"Being a first generation college student, to me, meant feeling that I was constantly being watched. In my mind, I felt as if my siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and family were watching my journey to see how it would end. They wanted to help, but didn't know how. They didn't understand the details, but simply wanted to know if I was doing well or not. I put pressure on myself to succeed and pave the way for those who chose to follow."

Baraka Corley

"I was so First-Gen, I didn't even know it! During my college commencement ceremonies, one of the speakers congratulated all the First-Gen graduates for overcoming additional challenges. When I stood up, I was shocked that I was the only one of my friends and there were so few people standing in the crowd! In that moment, so much of my college career made more sense. I often felt a little different. My friends navigated college with a little more confidence and grace then I did. Without knowing it, they had filled an advising role for me that my parents couldn't."

Dr. Lisa Welp

"For me, being a First-Generation College student meant that I juggled work and school responsibilities while obtaining my college degree. I relied heavily on my college mentors who supported by education and encouraged me to attend graduate school. Now, I am a Horizons Faculty Mentor who is proud to give back by supporting another First-Generation college student succeed in their journey at Purdue University."

Julia Chester

"Being a first gen college graduate and now a university professor means that I have the freedom to pursue my own dreams but also those of my parents who didn't get the opportunity. My dad was born in 1920 in post-WWI Germany, getting the rickets because of malnutrition as a kid but managed to graduate from high school in 1939. As an avid horseback rider, instead of going to veterinary school upon graduation, he was drafted into the German cavalry, surviving six years of combat in World War II (90% of his classmates didn't), and eventually ending up as a POW in Nebraska. My mom survived the bombing raids on Berlin as a child but didn't get a chance to attend the university because her mother's attitude at the time was 'I didn't go to college, so why should you? I don't want my daughters to be smarter than me.' Luckily, the times have changed!"

Christian Butzke

"Being A First-Generation student is an absolute gift. Having this opportunity to attend a four-year university has made the step from high school to college a giant leap, where I have the ability to succeed and thrive to make my entire family proud. My passion for obtaining an education has not only received pride from my parents, but also admiration from my siblings because I'm paving a pathway for them as well. The pressure is undeniable, but it pushes me to fulfill my dreams in a way that leaves a blazing trail behind me."

Madilyn Swank-Brooks

"Being a first gen has meant not having parents who understand the process of applying for college or financial aid. It means setting the stepping stones for my sisters to go to college."

Rosetta Estelle

"What being a first generation student means to me is being ahead of the game, and making my family back home proud of their daughter achieving heights they have never seen before. It means showing them a thing or two about Purdue culture, and giving them every reason to think that I will succeed in my time here. Because of my family back home, and the Horizons community here, I know that I will always have the support any student here at Purdue should have to achieve. Being a first generation student to me means success."

Tori Chodzinski

Narrative - Entering (without) Class: My Good Fortune

"I grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood in Rochester, New York.  We lived in a small house across from a land-locked marina. I attended a mediocre public high school.  No one on my Italian family had attended college, and I was the first to even consider applying. When I was accepted to a college, I was able to attend only because I received a scholarship, a loan, and a work-study offer.  I suspect now that my admission to that prestigious research university may have helped fill out the “socio-economic diversity” of the incoming class. 

From my arrival on campus, I felt out of place among most of the other students and professors. It became evident that although I looked similar, I felt different. The others had seemed to have similar experiences and seemed to have lived differently than I, in many ways.  For example, I had not travelled very far from Rochester, had never flown, and did not even have a driver’s license, since there was not a car for me to drive. But I was lucky to have grown up with the love and support of two parents in a stable home with strict rules and ample food. Most importantly, I had been encouraged to enjoy learning, to control my life and emotions, and to take responsibility for my actions/decisions.  

During registration, the university had made it clear that academically I was in the bottom quartile of the entering class, and my grades after the first semester confirmed their assessment.  My parents viewed my poor grades in a kind and simple manner, noting that I had passed all of my courses.  As I became more comfortable with my classmates, I realized that I was just as smart as they were. We had just experienced life differently before college. I had not even been on the campus until the first day of orientation. I knew that I could do better and that my effort was lacking.  My competitive nature compelled me to want do to outperform my classmates. 

Luckily, I lived in a residence hall with a great roommate and a group of people who I learned all had their own unique challenges. We played a lot of basketball (probably too much at first) and supported each other.  But the primary catalyst for my route to college success was actually meeting the girl who lived in the room above me in the hall.  She was tall like me, she was smart, and she was beautiful.  I would later learn that she was also “the nicest person on earth”.  For me, she became the motivation that I needed to take my studies seriously and to learn how to manage my time effectively. She helped me to refine my actions and thoughts. As we dated throughout college, my grades improved, my outlook on life improved, and my chances of success in a career improved. Happily, she continues to be my guiding light."

Dennis Minchella