Colin Goddard’s whole life changed after surviving the Virginia Tech massacre on April 16, 2007.

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, to English and American parents working in international development, Goddard grew up in Somalia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the United States. He completed high school in Cairo, Egypt, and returned to the US to graduate with a BA in International Studies from Virginia Tech in 2008.

While in his 4th year at Virginia Tech, Goddard was shot four times and was one of seven people, out of a classroom of seventeen, to survive the shooting. He still has three of the four bullets in his body as well as a titanium rod implanted in his left femur.

Now an activist at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Goddard uses his experience to educate others about the realities of gun violence and the problems in U.S. gun laws. The story of how he became involved in gun violence prevention is documented in the short film, Living for 32.

Goddard appears in numerous media interviews, engagement events, and spends time lobbying in Congress and state legislatures. He also uses the film to share his story in an effort to educate, advocate, and mobilize Americans to get involved in preventing gun violence.

Goddard now lives and works in Washington, D.C.