First-Gen Directory

I am proud to be first gen because:

I am proud of the overcoming the challenge of my own pride and ego!  Initially, I believed asking for help was a sign of weakness and that I needed to figure everything out on my own.  This mindset often left me feeling overwhelmed, especially when I encountered challenging subjects.  It took a lot of self-reflection and humility to acknowledge that seeking help is a cool.

Students can ask me about:

Ask me about all the cool things the department of Campus Recreation offers.

Ask me about US1100 and how to transition from high school to college.

Ask me how I transitioned from the work force into Grad School, after being away from college for ten years.

Ask me to critique your resume and cover letter.

I am proud to be first gen because:

I am proud to be First Gen because earning a college education didn’t just change my life, it changed the trajectory for my children and grandchildren. Something I could never have imagined growing up. 

I grew up in an era, or perhaps an area, in which teachers had little knowledge about Learning Disabilities or Neurodivergence. This lack of knowledge led many teachers to believe that students lacked the intelligence for success. Consequently, they were ill-equipped to provide resources or support for individuals with dyslexia (LD) and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

Without a support system, I lived up to the low expectations for success, eventually becoming both a teen parent and a high school dropout. However, becoming a parent also became the catalyst for my success. Watching my children struggle with similar learning challenges motivated me to press in to earn my degree. 

However, as a young mother working full-time and attending school part-time, navigating an unfamiliar system was confusing, frightening, and often overwhelming. I was unaware of the resources available to me, feared asking for assistance, and generally avoided exposing my struggles. 

It took becoming employed in Higher Education and finishing a degree before I was able to appreciate my personal learning differences and future possibilities. Today, I am GED to Ph.D. As a result, encouraging and assisting others in their pursuit of education – whether college, university, graduate studies, trade school, or on-the-job training – is a great source of joy. 

Hence, my advice for my fellow First-Gen Bobcats - Ask questions. We want to assist you. Connect with your professors. We enjoy getting to know you. Find a mentor who supports you. Get involved. It is easier to make the journey with others. Don’t give up. You’ve got this. Celebrate showing up daily. Destress. Give yourself a chance to rest and reset. 

Students can ask me about:

While I am open to any questions from students, some suggestions are navigating the system, getting connected, finding resources, staying motivated, career readiness, graduate school, First-Gen Honor Society. 

I am proud to be first-gen because:

I am immensely proud to be a first-generation student because my journey represents not only my own achievements but also the resilience and dedication of my family, especially my mother. My mom, a first-generation American herself, raised my brother and me on her own, instilling in us the importance of education despite the many obstacles we faced. We didn't have resources or knowledge about how to navigate the college application process, but we figured it out together. Her determination taught me to be resourceful and resilient, qualities that have been essential throughout my educational journey.

Pursuing higher education was my way of creating a better life for myself and my family. I wanted to ease the burden on my mom and contribute to our family's future. Achieving both a bachelor's and a master's degree was a testament to my commitment to that goal, despite the challenges of figuring everything out on my own.

Today, working in Undergraduate Admissions, I have the privilege of using my experiences to help other first-generation students navigate their own paths. I understand the struggles they face, the worries they have about their families, and the pressures they feel to succeed. Being able to share my story and offer guidance is incredibly rewarding, and it reinforces my pride in being a first-generation student. My journey has taught me to trust myself and, most importantly, to be a resource for others who are walking a similar path.

Students can ask me about:

As the Welcome Center Coordinator and Bobcat alum, I have lots of campus knowledge! Ask me about the admissions process, resources for students, campus life, or even how to represent TXST by being a campus tour guide or University Ambassador! 

I am proud to be first-gen because:

Coming from a low-income, under-served background as a first-generation college student, I had very little support from home other than an aspirational single-mom who strongly encouraged me to get a college education despite the fact that she had no real sense of what that would entail. I had no experience with what higher ed looked like, nor did I have anyone I could lean on to make my way through the process. Thankfully, I excelled in the seminar-based undergrad program I found myself in, and I decided to pursue graduate education following a stint in the Peace Corps. I earned my Masters degree while pregnant with my first child and then my PhD while pregnant with my second. Those times were not easy, but I doggedly pursued my (late-breaking) goal of becoming a college professor and was able to secure a hard-won tenure-track position at Texas State University in 2013. Following a divorce and new marriage, I had a third child just as I was being promoted to Associate Professor in 2019, Fast forward through a pandemic and much much more, I was just promoted to Professor as of Sept 1, 2024, and I couldn't be prouder to be a first-gen student who pushed through numerous obstacles to succeed in my career. 

Students can ask me about:

How to persevere, how to leverage your strengths for success, how to find joy and stay sane in under duress…

Or, about: public service work like Americorps, Peace Corps, and other community-based environmental outreach; study abroad (namely, the experiences I had a student and those I provide as a teacher); my research on "fermented landscapes" (or the geography of wine, beer, and spirits broadly speaking); how to find and maintain an adequate "work/life balance" as a working mom; or my experiences as the "world's okayest runner" (since running is a personal passion, though I can't say I am very fast or good at it). 

I am proud to be first gen because:

It represents a significant personal and familial achievement that I once thought was beyond reach. Growing up as an only child in a single-parent household where my mother did not graduate high school posed its own challenges. I had to learn to navigate using the resources available to us. Fortunately, my mother worked as a custodian at the local school district, where I made invaluable connections from a young age that helped me understand the college application process.

