First-Generation College Stories

Seattle is my hometown and I am child number 7 of 14 children. My father was a truck driver with an 8th grade education. My mother only finished 11th grade. I am the first person on either side of my family to obtain a college degree. I had one older brother that attended college but dropped out and became a truck driver.

Being from such a large family, I do not recall, as a family, that we ever discussed pursuing an advanced education. In both grade school and high school I was near the top of my class. In high school I was fortunate to have a teacher that encouraged me to go to college. Because my parents could not afford to contribute anything to my education, after high school I joined the United States Marine Corps to qualify for the GI bill. While in the Marines, my platoon commander also encouraged me to go to college. He even gave me books to read and helped me with my application to the University of Washington. The UW was the only college where I applied.

As a veteran, the on-campus Veteran’s Administration was extremely helpful and encouraging. The GI Bill was not nearly enough to pay all expenses so I worked as a dock worker and truck driver helper summers and holidays. The owner of the company then asked me to work in the office after school on a full time basis.

Juggling school full time and working full time was difficult but I managed to fit in some of the fun parts of college, mainly Husky sports. When I was younger, I sold peanuts for a company at Husky games so it was ironic that I was now attending.

The entire UW experience was so enlightening and the overall education was exhilarating to a poor kid from the Rainier Valley. The education opened my eyes to possibilities that I could achieve anything I wanted. I met my current wife my senior year and we graduated together.

My biggest advisor and supporter during my school years was the owner of the trucking company that employed me. He was a UW Alum and let me schedule my work hours around my school schedule. He asked about my classes and my grades and encouraged me when times were difficult. The advisors at the VA were also very kind and genuinely interested in my progress. I am not sure I would have made it without both of their support.

The biggest advice I would give my college self would be to take more advantage of the “Office Hours” offered by the professors and graduate teaching assistants. When I would be struggling with a lesson, I didn’t go there for help and spent many hours trying to figure things out on my own.

My parents and family were very proud when I graduated with a business degree. Having that degree has helped me advance in my career. I worked my way up from dock worker to become CEO of a major transportation firm. I was just appointed CEO of Pierce Transit in Pierce County. It has been 41 years since I graduated from the UW and attribute much of my success to the education I received there. I am a very proud Husky.

“Juggling school full time and working full time was difficult but I managed to fit in some of the fun parts of college.” — Michael, ’80

Being a first generation college student and the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college is something for which I am extremely proud. It has also been one of my life’s biggest challenges. Though I was valedictorian at my high-school, I had no support for, and was actively discouraged from, going on to college. My parents had religious ideals that I did not share, and it took leaving home and discovering my own identity outside of a highly restricted environment in order to find my way to higher education.

I had a lot of doubts about myself, and my ability to succeed in school. However, once I was enrolled at UW, and accepted in to the Honors Program, I became my true self. I thrived in the college environment, soaking in every bit of thought and analysis and discovery.

I built a community among fellow students and professors, who were always so willing to share their experience and time, and help me feel a part of something to which I thought I was an outsider. I also had a supportive boyfriend at the time, whose parents were academics and provided a lot of encouragement. I always felt that others believed in me more than I did in myself. Slowly and steadily I gained self-confidence and learned that I can rely on my curiosity and my abilities. I built critical thinking skills that I now see as one of my greatest assets.

The advice I would give to my college self is this: believe in yourself. You have courage and can do great things. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from UW with honors in Art History, I went on to earn a master’s degree from the UW Information School, and a Juris Doctorate from the UW School of Law. I am a triple dawg, and a Husky for life.

“Believe in yourself. You have courage and can do great things.” — Nicole, ’02, ’05, ’14

Being a first-generation college student isn’t just about being “first”; it’s about carrying forward the dreams of those who never had the opportunity to fulfill their own. My journey to college was one I took not only for myself but for the strong women in my life — especially my grandmother, whose love for learning was boundless despite the barriers she faced.

