Enjoy this throwback post from 2020!

November 8, 2020

My father enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he graduated from high school. As a farming family, my maternal grandfather did not attend schooling past the sixth grade and did not value the importance of formalized schooling. My mom had always wanted to be a teacher but without the support of her family, she took a position at a local bank. She has always regretted not taking the leap of faith to further her education. [Read more…] about Robin Koerber, Childhood Education and Family Studies

Enjoy this throwback post from 2021!

November 9, 2021

First generation college student. This term was very unknown to me until around my sophomore/junior year at Missouri State. I was so first gen that I didn’t even know what a first-gen college student was. College was always the dream, but it was uncertain. My parents supported all my dreams, but I could sense that there was worry and guilt because they had no clue how to support those dreams. They knew to encourage and be excited for me, but they had no idea how to get me started. Luckily, I had a handful of high school teachers who helped show me the way and helped me achieve those dreams in addition to the support I received from my family. [Read more…] about Katie Sholley, Education Advisement Center

My name is Dr. Keith McShan, and I am a proud first-generation student turned assistant professor here at Missouri State University (MSU). As a first-generation student, I had many accomplishments, such as being nominated for valedictorian for my undergraduate Kinesiology program, starting my own sports and marketing club, and being recognized as the Athletics and Recreation Employee of the Year. I did, however, have my learning curves of taking out student debt and learning about interest, navigating university without a car, and failing a course and having to retake the course.

[Read more…] about Keith McShan, School of Health Sciences

Enjoy this throwback post from 2020!

November 9, 2020

My mother and her mother before her never had the chance to attend college. I got that chance and though it took a while for me to learn how to learn from my professors-eventually earned a master’s degree and now my daughter has a Ph.D.! [Read more…] about Nora Cox, Communication Department

Enjoy this throwback post from 2021!

November 9, 2021

I am a first-generation college student. My parents never went to college and had no idea how to help me navigate going to college however, the expectation was that I would go to college. And if I went, I needed to do so on my own accord. Even now, I remember the confusion of figuring out which colleges I was applying to as well as trying to figure out how to pay for college. In my mind, everyone had a college fund set up and college was magically paid for; this was not the case for me. There were times where I felt as if I was floundering because I didn’t know where to turn for help or that there was even help available for my questions. Looking back now, I never understood the scope of resources that were available to me nor did I ask for help. [Read more…] about Dr. Andrea Weber, Student Affairs/Dean of Students