麻豆传媒

Olinda Moro L贸pez
Senior, Psychology 

Why did you choose to go to 麻豆传媒? 

• I chose 麻豆传媒 for a variety of reasons but the biggest one is because before I was admitted into the University, I was already receiving incredibly personalized support in regards to how to navigate college, who I should be in contact with, what classes I needed to take my first semester and how to go about arranging my schedules so that I finished in a timely and smart manner. 

What does it mean to be a first-generation college student? 

• Being a first-generation student means that I am setting a curve, it means working twice as hard for things that have been gifted to others, it means never giving up no matter how tempting it may be. But being a first-generation student goes beyond the school, it means that I physically represent my families hopes and aspirations. I am breaking obstacles that my family never had the opportunity to break. Being first generation is a source of pride and it shows that I have fought and earned my place at that graduation ceremony. At first, first-generation is an obstacle, but there comes a moment where suddenly being first generation becomes a step into something bigger and better. First generation means that you build your own bridges from nothing, and you leave them up in hopes that it may help someone else cross. 

What is your professional goal after higher education? 

• My goal right now is to go to graduate school and receive a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. After that, I plan on opening my own private practice and treating Hispanic/Latin families of children who have been abused/neglected. 

What has been most helpful to you since coming to 麻豆传媒? 

• The most helpful thing to me since coming to 麻豆传媒 has been the academic support that can be found no matter who you talk to. And not only that but the willingness from professors to connect and go beyond the classroom. It is a small community but a very supportive one and that has truly created such a difference in my life. 

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Brecken Lusk 
Freshman, Physics  

Why did you choose to go to 麻豆传媒? 

• I chose 麻豆传媒 due to its location, programs, and scholarships. 

What does it mean to be a first-generation college student? 

• As a first-generation college student I do not know what I am doing in college and the best my family can do is cheer me on as they also have no experience. It is an interesting adventure. 

What has been most helpful to you since coming to 麻豆传媒? 

• The most helpful program for me was Lead On, which introduced me to college life, allowed me to meet faculty, and gave an understanding of the campus that seems to surpass many upper classmen I have since met. 

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Adriana Garcia
 Junior, Nursing 

Why did you choose to go to 麻豆传媒? 

• One of the main reasons I chose to come to 麻豆传媒 is because it is a very diverse school. I went to a high school that was 95% minority and as a first-generation Latina, I wanted to go to a school where I could relate to others and feel accepted. After visiting 麻豆传媒 during my senior year of high school, I knew that this was the place for me.  

What does it mean to be a first-generation college student? 

• Being a first-generation college student to me means succeeding against all odds. In high school, I often found myself wondering whether going to college was feasible for me. No one in my family had made it to college so at times I was lost and scared that I wouldn鈥檛 be able to do it. But I put in a lot of hard work and was lucky enough to have the support that I did, and I made my dream of going to college possible despite all the barriers that were in my way.  

What is your professional goal after higher education? 

• I chose the nursing profession because I like to help people. Although I鈥檓 still not sure where exactly I want to be in nursing, I know that I want to be an advocate and work towards resolving disparities that underserved communities face in healthcare.  

What has been most helpful to you since coming to 麻豆传媒?  

• The Reisher Scholars Program has made the biggest impact on my college journey thus far. Not only have they provided me with financial support, but I have become a part of a community of other inspirational students who have provided for me a lot of encouragement, motivation and overall emotional support these last couple of years.  

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Alisae Morales
Senior, Human Services

Why did you choose to go to 麻豆传媒? 

• I choose 麻豆传媒 because it offered me the most support and was close to my family.  

What does it mean to be a first-generation college student? 

• Being first-generation means taking the risk to be THE FIRST. It means fighting impostor syndrome every single time we walk into a classroom. To be first gen, is not easy by any means but we show up every single day because WE BELONG.  

What is your professional goal after higher education? 

• My goal is to obtain my master's in Public Health and become a director in a hospital for health and wellness, educating providers on how to better support and assist Black, Indigenous, People of Color communities 

What has been most helpful to you since coming to 麻豆传媒? 

• Since coming to 麻豆传媒, the CHE TRiO program has had the greatest impact on me. It is a special program that helps assist first-generation students trying to navigate college. They have supported and guided me every step of the way. Both my advisors from CHE, Seferino and Germany, are the reason I am still here today and will be receiving my bachelor's this fall. 

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Maria Serna
Junior, Biology

Why did you choose to go to 麻豆传媒?

• I decided to go to 麻豆传媒 because I grew up in Greeley and every time I passed the campus I knew this was the school for me.

What does it mean to be a first-generation college student?

• Being a first-generation college student in a bigger family means more than I could possibly put into words. For me it is a step closer to bringing my family out of poverty and showing my siblings that higher education is important.

