- I'm first.
- I'm first.
- I'm first.
- My name is Shelby and I'm first.
So, I'm first is here
dedicated to the success
and growth of first generation students.
While you're an incoming freshman,
we'll help you adjust to the university
and find the resources that you need.
- There's definitely a lot of pressure
that goes along with being
a first generation student,
especially from parents.
They wanna make sure we're
spending so much money here
and I'm spending so much time,
they wanna make sure I'm gonna be able
to get a job out of college.
- I would try to ask my
parents what to expect
and my mom knew a little bit
because she tried to go
to college at one point,
but they didn't have any answers for me.
So, it was really trying
to find other resources
other than my parents.
- There is definitely a
lot of pride and pressure
trying to be the first person.
I have younger cousins that are like,
I want to be like Amy when
I grow up, I wanna do this,
so, you not only have
a bunch of little kids
looking up to you, you have your parents.
I was on my phone with my mom last night
and I was like, mom, I don't
know if I can do it anymore.
She was like, you gotta do it.
I was like I gotta end
this circle of poverty.
I gotta do it mom.
So, there's a lot of pressure, definitely.
- [Danielle] Really, the
biggest surprise coming here
was how many opportunities were available.
I didn't realize that there
are so many organizations
that you can get involved in.
- Some things that I've
learned is that it's okay
to go up to your professors
and ask for help.
There are resources here to help you.
Nobody's out to get you.
Everyone wants to see you succeed here.
- I actually didn't go to anyone for help
and that was another big
problem I had freshman year.
It's just I want to do everything myself
because I didn't think
anyone was there for me.
But, there were people there for me.
- Some advice that I have
for other first generation students is
to definitely not get discouraged.
We all are our own worst
critic and it's important
to realize that, you're
fine to make mistakes.
People are going to make mistakes.
College is a learning experience
and if you don't make mistakes,
then you're not going to learn from it.
- I think the best advice I could give
to first generation
students is don't be afraid
to ask questions in class
or even if you see a cool
organization on campus.
Go ask about it.
- So, this organization
is really dedicated
to your success overall
including friendships,
including mentorship or
even job opportunities
and professional growth.
We're really excited to be able to help
first generation students through college
and to make sure that they
eventually do graduate.
- I hope that with, I'm
first, we can make people
feel more comfortable with college.
Parents might not know as much
because they haven't been to college,
but maybe we can inform them too.
- I hope that this group really influences
other students that were like me.
They were just out there
by themselves, just lost.
I really hope that we're
able to reel them in
and to let them know
that they're not alone,
that they have the support
and that we have the resources
to find them whatever they need.
- We just wanna see
first generation students
be the best kind of students they can be
and so they can get a
degree and go make change
of the world.