My grandmother, one of eight siblings, grew up in a family that struggled to make ends meet. Though money for education ran out, she cherished school and found joy in reading encyclopedias cover to cover, savoring each fact as a small window to the world. Life didn’t make things easy — she became a young parent at 16, putting her own dreams on hold. Yet she never let her circumstances dampen her love of learning. She passed that love onto me with words I still hold close: “You can do anything.” Her belief in me became the fire that carried me through.

My mother, too, faced challenges as a young parent, setting aside her own dreams to support her family. These women sacrificed so much to ensure that I could achieve what they couldn’t, and I went to college for them — to honor their dreams and the strength they passed down. For every step I took on campus, I thought of them and of the potential they saw in me—a reminder that no matter our beginnings, we can break ground and make our dreams reality.

College wasn’t without hardship. I entered feeling unanchored, having lost the closest members of my family early on. Often, I felt adrift, longing for the support they would have offered. But their whispered words and the encouragement they left behind became my guiding force. Gradually, I transformed my experience at the University of Washington into a place of exploration and growth—a place where my dreams took root, supported by their love.

The University of Washington became even more special when I met my husband there, an unexpected blessing that added yet another layer of meaning to my time on campus. The university, already a place where I’d found my way forward, now holds a lifelong place in my heart as the start of our journey together. I am forever grateful that UW is stitched into the memory of our journey together.

If I could speak to my college self, I’d tell her to lean on the strength of those who came before her, to reach out to others who understand, and to remember that she belongs. The road may be challenging, but every step forward is a tribute to the dreams of those who loved and believed in her.

“These women sacrificed so much to ensure that I could achieve what they couldn’t, and I went to college for them — to honor their dreams and the strength they passed down.”
–Kylie, ‘20

What does being a First Generation college student mean to you?
I am a refugee family’s first-generation college student. Finding my college passion wasn’t easy, but it was both difficult and rewarding. I participated in a running start program at Puget Sound Skills Center while still in high school, and I chose to do a dental assistant program, which I enjoyed. And I graduated from Tyee High School with eight scholarships. Being a first-generation college student required me to stay laser-focused, sharp, hardworking, resilient, consistent, dedicated, and have a strong work ethic, as well as perseverance. Above all, being a first-generation college student means being vigilant for those who look like me or share my values, and when they need help, tutoring, mentoring, service, or volunteering, I want to be there for them and give that support to my community because I can make a big difference in their college experiences.

What motivated you to go to college?
Before being hired as a Dental Assistant, I volunteered for six months at a local dental clinic called Seamar Dental Clinic after graduating from high school. I began working as a dental assistant during my first quarter of college and continue to do so at Seamar Dental Clinic today.

While I have a spark and a dream of becoming a dentist one day, I went into college knowing it would not be easy, but I was committed and dedicated and started my journey in college with both challenging and exciting days ahead of me, and I was curious throughout my journey. Because of the transition from high school to college, my first quarter of college was the most difficult quarter of my undergraduate career. This, however, sets me up for failure as well as success, and I welcome my failures because they help me stay focused.

What was the best thing about your college experience?
I had so many great college experiences, and I enjoyed them all not only because they were all great, but also because I had to challenge myself while I was enjoying myself, getting my feet wet, getting out of my comfort zone, and broadening my experience. Because many of us don’t embrace challenges and make it a great college experience, and we frequently don’t try to be in the path where you think you can’t thrive because we have this fear of failure mindset. As previously stated, failure forces you to learn from your mistakes and become a master of that experience.

Networking with a large number of students and striving to be better than yesterday. I was one of two Highline College students chosen to join the Washington Academic Team in 2020, and I have grown and learned to be confident in my academic career. In 2021, I participated in an extremely competitive summer internship at the UW Seattle site called SHPEP, which opened my eyes and strengthened my path in dentistry. And this past summer, I worked as an RTA for SHPEP at UW Seattle, assisting scholars in medicine, public health, and dentistry from all over the county. This was one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever had, and I’ll never forget it.

