First-Generation Programs
I’m First
All of my life I have lived in a somewhat small retirement community called Fountain Hills in the valley of Arizona. Living in this community made me realize how badly I wanted to go and experience my education elsewhere, away from home.
To me being first-gen means I am attempting to be the first one in my immediate family to graduate from college with a bachelors. This to me means I am paving my own path and pursuing something I feel passionate about, my higher education. I always felt college was a necessity. I felt that I had to do it no matter what. My mom always told me that I would go do great things when I was younger and motivated me to receive a higher education. Being first-gen allows me to be the one who sets an example for future first generation students. I feel that I am setting an example for my younger family members, like my brother, who started his first year of college this year at NAU as well because I showed him that it could be done, and we could be the firsts in our family to get or college degrees.
Do not forget to make time for yourself. Self-care is very important.
I had no advice going into college being a First-Gen student. My family had no useful advice for me. My biggest challenge was learning how to time manage properly. Freshman year was the most stressful year of schooling I have ever had but it helped make me a better overall student today. Some advice I could give a new college student is do not overwork yourself and do not forget to make time for yourself. Self-care is very important. Another thing I would recommend is definitely make a planner to show what you have to complete on a weekly basis. That helped reduce my stress of schoolwork most of all.
Another thing that helped me immensely was being involved in the First Scholars program. They played a huge role in helping me get through my freshman and sophomore years. The support I received from program coordinators and peers made me feel home here in Flagstaff, my home away from home. Without the First Scholars program I truly do not know how I would have gotten through my first years of college.