What is your professional goal after higher education?

• Ideally when I am older, I hope to work for a low-income clinic as a physician. Giving back to the community that gave to me when I was struggling would be a dream of mine.

What has been most helpful to you since coming to 麻豆传媒?

• Since coming to 麻豆传媒 the most helpful things have been my advisors in CHE and Sherri from Reisher. Without these important people I would not be in the position to graduate a semester early. They have guided me through the tough times and celebrated with me through the great times. 

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Rudy Vargas '13
Current graduate student at Colorado School of Public Health at 麻豆传媒, interim co-director C茅sar Ch谩vez Cultural Center and Undocumented Student Services 

What motivated you to be the first in your family to complete college?  

• My parents had sacrificed all they had to move to the United States from Coahuila, Mexico, and they always encouraged me to get educated. Additionally, growing up as an immigrant in the US, there were so many barriers and so much information I didn鈥檛 know, so I wanted to grow up and 鈥渂e the person I needed when I was younger鈥� to help ease the feeling of uncertainty among those who looked like me. These two reasons combined gave me the motivation and resilience to attend college, and then to pursue my master鈥檚 in Public Health.  

What did it mean to you to be a first-generation student?  

• It was difficult to navigate systems that were so unfamiliar to me, as I often missed out on opportunities because of my lack knowledge regarding resources available. Additionally, I often doubted myself because of impostor syndrome, since I always assumed I was the only one feeling lost. However, all the positive and negative experiences I had, allow me to better understand the needs of first-generation students, and it helped make my younger brother鈥檚 experience at 麻豆传媒 easier. Additionally, this experience has also allowed me to better support the students I work with at the moment through the C茅sar Ch谩vez Cultural Center and the DREAMer Engagement Program.  

Advice for other first-generation students?  

• You are not alone! Many of us are first-generation students and can help you navigate college. Additionally, there are many offices and organizations on campus who can provide more guidance and resources that will help improve your experience as a first-generation student. Also, find yourself a mentor who can guide you and support you through your academic journey. I am grateful that I was connected to mentors such as Dr. Aldo Romero, director of the Cumbres Program, and Dr. Tobias Guzm谩n, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 

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Lyndsey Crum, 鈥�05 
Assistant vice president for Alumni Relations and interim assistant vice president for Marketing and Communications 

What motivated you to be the first in your family to complete college?   

• I always wanted to go to college and was fortunate that my mother and grandparents always affirmed my interest. And once I started, there was no question in my mind that I would do whatever it took to finish. I am immensely proud of being the first person in my family to earn a college degree and I am grateful for those who encouraged me along the way toward graduation. 

 What did it mean to you to be a first-generation student?  

• First generation isn鈥檛 a label that I knew as a college student. I didn鈥檛 know that other folks shared the same experiences, questions or challenges that I faced. I think it helped that I chose 麻豆传媒, as did many students from my high school. So, while I was the first in my family to go to college, I was not the first in my social circle and I knew that I was not alone. I think that also helped my family have a sense of comfort about what I would experience and go through as a college student. Knowing that someone has done it before is huge encouragement to doing it yourself. And 麻豆传媒 provided me that support and encouragement, so much so that my status as a first-generation student was nearly nonexistent.  

 Advice for other first-generation students?   

• Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask what something means or how to do something. I was nervous about asking questions and felt insecure because I didn鈥檛 even know what questions to ask. That insecurity can be paralyzing and a barrier to your success if you don鈥檛 find a way to overcome fear. It turns out that a lot of folks have the same questions 鈥� how to get a job on campus, how to fill out FAFSA, scholarships, registration etc. Don鈥檛 worry, there are answers and support, so never be scared to ask the question. Always advocate for yourself and ask for what you need to succeed. 

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Susan Keenan
Professor, School of Biological Sciences 

What motivated you to be the first in your family to complete college?   

• I was a non-traditional student and didn鈥檛 attend college until I was in my mid-twenties.  I wasn鈥檛 happy with the jobs I had and decided to give college a try with the encouragement of a professor that I met through friends.  

What did it mean to you to be a first-generation student?  

• Honestly, I did not hear the term first-generation until I was a professor, so I didn鈥檛 know that I was a first-generation student. As a student, I often found college life confusing and challenging. I think it's great that we are trying to make higher education more welcoming for first-generation students; it's vital that we identify institutional barriers that might impact their success and provide support throughout their programs. 

Advice for other first-generation students?  

• You do belong. It鈥檚 normal to struggle in college鈥攅veryone does at one time or another.  Find your group, the folks who support you and reach out for help. And, office hours are for you鈥攃ome with your questions about the class and about being a college student.