Who did you turn to when you needed support?
My mentors, teachers, and professors have been instrumental in my success as an undergrad and now as a prospective dental school applicant. I believe I’ve made the commitment, navigation, and networking to stay connected and be honest about who you are, and they’ve been a treasure. I believe I will never be able to repay their sacrifice and dedication, and I will cherish every minute they spend with me personally. I will always treasure their humility, and I can commit to making them happy by paying it forward and serving others in the same way they did for us.

I believe there is a cycle, and only the great ones inspire us to go above and beyond. I’ve met one of the most incredible mentors in my life. I don’t take them for granted, but I appreciate their kindness and support. That is why I am happy where I am today, and I only have one goal: to change as many lives as they have changed mine. I thank all of my mentors and teachers, and may God bless them all.

What advice would you give to your college self?
Do not be afraid to fail or to share your failures with others. I guarantee you will grow and change people’s lives this way.

In college, you do not have to be smart, but you must develop a strong work ethic, consistency, work hard, and take risks by challenging yourself. You must also be curious and walk with anyone who reflects your personality, while remaining true to your soul at all times.

Do not compare yourself to anyone because each of us is unique and capable of something we lack; do not try to fit into boxes because none of us are perfect; and don’t worry about what others think of you because you don’t have to care. Instead, embrace the environment and be willing to learn from others. That is how you will progress academically as well as personally.

Instead of being a gunner, be a humble and optimistic student who likes his classmates and learns from them because they have the real knowledge you seek. And maintaining our identity is critical because difficult experiences can occasionally change who we are. As much as we all want to do well in college or graduate school, I believe it is critical that we never lose sight of the bigger picture while maintaining our posture, dignity, and tenacity.

“Maintaining our identity is critical because difficult experiences can occasionally change who we are.” — Hamse, ’23

Being the first generation college student meant to me actually nothing more than that external labeling — to me higher education was a must-have experience to succeed in whatever specialty I would like to pursue in my own career in the 21st century.

By high school age I realized how much I loved studying biology and learning about organisms, which motivated me to go to college to continue that pure passion. The best experiences I had during my college days were opportunities to meet and learn from those leading researchers and scholars in a particular field of interest that you identify most fascinating out of a myriad of things to explore. Those professors truly impacted my career decision and motivated me further to move on to graduate school.

Finally I would like to advise my college self and those similarly situated that once you are in a driver’s seat, you will be a trailblazer; even if you end up with something totally different years later than what you are currently studying at the moment, enjoy the very process of analyzing questions in context while meeting as many interesting people as possible along the way. Education is empowerment.

“Education is empowerment.” — Mariko, ’18

We immigrated to the United States in March of 2001 as refugees from Afghanistan. I was raised in a family with emphasis on education and success in life. My mom was a teacher in Afghanistan.

When we arrived to US, I was in high school and got accepted to UW Seattle campus after graduating high school with honors. Even though, after a year and a half of being a health sciences UW student, I had to stop school and work two full time jobs, I was fortunate to navigate the return back to school after a 5 year hiatus.

I was so happy when I found out that the UW will allow students who had taken a break from school to come back and resume their education.

In 2014, I graduated from the UW School of Nursing — Seattle Campus with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minor in Education.

I have been an RN, BSN for the past ten years. My most recent job was as Float RN at Swedish Hospital and I currently accepted an RN position at Harborview Medical Center planned neuro/spine surgery.

I continue to be grateful for this opportunity that was provided for me and am so happy I made the decision to go back to school in order to be a role model for my twin boys who will be graduating in a year from high school.

“I am so happy I made the decision to go back to school in order to be a role model for my twin boys.”
–Zuhra, ‘14

I grew up in Everett, Washington in a working-class stronghold. Immediately after graduating high school, I got a job at Boeing. I worked in the factory floor, on the 747/767 Wire / Tube shop. One day, my manager pulled me aside to say, “Have you ever thought about going to college?” I had not seriously considered college — perhaps because college seemed like something for other people. Also — I was not sure how I could attend college and work to support myself.