Arriving at Texas State University as an undergrad, I faced the unknown with determination. Throughout my time at TXST, I made sacrifices and tough decisions to persevere. I worked as a student employee all four years, funding my education and applying the lessons I learned early on. These experiences and connections helped me secure my first full-time job just two months before graduating in May 2022, setting me on a path to a career in higher education that I once thought was out of reach.

Having been that student without a guide through higher education, I am now driven to support others. I am committed to helping students navigate college and connecting them with the resources they need to succeed.

Students can ask me about:

Feel free to ask me about anything career-related, navigating college life, Texas State University specifics (I’m an alum myself!), and more.

I am proud to be first gen because:

I am the first in my family to attend a University and graduate with not only a Bachelors Degree, but also a Masters Degree. My dad went straight into the workforce right after high school and my mom attended a community college for a year. I have a younger sibling who tried to college route but ended up going to a trade school instead.

Growing up I always knew I was going to go to college someday, but I just didn't know what I wanted to study. In high school, I was heavily involved in the arts (musical theatre and dance), so I set my future focus on those. I spent many days and hours meeting with the career counselor at my high school going over all the options for good drama schools. However, like some first-gen students, it can be nerve wracking to make a decision or to talk about that decision with someone in your family that may not understand the pressure to decide. When the time finally came to decide what I was going to do, or where I was going to go, I panicked! Instead, I chose to enroll in a community college near my hometown. This was one of the best decisions I made, because I was able to complete my prerequisite requirements while taking my time to think really hard about what I wanted out of my college/university experience. 

The time came for me to finally pick a university to transfer to and I chose Texas State University because of what I wanted to study (Social Work). As a first-gen proud student, I was incredibly nervous when I had to figure out how to transfer, how to apply, what do I need, and the list continued! I transferred to Texas State in the Fall of 2009 and began my journey! I had to get over my fear and just start asking questions and putting myself out there to figure out university life! With the help of Academic Advisors, professors, classmates, my parents, and other Texas State staff members, I was able to navigate school more smoothly than I thought. With this help, I was able to obtain a job as a student worker on campus for almost 2 years, graduate with honors, and receive my Bachelors and Master's Degree both in Social Work. There was this overwhelming since of pride...a first-gen pride, that I felt after seeing all I was able to accomplish. Not only am I First-Gen Proud, TXST Bobcat Proud, a TXST Alumna, and now 10 years after graduation I am a TXST Staff Member. First-Gen Proud is not just a feeling, it's part of who I am!

Students can ask me about:

I enjoy connecting people with resources and helping them in any way I can. Ask me about community resources! 

I am proud to be first gen because:

I am proud to be First Gen because I navigated the journey to earning my college degree largely on my own. My determination and willingness to step out of my comfort zone opened doors I never imagined. Completing both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees is more than just having the physical diplomas—education has been a transformative experience that has completely reshaped my perspective on life. After separating from the Military, following a six-year career in the Air Force, it felt daunting to be "starting over." But I pushed through the confusion, the lack of motivation, and the challenges of comparing myself to peers who went to college right after high school. I’m proud that I persevered and accomplished something truly life-changing.

Students can ask me about:

I would encourage students to ask me any questions that will help them succeed academically, professionally, and personally during their time at the university and beyond. I am also happy to answer any questions about my unique experience of coming to college in my later 20s rather than straight out of high school. 

I am proud to be first gen because:

I am proud to be a First Gen because I have learned to empower myself despite all odds being stacked against me. Being a First Gen has taught me how to take control of my environment, my well-being, and my goals. My First Gen journey has given me invaluable insight into the importance of diversity, struggle, and hard work within higher education. I have had to overcome homelessness, PTSD, and being marginalized as a member of the LGBTQ+ community to complete my First Gen journey. As a First Gen Faculty member, I can now give back to students who may also be experiencing similar situations during their educational journey. Being a First Gen is an honor because I get to be a part of something special; something that not everyone has the opportunity to be a part of. 

Students can ask me about:

Ask me about different resources that may help you with your First Gen journey (scholarships, grants, well-being, study habits, time management, advice, etc.)

I am proud to be first gen because:

I didn't realize there was a term "1st gen" until I became a faculty member at my alma mater here at Texas State. Looking back, I think I was lucky to find mentors as an undergraduate and graduate student that were essential for my success. If there was a specific program to help someone like me at the time, I didn't know it as a student and again think luck and grit helped me get where I am now. I remember feeling lost and out of place pretty much the entirety of my undergraduate years. I now look forward to meeting and mentoring 1st gen students and being part of a group that celebrates the uniqueness of this population and sharing my story. 

Students can ask me about:

I'm an open book, they can ask me anything.

I have a family. My husband was also first gen at TXST.

I'm on the Round Rock Campus if that makes a difference to students.

I have a strong clinical education focus with hands-on training

I am proud to be first gen because:

I get to show not only myself but my family that a higher education is possible, even through the hardships we have faced. I show up every day to ensure that I have a better life than the one I was blessed to enter, but happy to change.

Students can ask me about:

The process of getting student loans, scholarships, pell grants. It was very daunting and scary to think about at first, but doing it is so much easier than you expect.