked on community service. They volunteered with a few student groups, but became disillusioned\u2014unconvinced they were making a difference, the two turned to philanthropy.<\/p>\n
They began with cookies.<\/p>\n
We decided to raise money for the poorly-funded, struggling orphanage.\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
- Aaron Briggs '19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
On a trip to visit family in Pakistan, Ghiasuddin discovered an orphanage that needed help. \u201cWe decided to raise money for the poorly-funded, struggling orphanage,\u201d Briggs says. \u201cMy mother has a good cookie recipe, so we decided to bake and sell cookies.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan was simple, but neither were experienced bakers and they made rookie errors. After seven consecutive hours of baking they delivered the cookies. Net profit: $70. \u201cThat was rough\u2014it was clear we needed to rework our strategy,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Tapping into the undergraduate weekend culture they set up a burger stand on Friday and Saturday nights catering to hungry students, raising $200 in one night. Buoyed by that success, they continued selling burgers and subsequently raised nearly $1,500 for the orphanage.<\/p>\n
The following year, Briggs joined Zeta Psi and became service chair. \u201cIt\u2019s a job nobody wants because it\u2019s difficult finding people interested in service work. It\u2019s not why people join fraternities,\u201d he says. \u201cTo be honest, I took the position for the resources\u2014it more or less gave me 30 guys who needed to complete a service requirement every term.\u201d Briggs notes the fraternity had not been previously engaged in significant service work.<\/p>\n
Their accomplishments were prolific. \u201cWe provided direct service with a number of local organizations, including Students Fighting Hunger and Habitat for Humanity, while simultaneously expanding the scope of the fundraising initiative begun by Haider and I,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Briggs next forged a strong relationship with WISE, an Upper Valley nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence. While Dartmouth fraternities were gaining notoriety, the Zeta Psi brothers were giving WISE a helping hand\u2014fundraising, repainting, furnishing the shelter, and moving the residents into local housing. \u201cThis was a huge statement of trust,\u201d he proudly says. \u201cThe location of the shelter is secret, but they gave our fraternity access.\u201d<\/p>\n
After more than two years as service chair, Briggs and Zeta Psi brother Jon Griffith (DC\u201915), joined forces and together the two developed a strong legacy of service.<\/p>\n
On the academic front, Briggs pursued his fascination with medical science. While working in a neuroimmunology lab at the Scripps Research Institute, where he performed surgeries on mice, his research mentor told him he would make an excellent physician. \u201cThose few words of encouragement profoundly boosted my confidence,\u201d he says. \u201cI never doubted what I wanted to do, but at that exact moment I decided to do whatever it took to achieve my dream of becoming a physician. I\u2019ve never looked back.\u201d<\/p>\n
I never doubted what I wanted to do, but at that exact moment I decided to do whatever it took to achieve my dream of becoming a physician. I\u2019ve never looked back.\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
- Aaron Briggs '19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Wanting to stay connected to Dartmouth and the Upper Valley community, and to be close to his younger brother who is now a Dartmouth freshman, Briggs applied to Geisel School of Medicine through its Early Assurance program, which gives Dartmouth juniors an opportunity to apply to Geisel. \u201cWhen I was accepted early assurance I could hardly believe it\u2014I consider myself very blessed to be here right now,\u201d Briggs says.<\/p>\n
As a first-year medical student, he continues building on the fundraising foundation he created. Although no longer service chair, Briggs helped Zeta Psi raise $1,100 through their Homecoming Cheeseburger Sale, selling 300 burgers during last fall\u2019s homecoming weekend. The sale netted $900 for WISE. The remainder was used to purchase food for the Upper Valley Haven\u2019s food pantry.<\/p>\n