My manager offered to help me in filling out forms, applying to community college, and negotiating a flexible schedule to attend classes while working full time. I would get up at 5 a.m. so I could complete my full shift at the factory, then commute directly to community college for afternoon and evening classes.

When I was in my second year, my advisor at Everett Community College encouraged me to apply to the University of Washington. A distinct memory I have is that I did not know what the word “matriculated” meant, and so I sat in my car with the application — feeling a bit discouraged. I had to drive to the library, go in, and ask what it meant before completing the forms.

I was admitted to UW and began as a transfer student here in 1993. I will never forget how proud I felt receiving that envelope — on the top left corner it said “Your Offer of Admission” in purple script. It took me 3 years to complete my Bachelor’s in American Ethnic Studies, and I graduated in 1996. From there, I was recruited to join Microsoft where I began my career in Human Resources. This year — I came full circle and re-joined the University of Washington as Human Resources Manager in the Burke Museum!

The advice I would give is to challenge any inner voice that says an educational experience is not for you — as FirstGens, we are everywhere!

“I will never forget how proud I felt receiving that envelope — on the top left corner it said ‘Your Offer of Admission’ in purple script.”
–Kelli, ‘96

I’m originally from Indonesia. After high school, I was contemplating whether to go to college or open up my own business. I decided to go to college because I want to pursue my interest in computer programming. Both my parents are high school graduates, but they support my decision to go to college. I’m glad that they could send me to school in the US to graduate from one of the best universities in the world, the University of Washington, which made my parents proud.

The best thing about my college experience was that I met many people from various backgrounds, from local to international students. If I had pieces of advice that I would give to my college self, I would not sweat the small stuff, find something I’m passionate about, know my self-worth and never give up!

“Know [your] self-worth and never give up!” — Dicky, ’05

Yes, I am the First Generation Husky in my family, but I am not the first one who wanted to be. My father wanted to go, but the Depression and the War made that impossible. He went to work for Boeing, and one of his high school teachers met him once and said “So you’re at the U,” and that was not the case. As I grew up, he made sure it was possible for me. When I was admitted, I went on a “mom and dad” scholarship. He knew the reality of lost opportunity.

But for my extended family, I am not the first to attend — my uncle, Don Jones — a logger’s kid from Sedro Wooley — was recruited to the Football Team (1937-39) and was subsequently drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

In both cases it is a story of opportunity, but if we think of opportunity as something specific we already know, we sell education and the University of Washington short. Education itself sets an obligation to reason in you, and this obligation changes what opportunity means. The point is the depth of what you then do.

“My father…knew the reality of lost opportunity.” — Patrick, ’73

I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree Cum Laude from the University of Washington on June 10, 1994, the day after my youngest daughter graduated from high school. It was a long time coming, and I thought of it as “soul work.” In high school (graduated June 1961), I had a burning desire for higher education, so I elected to take all college prep courses. However, I didn’t know how I could afford to pay for college. I grew up on “the wrong side of the tracks.” My stepfather, a migrant factory worker, and my mother, a homemaker who couldn’t even drive, quit elementary school at an early age. Neither one of them went to high school.

I carried a 4.0 GPA through high school and held a student government office for two years. I was selected to represent my high school at California Girls’ State, won the American Legion’s award for “The Most Outstanding Twelfth Grade Girl,” and I ranked in the top ten seniors of my class. Yet no counselor ever offered me advice about the college application process, nor was I given any information about grants and loans available to finance a college education.

In those days, the cultural consensus was that girls only wanted to attend junior college to obtain their “Mrs. Degree.” The expectation was — even though on a subconscious level — that our life purpose should focus on finding a soulmate, marrying him, having children and taking care of our family. Yet, college was a dream of mine from as far back as I could remember.

