Being a first-generation college student consistently differentiates me from my academic community. Most of the students in my AP courses are very knowledgeable about their intended college because of their parents’ collegiate backgrounds. Since neither of my parents attended college, I didn’t even know there were applications and reviewing processes until 10th grade. Being a first-generation college student is a very interesting journey; you are forced to discover things yourself through exploration while maximizing every resource you have. After learning the power a diploma from a good institution carried, attending a successful university that met my interests became my primary goal.
In the article “The Key to Success in College Is So Simple, It’s Almost Never Mentioned”, the author Jonathan Malesic, uses Emily Zurek Small’s college success story to support the idea that the best way to ensure that one will reap all the benefits college has to offer is by cultivating the students willingness/ desire to learn. Malesic goes on to explain that two of the biggest issues standing in a person's way of success are careerism and knowingness. Although Malesic finds careerism and knowingness to be the biggest factors prohibiting one's success, he also believes that neither mentality is “fixed”. Because of the economy and culture, he notes that students only focus on honing job readiness skills, instead of actually learning and absorbing
This documentary was about first-generation college students at K-State University and basically how they were able to adjust to college and discover what they wanted to do which for all of them was become a teacher. There are nine different stories on nine different people listing the obstacles they had to go through and basically what lead them to discovering themselves and becoming the person that they are today. This documentary to me was very helpful to see that there are many other kids like me who are doing this for a first time and that everyone faces challenges but we have to overcome them by finding what makes them happy to keep them focused. I realized that I identified with each and every one of them in different ways and they all
“Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). I have gratitude towards God for gifting me with so many outstanding capabilities. I show my thankfulness by aiding to the necessities of others. I have been blessed with not only the advantage of wanting to learn, but also the motivation to succeed with the guidance of God. My goal is to be sincere in everything that I accomplish in and out of school.
As a young student, I would often see many college students deeply focused on their work. Seeing them motivated me to learn more and concentrate on the two most important things in life, learning and helping others. I was always interested in learning about Cyber Security and protecting personal data against hackers trying to attack the network. I want to continue my studies through graduate level education in computers. I strongly feel like the Early College Program will help me achieve my goals.
As a first generation college student I believe that it is important to help our youth to become more successful individuals. As a college counselor I would be able to build healthy relationships with the students to ensure that that are becoming college ready and are being assisted in every way so that they can continue their education. As a high school student I did not have the resources to effectively help me get into college, but once I was accepted I wanted to make sure that I always helped out as many people as I could. I have helped plenty of high school students with not just finding any school that will accept them, but also finding a school that will fit them. In some cases I have even helped a couple students obtain scholarships
I have acquired admirable qualities through faith and hard work. Secondly, I take work and the lives of others very seriously. I am determined to complete my goals in life,and I will study diligently to pass my classes,and tests. I will not let anything come in between my future.
My mother and father have always wanted the best for me, like all good parents do. One of the many things that they expect from me is to receive a college education, something that they never had the chance to do. My parents always advise me to not to make the same mistakes as they did, to go to college so I can get a good job and not have to struggle in my life. With no alternative, my father had to drop out of school to help his family financially after his parents had gotten a divorce, and then he had received his GED.
As a first generation college student a trait I need to succeed is to be dedicated, and not allow others bring down. Dedication is a trait that can only be seen by those who are closer to you and see you work through every obstacle. Exemplifying this trait is a challenge because sometime all my dedication is not reflected in the outcome. Those outcomes that I am not so satisfied become a learning experience. Talking about a single trait that I need to succeed is not that easy because as a first generation college student you need to have many traits to help you reach your goals.
The hard work, dedication, and motivation that I have learned these past four years will follow me all throughout my
Going to college as a first-generation student does worry me about fitting in and succeeding at college. Since I am the first to attend college I am carrying a lot of weight on my shoulders right now. Not only am I doing this for myself, but making my family proud plays a big major in my life because I will be the first person to start a new life for my generation. I am worried because I am scared of not being able to fit in with my classmates due to the different backgrounds or lifestyles. Being part of the minority group can also affect me since usually people view us differently.
I have overcome difficult challenges in my pursuit of education. I fell behind on my credits, which was the hardest situation to pull myself up from. I caught up and past my colleagues. I am more than ready to further expand my education beyond graduating high school. I am striving to make myself rise above the rest.
I can vividly remember the advice given to me by my high school counselor. I was broken down, whispering to myself that I was not college bound. It was my counselor who made me realize that persistence was a key factor to continuing my education. The wisdom that was shared to me that day was instilled into my mind and was endorsed in my heart. I want to be the person that gives a glimpse of hope to students that need an extra push through education, just like it was given to me.
While completing my Bachelor’s degree my grade point average will be important to me, however, it will not be the ultimate ruler with which I measure my success. My success will be measured in the increased effectiveness with clients I gain, my desire for lifelong learning, and most of all my faithfulness in trusting God. I will know I have succeeded in my listed goals when I am healthier, as defined by my physician, I experience increased joy, my clients are more successful, and I trust God with every area of my life.
Failure usually leads to three kinds of reactions in choosing of goals: a) Avoiding the situation which has led to failure - As we have seen, those who do poorly in school dropout much more often than those who are successful. b) Lowering the aspiration level - The student who has aspired for A’s but gotten C’s learns from experience to accept C’s, becomes pleasantly surprised by an occasional, and no longer expects an A. c) Maintaining levels of aspiration inconsistent with failure - Raining the goals or keeping them the same. Here we have students who do only fair work in their course but have high vocational ambitions.
