The Lawrence Effect–Bequest

Matt Murphy '06

I cannot overstate Lawrence's effect on my life. Looking back at my college years, I clearly see the roots of how I now describe myself: motivated; incisive; on good days, fearless; on my best days, fabulous.

It would be easy enough to say that Lawrence taught me to "learn by doing." After all, it was a place that gave me the freedom to try just about everything I set my mind to! But that alone doesn't give the school enough credit. Lawrence is the place where I first learned what it means to live an authentic life, and that only by following your instincts to their limits can those limits be stretched.

As my husband and I began the estate planning process, it quickly became a no-brainer to pay it forward–way forward–so that someday, years from now, future generations of Lawrentians will benefit from a similarly transformative college experience. I am grateful to the Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle for making it so easy to take that step.