To escape my dysfunctional family, I married my first serious boyfriend one month after I completed high school. I started my first job on the Monday following my high school graduation on a Thursday. I took the civil service exam in my senior year on a whim as a means toward an end to gain my independence. I figured that I could get a summer job, and later I’d consider registering at Los Angeles Junior College in the fall. I passed that test with a high score, and the L.A. County Flood Control District called me for an interview as a Typist Clerk. That interview lasted for less than a half hour, and that job lasted for ten years. Consequently, college never came into the picture as a reality. Especially not after my identical twin daughters were born when I was twenty-one. Even after divorcing my abusive husband of seven years, my dream of college remained in my heart and mind. It was always there, regardless of my life circumstances, gently nagging at me.

I remarried three years later and moved to Washington. At the age of thirty-three, when my youngest daughter by my second husband was born and my twins were twelve, I registered as a part-time student at Bellevue Community College. I was not gainfully employed because I wanted to care for my newborn at least until she turned one, so it seemed like perfect timing. I attended classes and planned to matriculate as a full-time student in the fall. My initial goal was an Associate of Arts Degree, after which I wanted to transfer to a four-year university. But the best laid plans of women and mice often go awry. Soon after I began taking classes, due to my husband’s employment situation, I returned to a full-time job and quit college. It was one of the toughest decisions I’d ever made, but I believed it necessary to sacrifice my dream of college for the financial well-being of my family.

Fast forward ten more years when my second husband left me, and the law firm where I worked fired me. I was devastated. As one might expect, my self-esteem took a big hit. I then visited the BCC campus to investigate the possibility of reawakening my dream of college. I spoke with a counselor at the Women’s Center to discuss my options. While talking to her, the last ten years of my life flashed before my eyes. I suddenly realized that I’d lived the last ten years of my life for everyone except myself. In that moment of clarity, I understood deep within that I had to take action toward my dream of a college degree that I’d put on hold for far too long. I didn’t know how I’d accomplish it, but my inner drive didn’t allow me to consider any of the obstacles I might encounter along the way. Instead of searching for other employment, I registered for the fall quarter and made up my mind to do anything I had to do to make it happen.

“I understood deep within that I had to take action toward my dream of a college degree that I’d put on hold for far too long.” — Joy, ’94

I collected unemployment compensation for a while and that, at first, helped to pay my bills. I was a divorced, single mother. My daughter and I regularly visited the food bank so we’d have enough to eat, and my daughter made her own sacrifices of time away from me while I attended classes. My situation often felt dire. But every time I wondered where my next dollar was coming from, something happened that reconfirmed, regardless of the challenges I faced, that I was on the right path. For instance, one day I found in my mailbox a check for the cash value of a life insurance policy that I’d completely forgotten about. Another time, while walking through the Registrar’s Office, I spied a brochure announcing that the alumni association was offering its first $500 scholarship to a deserving student. Immediately, I started completing an application and writing a letter explaining why I thought that I deserved the scholarship. I didn’t hear anything back until the president of the alumni association called me later. He began by apologizing profusely because he was supposed to contact me a week earlier to notify me that I’d won the scholarship. He ended by inviting me to an annual alumni dinner where he’d officially award the scholarship to me. After hanging up the phone, I started crying hysterically. My daughter rushed into the room believing that the caller must have given me tragic news. I told her it wasn’t tragic news at all; it was wonderful news. Subsequently, she and I went to the dinner and that scholarship paid my total tuition for the next quarter. Those were only two of the serendipitous events which reaffirmed — again and again — that I was on the right path. That path was continuing to attend classes toward reaching my goal of an Associate of Arts Degree.

Since I’d previously earned college credits when my then-teenager was a toddler, I’d already made considerable progress toward achieving my goal. There were days when it was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other, but I did. I kept attending my classes, and during the summers, I found temporary jobs as a legal secretary (the career I’d chosen when my daughter was five). After three continuous years of grinding homework, uncertainty, and despite all odds, I accumulated sufficient credits to qualify for my AA. When the president handed my degree to me, she understood the struggles I’d faced and conquered, and she said, “It’s taken you a long time to get here, but you finally made it!” She was absolutely right. My daughter was nine months old when I started taking classes part-time, and she was fifteen when I received my Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree with Honors on June 14, 1991. I felt self-satisfied, weary and hopeful about the next step to further pursue a four-year degree.

