To The First Gen Student From A First Gen Student

I have been given a lot of really cool opportunities by going to the school I go to. For that, I am unapologetically grateful. At the same time, it wasn’t the easiest getting to where I’m at, and it certainly has had its challenges being where I’m at.

I came into school as a first-generation college student, and also completely afraid of asking for help when I needed it with the most mundane college housekeeping things. First of all, college is a lot of trial and error, and, second of all, it’s a lot of faking it until you make it. And many of my friends who are in the same boat have agreed with me on this one.

Up until getting to school, everyone tells you how to get into college, but they don’t talk about the nuances about staying. No one outlines the difficulties you might approach, and no one tells you that it completely sucks to feel absolutely alone in your journey sometimes.

On the upside, you’re not absolutely alone.

But, you are the sole person that you have to advocate for you. It’s cliche, I know, but it’s true. It’s getting about that time where are scrambling to write your own fate, and determine which path to take at the fork in the road.

With only your precedences handing you blind support, it’s a little daunting. It’s also a little annoying to hear, “You’re going to be just fine.” When you really aren’t that sure.

College is more self-discovery than anything, and it teaches you all about handling big money at a young age as you embark on student debt. And, sometimes, those are journeys that you embark alone.

College isn’t very easy - it’s a lot of balance and determination. If you need a hand, you need to go out of your way and ask for help. No one else is going to help you navigate your journey if they don’t know that you are lost. The people who are there are around you to help you, and a huge side-note for the faculty around you, you’re paying them, they're not paying you.

It’s tough being thrust into things without an instruction manual, but grab the hands held out to you when you need them. Nothing is foolproof, and there are a ton of things that you can do better, and that your school could do better, and that someone somewhere around you could be doing better.