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.

I am still so thankful for those who believed in me and were so willing to help; it’s a major part of why I have such a passion for working in Education.

When I moved to MSU I remember being so excited to start my new educational journey, but I also remember feeling so scared. I was afraid that my background was going to put me at a disadvantage compared to that of my peers. I came from a small rural town, and I was from a very low-income family; there were experiences I didn’t have because of my background and resources I didn’t have access to because of income. I didn’t want to be negatively labeled due to my lack of knowledge, so I kept quiet whenever I didn’t understand something and just tried to figure out things on my own out of fear of judgment. For a time, I started to feel like maybe I didn’t deserve to be here because of where I came from. Intrusive thoughts kicked in telling me that I was too poor, I couldn’t handle high academic rigor, and I should just go back to my tiny town because I’m not good enough. Those first two years I fumbled a lot and even came close to leaving. Eventually, I learned that it’s okay to ask for any kind of help and that it doesn’t make me any less than my peers because I didn’t grow up with the same social capital as them. I learned that my experiences didn’t invalidate my right to an education, but instead inspired me to educate myself and to work even harder, ultimately achieving something that I had always dreamed of.

College will be difficult, and you will face challenges that will try and tear you down and make you feel that you don’t belong here, but please believe me when I say that you do belong here. You made it to college and that is something to celebrate. My biggest piece of advice is to never sell yourself short. You have so much to bring to the table and your voice matters. Don’t be afraid to speak up and to seek advice and counsel when needed. You may also encounter those in your life that doubt you and don’t see the value of your education, but just know that there are people on this campus, myself included, who are so proud of you and will support you. We are so happy that you are here with us, just remember you got this!

Katie Sholley
Academic Advisor, Education Advisement Center