Following my graduation, the law firm where I’d worked for the past two summers offered me a full-time job. While my choice to return to full-time employment was difficult to make, I knew that financially, it would result in the best outcome for both my daughter and me. So I accepted their offer. Ironically, similar to the time when I learned about the alumni association scholarship, I chanced upon a brochure for an informational meeting for the University of Washington’s Evening Degree Program. It had already succeeded in its first year, and the UW was anxious to register students to continue the program in its second year. Of course, I went to the meeting and, again, I came away with a plan. I could actually work a full-time job, while maintaining my status as a full-time student at the University of Washington by taking night classes. By that time, I was familiar with the various means of financial support I could get as a college student, so I immediately applied for grants. To my surprise and astonishment, I received a grant for my first quarter as a student at the UW. Thus began the next step in my pursuit of a college degree.

During my first quarter at UW, I continued to commute by bus as I had previously done. I took my regular bus to work in the morning. After I finished my workday, I caught another bus that took me to the UW campus. After my last class, I took a third bus back downtown, but because it was a late hour, I had to transfer to a fourth bus that took me the rest of the way home. My normal commuter bus stopped running after early evening. There was only one quarter that I managed to survive commuting by bus. It was far too time consuming, plus I had a teenage daughter at home. So in my second quarter, I determined it was worth spending the money for parking downtown during the day, and my car was then available to drive to the UW campus after work. There were definite benefits to paying for a parking permit on campus instead of bussing it. I was going to night classes four days a week. There were evenings after I arrived at the UW campus that I’d take a power nap in the front seat of my Toyota Corolla before class to get a little more rest. I needed to do my homework in the computer lab at school because I didn’t own a computer. There were nights that instead of going directly home after class, I drove back downtown, and I did my homework on the office computer. I’d call my daughter to touch base with her, and tell her that I wouldn’t arrive home until after she was asleep. Often, I didn’t get home until 2:00 or 3:00 a.m.; however, I still had to rise at the same time every morning and make it to my regular day job. On those days when I felt the most drained, I tried to raise my energy level by wearing the brightest clothes in my closet.

Fast forward again. After three consecutive years of working full-time as a Legal Secretary during the day, attending UW classes four nights a week, and fulfilling my responsibilities as a single mother of a teenage daughter, I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The administrators of the Evening Degree Program asked me to speak at a couple of orientations for new students. They wanted me to talk about my personal experience to demystify the truth about college, especially as an adult returning student. I always told students that, for me, going to college came from within my heart and soul, yet it was still exhausting and seldom immediately rewarding. I said there would be times when the temptation to quit altogether would overwhelm them, but if they persevered, they would eventually reach the end of their own journey.

Finally, at the age of fifty-one and thirty-three years after I graduated from high school, I was set to attend my graduation ceremony at the University of Washington. When I gave my daughter the date, she informed me that she couldn’t attend. Her high school graduation was the day before; she planned to attend the all-night party; and she wasn’t willing to wake up early the next morning to attend my graduation. Fortunately, I’d progressed enough in my self-growth that I didn’t take it personally. She was a young woman in her own right (which I’d strongly encouraged her entire life), and I had no issue with her not watching me graduate. After receiving my diploma, I noticed language on it that read, “Degree of Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude.” I had no idea what that meant, so I asked my classmate sitting next to me. She informed me that it was a designation given only to students who maintained at least a 3.0 GPA and were in the 75th percentile or above other students in their class. She explained that there was one higher designation, Magna Cum Laude, but I had achieved the second highest designation for a college graduate. At the celebratory brunch for graduating students, the accomplishment I’d reached against all odds started to soak in, and I thought, “No matter what, no one can ever take my college degree from me!” I felt beyond proud of myself and basked in the glory of completing what was for me the “biggest piece of unfinished business” of my life.

“Going to college came from within my heart and soul, yet it was still exhausting.”— Joy, ’94