Summary

I was a stellar student in high school. I thought that would serve as a prelude to my success in college, but the transition was rockier than I thought. It was a completely different world from day one, and I already felt behind. I took classes I didn’t enjoy my first semester because I didn’t realize I could swap them. I struggled to make connections on campus. I constantly felt lost in a system that wasn’t built for me. Looking back, it’s almost like I was unconscious my first few years. I was just going through the motions, doing what was asked of me, but never knowing why. I think half of that was me scrambling to figure out my degree and my future, when I didn’t always know if college would be a guarantee, and now I was playing catch up. It wasn’t until after I graduated that I learned of all the services UNR offered that could’ve helped me. In spite of it all, I prevailed. But when it was all over and done with, that lingering feeling of loneliness gave me a purpose. I’d been in those shoes, and I knew what it felt like to feel like you’re doing it on your own. It didn’t matter what I was doing for a career - if I wasn’t helping people, it wasn’t worth it.

We are the trailblazers of our families. College is uncharted territory, but that’s only the beginning. “First-gen” can be a lifelong label. I was the first in my family to study and live abroad in Ireland, which holds a special place in our hearts. I’m the first in my family to learn (and still learning!) about retirement and investing. Whether it’s moving away from home, or going to med school, you’ll be the first in your family to show that the “firsts” are attainable. There’s a lot of power in that.

Everyone’s starting and finish lines look different. It’s so important to only focus on yourself, and not how everyone else is doing it. We all get there eventually. Embrace your pace!