{"id":165758,"date":"2026-05-14T09:04:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=165758"},"modified":"2026-05-14T09:06:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:06:23","slug":"lessons-lived-learned-and-happily-shared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2026\/05\/14\/lessons-lived-learned-and-happily-shared\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons lived, learned and happily shared"},"content":{"rendered":"
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2026 graduate Anna Lawson earned her marketing degree debt-free, studied abroad in Spain and landed an internship through Career Hub by taking advantage of Wright State\u2019s financial aid, scholarships and career services.<\/p><\/div>\n

Anna Lawson wanted to earn a degree without taking on student loans. Despite working full time and completing two years at Sinclair College before transferring into the marketing program<\/a> at Wright State University, she wasn\u2019t sure she\u2019d be able to achieve that goal.<\/p>\n

She was wrong, but in the best possible way.<\/p>\n

She walked across the Nutter Center stage on May 2 with a degree in hand, a study abroad trip under her belt, an internship on her resume and no debt. It was more than she\u2019d hoped for, and it happened because she did something that didn\u2019t come naturally: she asked for help.<\/p>\n

Lawson is the seventh of 10 children. She\u2019s resourceful, adaptable and can handle her own. She graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, but she knows she still has room to learn and grow.<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t fill out the FAFSA when she went to Sinclair because she thought her father\u2019s police officer salary exceeded the qualifications. When Lawson met with an admissions counselor at Wright State, they convinced her to fill it out anyway. It turned out that she qualified for grants she hadn\u2019t expected. It didn\u2019t solve all her problems, but it got her a step closer.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s what she hopes others can learn from her. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions \u2014 and be open to answers. Ask for help. Don\u2019t assume you have all the facts.<\/p>\n

When she started dreaming about studying abroad, her first thought was that there was no way. But it gave her an opportunity to practice her growth. She talked to financial aid<\/a> counselors who walked through her options.<\/p>\n

She was awarded Wright State\u2019s Jennie and David Buckwalter Scholarship<\/a>, a University Studies Abroad Consortium scholarship and grants to help fund the experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was stunning,\u201d Lawson said about her time in San Sebastian, Spain. \u201cAnd it kind of forces you to realize what you can and can\u2019t do on your own. I recommend it for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before graduation, she had the chance to meet with the Buckwalters in person, which she said was \u201camazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that wasn\u2019t the only great outcome that came from being open to the resources that are available to Wright State students.<\/p>\n

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Lawson also scheduled time to meet with the experts at the Career Hub<\/a>, where she met with Lacey Loges, a career consultant who specializes in helping College of Liberal Arts students find and secure internships and employment. The Career Hub organizes career fairs and provides skill-building, resources and practical advice for Raiders at all stages.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to the Career Hub for help with my resume, and I came out with a revised document, a polished LinkedIn profile, access to Handshake and interview coaching that stuck,\u201d Lawson said.<\/p>\n

Handshake is the #1 site for college students seeking internships and employment.<\/p>\n

Shortly after her appointment, she applied for a marketing internship at Panini North America through Handshake, emailed her resume with a note about why she\u2019d be a good fit and got the job.<\/p>\n

At Panini \u2014 an Italian firm specializing in banking and identity security \u2014 she did competitor research, content strategy and weekly analytics work. She discovered she loves data.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like seeing how things shift week to week, and what that tells you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The marketing team is based in Italy, so there are no Ohio openings, which was disappointing. But it did show her that data analytics is another area of interest ripe for development, and that is really what is what drives her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what is most important to me; I want to continue to grow,\u201d Lawson said. \u201cEven if I start somewhere as an assistant, as long as I know I can grow to where I want to be, that\u2019s my goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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