Being a first-generation college student has its ups and downs.

1. The pressure is what is driving you insane as if you have to succeed in order to prove yourself to everyone around you.

You have this acquired mindset that you have to be the best because you are the first one to do it since your mother could not. At times that you wanted to give up, but that thought just drags you on the back of your mind, "I am the first and I have to succeed."

2. Let me be the one to motivate you during these rough times because you are not alone.

I know what the pressure feels like when you think that no one is going to understand the personal struggles that you go through as a first-generation student. Do not give up!

3. Trust me I know this, I am just the same as you.

My mother and father both did not have the opportunity to have what I do. It is up to me to graduate with a degree and not only work so hard to provide for my family but to also give back to my mother and father for all they have done for me to be where I am today.

4. Sometimes I go up and fall down but this is the only beginning of a journey that was destined for me.

I know I went to college for a purpose and not just because my parents wanted me to, but because I want to make a difference in this world with the power of knowledge that only college could provide for me.

5. Whatever your purpose is, do it. It is not going to come as easy as you would like.

My purpose and yours may be completely different but we have to remember one thing and that is we were given this opportunity that many people are not fortunate to have. There are people who would want the opportunity that we have and be better than what we are expected to be in society. This is a privilege that is not handed to us. Why should we stop now?

6. College is not easy.

Sometimes we are going to have bumps on the roads that keep us from pursuing our dreams. There may be times that we just want to quit it all because of how hard it gets. The truth is we can do this.

These bumps on the roads are lessons meant for only us. They are what makes us stronger and wiser so that we will not make those mistakes again. When we do manage to fall, we have to get up and stride to succeed better than what we have before.

It is not just me and you, there are many of us that are going through the same thing but we cannot give up because failure is not the answer. We have bright futures ahead of us and so much more accomplishments to go. This is only just the start.

7. We stand together, not alone.

Look at the many people who are cheering us on to succeed and to make our society a better place for the other generations to come. We are the inspiration, an example that anything is possible.We have to keep on striving until the end. When we are in doubt and those thoughts are trying to get into our minds, we have to remember that those few words sitting at the back of your heads, "We are the first and we have to succeed."