- Even though my parents
had no college background,
growing up, education
was heavily instilled
in our household.
When it came time to applying to college
around my junior year, even
though knowing that my parents
didn't have that college
background, I made sure
that I put myself out there
and utilized the resources
I had in high school.
I talked to counselors,
teachers who were willing to help me,
even peers who were going
through the same situation
I was going through,
who didn't have parents who
were in higher education.
(bright, cheery music)
My names Akwasi Aduboffour.
I was a Biochemistry major
here at Georgia Tech,
and I'm currently a Quality
Control Chemist at Alcon.
I was born here in Atlanta, Georgia.
I have two younger sisters,
they were born here as well.
My mom's a nursing assistant
and my dad is a managing
supervisor at a company
here in Atlanta.
So in my guiding household,
when it came time to approaching college,
there was a heavy, heavy focus
on making sure that you do your best
to be able to get into the
most competitive school
as possible.
I decided on Biochemistry
because Ive always been
interested in science.
My junior year, I applied
for a summer program
here at Georgia Tech.
At the time, seeing
biology presented to me
from a college professor
and a very research based point of view
heavily solidified my decision
to continue with science.
But i knew that I'd want a major
that would give me a strong foundation
for pursuing either a PhD or medicine.
I found out I was coming to Georgia Tech
I think March of 2013.
At the time, it didn't really hit me
because not having, you know,
a heavy educational background
I didn't understand really
the prestige of Georgia Tech.
And what really made me choose
Georgia Tech was because of,
in addition to being close to
home and being a State school,
just as I did more research
and saw that wow, this,
you know, this is a really big thing
that has happened for me.
I've gotten into Georgia Tech
and this is a really,
really prestigious school.
And the biggest challenge
for me the first day of Tech
was just seeing the students
around me, and, I guess,
not having ever been in an environment
where everyone around me
is just a top student.
Where everyone around me is,
you know, top of their class
or, you know, is coming from a
heavy educational background.
I sort of felt like this
wasn't somewhere I belong,
which is very common for students,
but I guess in addition to being first gen
and not knowing a lot of the things
that you know, other students
might have advice on,
or the sort of, new environment
and just taking it all in at once
was a very, very big
challenge for me initially.
To high schoolers who have
aspirations of attending college
but might feel disheartened
or discouraged,
I say it's very normal to feel this way.
I definitely felt that way
while I was going through
certain aspects of the
application process,
but never let yourself deter
from something you want to do
simply because of how
you feel at that moment.
My experience at Tech as
positively affected my family.
First off, they have bragging rights.
My parents brag to everyone
that their son goes to Georgia Tech.
In addition to that,
I am able to give the
advice that I wish I had,
to my sisters.
Having that initial
exposure/background and knowledge
in addition to all the other
resources that Georgia Tech
has given me, I was
able to help my family.
It's very, very, very important
not to let yourself to get discouraged.
There's gonna be a lot
of obstacles in your way
as a first generation student,
especially if you come from
a low income background
such as I did.
But understanding that you have a goal
and that you will do anything
possible to reach your goal
is very, very pivotal
in being able to get,
make it through initially.
It's definitely an honor
in regards to the fact that
I have been able to work
off the back of my parents
in order to enter college,
and be able to take my
family, not only myself,
but my family and those
who will come after me,
into a different aspect of,
I guess societal standing,
where my children won't be
first gen, they'll have someone
who can give them the advice,
give them the resources
and understanding of this
very pivotal moment in life
that can, you know, determine your career
and what comes after.
So, having that sort of responsibility
is something that I find very honorable
and I don't really take for granted.
(laughs)
(positive, cheery music)
