Jamie S. Clair's Accomplishments

Being a first-generation student has had a big impact on my life in many ways. Learning from my parent's lack of higher education, I realized that attending college is invaluable in moving past the working class and seeking a higher level career. By using their failure as an example, I have become highly motivated to pursue my education further and have maintained a 3.8 GPA throughout my first year at this institution-- I plan to maintain the highest possible GPA I can.

I cannot attribute my desire of becoming a nurse to following the footsteps of a family member, nor caring for a sick family member as I was growing up. I am a first generation high school student, furthermore, a college graduate. I became a mother at the very young age of sixteen. Being so young and growing up without the care of my parents, it was always said I, too, would end up in a rough situation and not be able to care for my child being so young myself. I continued out my days and nights being a high school teen mom. I graduated from high school in three years by attending night school while I was pregnant; allowing me to finish school sooner and obtain a better job that would allow me to take care of my son.

A first-generation college student is the first person in a family to attend college or any type of secondary education. This title “first-generation college student” has created a stigma for so many students making their time in college more difficult than someone who has come from a family of college graduates. First-generation college students often find themselves lost and without the edge of students who come from parents and/or siblings who went to college.

Parents typically set the example for their children, but students that are the first to attend college have to be their own example; first generation college students have to go against the grain in order to succeed when pursuing a higher education. With all this pressure on a first generation college

Going to college as a first generation college student is a hard experience to go through, students whose parents did not go to college have a disadvantage because they do not know how to adjust well to living at college.

First generation college students are those who are seeking to be the first in their family to earn a degree, according to UCLA. First- generation students can come from low, middle, or high income families without a history of going to college. Families of first generation students can either be supportive of the students plan for a high education or make them feel family pressure to enter the workforce right after high school like they did. First generation students often do not know their options regarding higher education and have fears about going to college and it’s cost. Currently, 42% of UC undergraduates are first generation.

For first-generation students, their college experiences are knowing what they don't know. In the article "Taking My Parents To College", Jennine Crucet, says that it's harder for first-generation students to believe that their families have left. Some may argue that as soon as your parent leave you soon then realize that you are on your own, however, Crucet says In the article "perhaps because, when you're the first in your family to go to college, you never truly feel like they've let you go". First- generation college student they go to college knowing what they don't know.

Since I was a little girl, I’ve always dreamed of attending college so I could live out my dreams of being a doctor, helping people, and making good money. With my senior year coming to a close, I am so excited to start my new chapter! Going to college is a big deal for me as I am the first in my immediate family to go to college, and one out of a handful in my whole family. Graduating from Orchard Farm then going off to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be one of my biggest accomplishments.

A little about myself, I am from Sugar Land, TX, and I am the first in my family to graduate high school and attend a university. What led me to pursue a career in nursing was my youngest sister. She was born prematurely and with several health issues that would affect her for the rest of her life. She spent half of her childhood coming in and out from Texas Children’s Hospital, so I grew up surrounded by nurses. Witnessign those nurses help my sister get her to where she is now inspired me to choose a path that wold allow me to do the same for other children.

Good morning Mr Calder and fellow students. Today I will be exploring the issue James Armistead a slave or African American war hero. He is an African American war hero. It will be specifically in relation to the impacts that his contribution had on the political and social situations within his colony of Virginia and consequently on the war of independence. These had major effects on shaping the outcome of the American Revolution the independence that America gained from Britain at the end of the war also the movement away from the slave trade.

The decision of a first generation student to pursue higher education comes with the price past the inherent financial cost, of leaving their families behind. Many of these kids may feel like they are abandoning their parents or siblings, although, sometimes they feel like they are being abandond as well. They are leaving everything they know behind to pursue something that they have either dreamed of, or pushed towards their entire life. There are a few conflicting feelings that they may have, first generation students desire

Are you aware that at least forty percent of the United States is made up of first-generation students? (Earl, 1987.) Being given the label “first-generation,” by definition, means that a student is the first in his or her family to attend and finish college with a college degree. In Hicks 2006 study, he compared the educational barriers of first-generation students to those non-first-generation students. As a result, Hicks found out the first-generation students had different expectations of college, poor academic abilities, lack of social skills, low self-esteem, and more financial restrictions (Hicks, 2003; Thayer, 2000). There are many challenges that first-generation students face in pursuit of a college degree: academic challenges,

Being given the label "first-generation" by definition means that a student is the first in his or her family to attend and finish with a college degree.

In 2012, I married the love of my life and a few months later, my first “extenuating circumstance” (and my greatest adventure yet) arrived at a whopping 7 lbs. and 6 oz. Our son has been the most wonderful thing that could’ve happened to my husband and me, and he is the main reason that I want to pursue a degree. Although balancing a job, school, child has been no small feat, it is important to me that when he grows up, he can look at my example and see that it is never to late to accomplish your goals.

Where I come from, there isn't much to say that people succed due to poverty. It is a real struggle and absolutely abnormal thing to follow and pursue dreams. Attending nursing school, to me, has been a dream that I have had for over ten years. Through the countinous support of my family, colleagues, and teachers, I have finally reached my dream of being admitted for nursing school. It was a long and tough journey, but I am here! I am so excited, as well as my family, because they have seen my struggles. Fighting against poverty while raising a family of four on a single income and attending college is a daily struggle, but I am slowly getting to be where I want to be through job security as a nurse. In the meantime, it is a constant battle. All the while, we must also endure life's hurdles that have been thrown at us and worry about my youngest son who is four years old and has battled Neuroblastoma stage 4 cancer. Even though my son's cancer is stable, we must still make regular trips to Dallas as all his doctors are there. Although my son is a very energetic, one-of-a-kind, very special kid, his illness has been a financial burden on us. We are constantly having to make sure we have our vehicle maintenanced because these trips take a toll on it. My husband is the only one who works now, so any extra expenses that will be needed for school will require me to get a loan. This is why I need and welcome any extra help for school that I can get.