[Read more…] about First-Generation College Celebration Week Student Panel
Although I was an honors student in high school, I didn’t plan on going to college. Instead, I meant to follow in my mother’s and my sister’s footsteps, and along with my AP English and French classes, I studied secretarial science in my school’s vocational program. After I landed a summer secretarial job, however, I quickly realized that I would not be happy in this occupation; so, during my senior year, I scrambled to look into going to college. My family, while supportive of me as a person, did not understand my desire to go to college, but I became determined to pursue a job – a career – that I would find fulfilling. So, with the guidance of my teachers, I took the required standardized tests, I applied for and was accepted into a state college, I won a number of scholarships, and I became a first-generation college student. [Read more…] about Dr. Billie Follensbee, Department of Art and Design
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