I know I’m not alone in saying that I’m a first-generation college student. That means a lot to me, and it can mean a lot to the others who share that title. We’ve all done what we may not have even thought was a possibility. So, in thinking about what I’m most excited about this year, I think of the many ways that this can be an excellent starting point for all of us.
Some of us may have had it easier or harder than others, but we’ve all both struggled and prospered to make it to this point, so remember to make the most out of what you’ve earned. In essence, that is what I am most excited about going into my first-year experience as a first-gen college student. I say, in essence, because it can feel vague to say that you’re going to make the most of this new experience. So in thinking of more ways to make the most out of it, remember that you are not alone. There are plenty of other first-generation students here with you, and there is plenty of faculty who can facilitate the best learning experience for you.
That, as well, is what I am most excited about in starting my first year at Whittier. I’m most excited to find a new community together and realize what we can do as that community. We can push each other to new goals; we can raise our aspirations and inspire each other to do things we may never have fathomed before. The best part is that we can do it together, so I am excited to see what we can do together with our ever-changing Whittier community.
