My name is Robert Phillips, and I graduated from a university in Buffalo. My time there was marked by profound challenges—both academic and deeply personal.

Just before graduation, I suffered a severe chemical exposure from a server-related incident. The effects were immediate and debilitating—it caused a neurological accident that left me bedridden for months. I underwent extensive testing, including EEGs and consultations with several doctors and specialists. This came at a time when most students were gearing up for final exams, while I was focused on recovery and survival.

Earlier during my studies, I also experienced the trauma of the Buffalo massacre. The event shook our entire community. Among the victims was a friend of a mutual friend, which brought the tragedy even closer to home.

Despite all these challenges, I refused to give up. I pushed through one of the toughest academic programs the university offered. I wasn’t handed anything—I fought for every grade. But in the midst of it all, my health and the trauma I faced made it difficult to fully engage with the world around me. I withdrew more and more, and that affected my reputation and relationships with others. It was a time of intense isolation.

Because of the toll on my mental and physical health, I wasn’t ready to apply for jobs right after graduation. Eventually, I was diagnosed with anxiety, something I had unknowingly struggled with for years. Balancing recovery, mental health, and academics was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

Now, I carry over $70,000 in student debt—but more than that, I carry resilience. I recovered and made it through. I’m one of the toughest people I know—not because I’ve never faced hardship, but because I never gave up.