My Experience as a First-Generation College Student

“Don’t be afraid to share your struggles because you don’t know who you may inspire.” Dr. Kamshia Childs?once said. These words are?my creed, my motto, my strength?to?succeed?and keep going. I am honored to say I am the?first?one in my family to attend?university. Growing up, my mom always told me that?anything?in this world can be?possible, as long as I?set my mind on it. My heart is?invested?in?attending?college?and making my family?proud. It is the?driving?force?that?motivates?me to?excel?and be?successful?in?everything.

Part 1: Overcoming Language Barriers

As a?first-gen student, my first language was?Spanish. It wasn’t until I was fifteen years old that I started to learn the English language. I’ve always struggled to?communicate?with others and was not able to fully?understand?what they were saying and vice-versa. In high school,?I had no idea what college was and how to get there. My family didn’t have the money to support me or help me. It wasn’t until I started?asking?questions?to my fellow?friends?and?teachers?about?how?to help me get into a?university?and be able to?afford?it, that I was able to view college as an?option.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Reach out to mentors, teachers, and peers who can guide you through the process of achieving your goals.

Part 2: Balancing Work and School

Having one older brother, and my mother being a single parent, I have “stepped-up” to?help?my family in?any way?I can. I started?working?at the age of?fourteen?and continue to, and I am?proud?to have done so because?helping?and?giving to others?is a?priority?to me.

My mother, however, is my ultimate hero.?Not only has she been a?fantastic?mother, but she also takes on the?father?role, after my father was deported to Mexico when I was only eight years old. She found the?strength?and took the?initiative?to?keep?working?towards our family for us to have food on the table and a roof over our head. I will?not?take that for granted.

Tip: Prioritize your responsibilities and make a schedule to manage your time effectively. Take breaks and practice self-care to avoid burnout.

Part 3: Pursuing a Passion

Part 3 of my journey as a first-gen college student involves?pursuing?a?passion. After?overcoming?language?barriers?and?balancing?work?and?school, I am now studying?Business?Marketing?at Sam Houston State University and interning as a?Social Media Marketing Intern at Skilbi.

This is my?first?internship?and I have no prior experience, but Skilbi gave me a?chance?and I am?grateful?for that!

I am?passionate?about?making?a?difference?in the world and showing everyone how?important?the?Latino?population?is to America’s future. My?ultimate?goal?is to?graduate?with a Business Marketing degree and make advancements ?that?promote?opportunities?for others who?may?not?know?where?to?start?in their college career.

As a first-gen college student, I know the?challenges?of?navigating?through the?college?system?without any guidance. That’s why I want to make a?difference?and?help?others who may be in the?same?position?as me. I want to use my?experiences?to?inspire?others and make their?journey?a little?easier.

One lesson?I have learned is the importance of networking and seeking?out?opportunities. It is?essential?to be proactive and?take?advantage?of?resources?available to you, such as internships,?mentorships, and?networking?events. These?opportunities?can help you gain?experience, build?connections, and make a?difference?in the world.

Moving forward, I plan to continue pursuing my passions and promoting?opportunities?for?others. I will?work?hard?to?graduate?with my degree and?seek?out?opportunities?to make a?difference?in my?community.

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