My college journey was unique to say the least. I was blessed to be the first in my entire family to graduate from a university. I learned that there’s no way to fully prepare for something that you’ve never experienced. I was born and raised in Minnesota in a good school district which prepared me academically for college. I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood and I was eager to leave the nest and experience the world. Although I went to a great high school, I was raised in a low-income, single-parent household. I worked hard at my McDonald’s job to save what I could for college needs. After graduating high school, I went to a large university where life truly started to begin for me.
I had very little guidance with my college transition. I spent my first semester stressed out because of having minimal knowledge of financial aid, loans, etc. I was advised by someone not to attend community college because I “wouldn’t get the full college experience.” This was true to an extent but I later learned that community college is a great option and offers many opportunities.
College is not what you see in the movies. You deal with professor issues, you struggle financially and personally which in turn affects your academic performance. You may have a difficult time deciding what you want to major in or how to balance personal and college life. If you’re a first-generation student like myself, then you might even struggle with balancing familial relationships because you’re evolving in a way that your relatives are not used to. Now all of a sudden you feel conflicted with how to maintain healthy relationships.
In life you will face many highs and lows. It’s important that you embrace the trials that you endure, the adversities that you overcome, and the milestones that you accomplish to get there. You may have people who will try to make you feel bad for your accomplishments but no one can take away your education. No matter what your circumstances are, you are capable of achieving whatever God places in front of you. Make sure that He is the center of your journey.
Tami Williams
CEO
College4U Blog
