Hello! My name is Brinda Raghavan, and I am a fifth-year student majoring in Biology with minors in Animal Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences. For as long as I can remember, I have cared deeply about ensuring that people have access to the resources they need to succeed. That commitment has shaped the way I approach service, leadership, and community involvement, and it is why essential needs insecurity is a cause that means so much to me. Essential needs insecurity is a challenge that occurs when someone does not have consistent access to necessities such as food, housing, clothing, or financial security. These challenges can have a profound effect on a student’s college experience, contributing to distraction in class, poorer mental health, lower grades, and even decisions to step away from their education entirely. When students are worried about where their next meal will come from or whether they can afford the resources necessary to participate fully in college life, their academic success and personal well-being can suffer. 

That is why I am raising funds for the Monda Student Resource Center, which works to ensure that no Buckeye’s essential needs go unmet. Located in the Younkin Success Center, the Monda Student Resource Center houses several free resources in one welcoming and accessible location. The Student Food Pantry provides food ranging from snacks to fresh produce, as well as hygiene products and other necessities. The Reid Family Career Closet offers free casual and professional clothing for interviews, internships, and other opportunities. Students can also meet one-on-one with a Student Support Specialist, either in person or virtually, for personalized guidance with challenges such as food insecurity, housing instability, financial hardship, healthcare and mental health access, and navigating government programs or public benefits. Whether a student needs immediate assistance or help developing a longer-term plan, the Monda Student Resource Center connects them with compassionate, individualized support and additional university and community resources so Buckeyes to get the support they need to engage, learn, and thrive.

This mission is deeply personal to me because I grew up hearing about my parents’ experiences as immigrants and international students pursuing higher education in the United States. They navigated demanding academics while facing significant financial hardship along with limited community and institutional support. My father still jokes about how spoiled my sibling and I are by our college meals because, during his PhD program, he often lived on jam and bread sandwiches as that was all he could afford. Despite those challenges, my parents persevered and built successful lives and careers, and their experiences taught me never to take access to education, or the resources that allow someone to succeed within it, for granted. They instilled in me a responsibility to pay that support forward for students encountering barriers similar to those they once faced.

I have also experienced firsthand how valuable the Monda Student Resource Center can be. As a commuter student balancing coursework, campus involvement, and off-campus responsibilities, budgeting time can be difficult. During especially busy weeks when I did not have time to grocery shop, I relied on the Student Food Pantry to help me get through the week. I also used the Reid Family Career Closet to find the business-casual clothing I wore to the very interview that earned me a seat on the 2026 Homecoming Court. These experiences showed me that essential needs resources do more than respond to crises. They remove everyday barriers that can determine whether a student can focus on an exam, attend an interview, pursue an opportunity, or simply navigate a demanding week. Your gift to the Monda Student Resource Center can help provide students with the essentials they need not only to remain at Ohio State, but to make the most of everything their education has to offer.