Student view: Managing college as a first-gen

To overcome these feelings of isolation and insecurity, I looked to my advisers and peers. One of my ill-conceived notions about college was that I would have to do everything on my own and, because of that, I was hesitant to reach out for help. After much internal debate, I realized that this notion had no weight, and there was no reason I needed to struggle on my own. I decided to form a close friend group with some of my classmates; we were able to study and hold each other to the standards that we knew we could achieve.

My advisers helped me by assuring that many students have these feelings — to have self-doubt is common. They reassured me of my ability to succeed and that I do belong here.

In terms of advice, my family wasn’t able to offer much due to a lack of first-hand experience. Nevertheless, they still have been very supportive in my academic pursuits and constantly remind me that I have what it takes to be a physician. They were always willing to listen as, sometimes, I just needed to talk about what was causing me stress.

To any other first-generation college students worried about how they will manage college, my best advice is to find a mentor. It’s so helpful to hear the advice from someone who was once in your very shoes.

I believe that if I sought a mentor earlier, my freshman year could have been way less stressful. College has easily been one of the most challenging times in my life; however, it’s also been one of the most rewarding. Many sleepless nights completing long assignments and preparing for arduous exams have all been worth it. After all, I’m on the road to achieving my dream of becoming a physician.