First-Generation College Student

03/05/2020 12:03 AM

Hey everyone!

Something that I am really proud of and that has really shaped my experience at Bradley is the fact that I am a first-generation college student, which means I am the first person in my family to attend a university. This has presented some unique challenges but has been a really rewarding experience for me. If you’re like me and you are also a first-generation college student, this post is for you!

My freshman year was definitely a difficult transition. It’s hard to navigate a system that is completely foreign to you and your parents. Now, let’s be real, college is hard for everyone, regardless of their background. High school and college are different beasts, and it takes a while to get used to having more free time, having different types of classes, and being away from home! But what I found difficult as a first-gen student was not always knowing what resources were available to me at school to help me navigate all of these things, and while my parents were a great support system for me every step of the way, a lot of times they weren’t sure what the right answer was either.

What I really love about Bradley, though, is that there are TONS of resources for us, and the campus is small enough that they are all super accessible. The first resource, primarily, is our academic advisors. These are the people that tell us what classes to take, and keep us on track for graduation. I always struggled with registering for classes, but my advisor would walk me through every step, and if I ever wanted to change my schedule, he was always there to help me navigate that as well. Another great resource is the Smith Career Center! These are more advisors that are there to help you find jobs or internships, answer questions about graduate school, or just give you a hand with resumes and cover letters. You can make an appointment with them pretty much at any time for anything, and they’ll always be super helpful and give great advice. What’s great about these resources, too, is that you can come to them with literally any issue, regardless of how small or big you think it is.

The final resource I want to talk about is the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which has a TON of amazing resources specifically for first-generation college students! This year, they hosted their first-ever “First Generation Friday!” At this event, first-gen students got to meet and socialize with each other as well as faculty members that were also first-gen students! It was a really great experience to make these connections and to know that there are people all over this campus that know what we are going through and are willing to help. I highly recommend stopping by the ODI when you get on campus and getting to know these awesome individuals!

As always, message me if you have any questions about anything. I’m rooting for ya, and I’m happy to help!