Personal Narrative: My First Generation Student Association

I have decided to join the Student Government Association as a senator because I believe my skills, qualifications, experience and even future goals are tailored to this position and through it I can not only help the Stetson community but I can learn from the experience and grow as a person.

Math had always been the easy, simple subject for me until calculus suddenly turned math into a terribly fascinating new world for me to explore. My paradigm regarding the seemingly rigid discipline shifted from indifference to a desire to learn how the puzzle pieces of the world clicked and fitted together. I hoped to spread that sentiment by establishing Mu Alpha Theta at my school, a chartering process that I expected to last at most two months.

Coming into the University I didn’t know what to expect, especially with taking 16 hours, and Comp being one of them. Being a first generation college student, has been rough especially since my older sister exceeded my parents expectations. I believe I am capable of succeeding in anything I set my mind to. I have always struggled with English/Writing since English is my second language. Many people tend to get surprised when I tell them I learned English at the age of 4, since they believed English would be my first language since I was born in the United States. Long story short, English is my second language because I was raised by my grandparents, since my parents always dedicated their time to work to provide us with a better future.

Serving others by utilizing the lessons I have learned through my experiences and my talents is how I want to live my life. As a first generation college student, I want to integrate myself in programs or start my own mentorship program where I am able to mentor and give back to students who are first generation college students as well. I feel it’s important to reach out to first generation college students because the amount of pressure we receive with little to no guidance can be discouraging and lead us to feel alone in this process.

First generation college students remains to be a challenge for the community college system as well as the university system (Ward, Seigel, & Davenport, 2012). The challenges extend from their lack of academic study skill practices to their lack of socialization skills (Ward, Seigel & Davenport, 2012).

I am an African-American male who grew up in a community that was not fortunate enough to have access to many luxuries, especially a computer science education. Seemingly in every aspect of my life, I have been the exception. Many times I was the only African-American student in my Advanced Placement courses in high school, in terms of sports I had always been the sole African-American and the shortest player on all my lacrosse teams, and progressing through school I often times was the only person out of my group of friends who wanted to do something more with the life I was given. People like me are not supposed to escape the cycle of poverty and inequality that plague the community I call home. I am not a product of the ‘projects’ or come

I am a first generation college attendee at Hendrix College. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 28, 1998. I lived with my great-grandmother for seven years eating soul food like pig’s feet, rabbit, and other wild gain. Shortly after moving in with my mother, Hurricane Katrina hit landfall. Katrina completely uprooted her new life. At seven, I witnessed people without homes, clothes, and food. For a short period of time I was even one of them. This experience altered my perception about life; I am blessed to have a home, clothes, food and education. My high school years were the best years of my life. High school was a place where my unfiltered self was celebrated instead of criticized. In high school, I realized my passion was working

Being a non-traditional college student is hard for anyone, for someone who gets anxious easily it can be even harder. I remember my first day of college, I had spent the previous week sick and could barely talk because I still had a lingering cough. Pacing back and forth at home, I contemplated if it was too late to back out and quit school before I had even started. I changed my clothes several times and thought about giving up so much that I was nearly late to my first class. Additionally, in all the excitement I only took the time to know when my classes started and not where they were actually held. I had no idea why I was even here.

Although educational researchers understand barriers FGS face when considering higher education, this information pertains to the first generation population in general and specifically addresses minority students and those students from low socioeconomic background. More research needs to be performed to

Being a student at Washington Community High School, I put forth my best effort to involve myself in academics, athletics, school clubs, and volunteer work. During my freshman year of high school, I committed myself towards music to a great extent. I performed in the marching band, the Jefferson and Wilmor Contemporary Music Project bands, the Symphonic Winds top concert band, and the pep band. In addition to music, I competed in several athletic activities, including cross country and track. Furthermore, I participated in a considerable amount of school-sponsored clubs such as the Student Council, the Freshman Executive Board, the Washington Leadership and Community Service Club, the Spanish Club, and the Mathletes Team. Throughout my

A club that I have enjoyed being in since fifth grade is Beta Club. Currently I am the Historian in my high school Beta Club. Some people may believe Beta Club only focuses on academics, but it does so much more. Even though academics is a big part of the club, we also focus on leadership, achievement, character, and service. Our club traveled to the national convention to compete about a year ago. A competition I entered was called the “Meeting of the Minds”, and I was on a team with three other people. We went in not expecting to win anything, because our school does not seem to place much at state conventions, but we tried our best. To our surprise we placed first in the competition. It was so exciting when we realized we won first.

Growing up, I always had a hard time socializing at school, because I was introverted. However, I remember till this day that I was able to feel warm and not alone when I was able to help the other students who had trouble. In Highschool, I continuously tutor and help my peers in math class, and I enjoy it because it creates an icebreaker in creating friendships. I truly began to find myself through a first generation, college prep program called Upward Bound at the University of Texas at Austin. In the core enrichment classes I never hesitated to correct and question the professor who instructed my math classes. Then I was i recommended to join the Upward BOund Math and Science at the University of Texas Arlington, which is much vigorous enrichment core classes.

Well I'm hoping to transfer within the month but I want to make sure that the credit that I do have will be transferred over, and to understand what classes that I would still have to make up, also that the 504 that I have now will be accepted, like I stated previously the school I went to before; I don't know how to put it in a polite way they basically screwed me over and I lost all of my junior year credits even though I had multiple 504 plans and Doctor notes. I would like to set up a meeting to talk more about what I would have to do to be a student at Deer Valley.

I hold my membership as a homeroom representative in my high school’s Student Government in especially high regard. What led me to value this organization and to join it was due to the fact that I wanted to become an involved member of my high school community. This goal would have proven difficult if I had not joined Student Government because I did not know a single student in my grade before enrolling in my high school. On another note, student government needs its members to help out at various functions—which aid in unifying the school—such as dances or weekly lunchtime events. Thus, I gladly offered my time to set up for the Back-to-School Dance at my high school this past August. Besides situating the sound equipment and selling soft

I believe that the College Glo-Up is very real! People often rely as a college change to be a phase in life, but people don’t realize that college is a place where people are finding themselves. When people get in college, their perception is that they have an entirely new lifestyle. It is as if you have run away from town and can start from a clean slate. You make all new friends and can basically change your life without people knowing your history.