First-Generation College Stories

As natives of Vietnam, my parents brought to the United States a unique perspective that although tragedy is a universal experience, how one thrives in the aftermath is the true test of resilience. My ingrained drive for success can be traced back to April 29, 1975, known historically as “The Fall of Saigon.” My father, a major in the South Vietnamese Air Force, conducted a heroic mission to rescue me, my family, and many members of his South Vietnamese squadron from an encroaching Communist invasion. In scenes that sound like a blockbuster movie — a harrowing helicopter escape, a touch-and-go negotiation with a U.S. combat ship, a human airdrop into the arms of American forces — my life took a critical turn that day toward opportunity. Rather than being imprisoned or forsaken, my parents and family were brought to America to start a new life.

During that journey, my brother suffered a deep abrasion on his head. The bleeding would not subside, and after several days, he was hospitalized at Seattle Children’s Hospital. This is how we learned that my brother had hemophilia, a discovery that would eventually inspire my interest in working with children and families coping with medical issues.

These life experiences are reflected in my decision to study pediatric psychology. My parents’ perspectives about the past guided every aspect of my upbringing and taught me the importance of hard work and determination. They showed me how to see opportunity in adversity, a mindset that continues to propel me forward. My parents valued education and hard work and instilled values of resilience and fortitude as I grew up a refugee in the United States. As the first woman in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree and the first person in my family to receive a doctorate, I am deeply tied through my drive for success to the history that brought me here after a fateful day 48 years ago. [/uwaa-readmore]

“As the first woman in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree and the first person in my family to receive a doctorate, I am deeply tied through my drive for success to the history that brought me here…” —Mina, ‘96

Applying to colleges was one of the scariest experiences of my life. No one in my family had gone to college, and it was their dream for me to attend and have a better future as immigrants. My high school was small, and didn’t have any resources for me to reach out to for help in the application process, so I was navigating a whole new world of majors, minors, SAT’s, and ACT’s for the first time all by myself.

I knew from a young age that if I was going to go to college, it would be at the University of Washington, so it was the only school I ended up applying to. As a lifelong WA local, I grew up hearing friends, family, and even strangers sing praises for the UW community, and I dreamed of being a part of it. Thankfully, I was admitted to UW, and began my journey as an undergraduate student, unsure of my major or career path, but motivated to learn and grow.

I got a part-time job on campus right away to help pay for tuition, and it ended up being the best decision for my future. My supervisor and future mentor/friend was a huge support. She taught me the term “first-generation college student,” and helped introduce me to opportunities, resources, and even other students & members of the UW community. I felt very uplifted by her, and many other faculty and staff on my journey, so much so that when one of my professors approached me about the idea of attending a UW graduate program, my family and I were ecstatic!

My education at UW not only helped me to find an amazing job in a field and location that I’m passionate towards, but it also connected me to so many wonderful people who changed my life for the better! They even led to some really cool achievements, like being named one of the Husky 100 students in 2020! I am so proud to be a Husky, and to continue working with and giving back to the UW community through my current role as a Communications & Events Specialist for the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at the UW Bothell campus.

My advice to first-generation students is to find your networks! For me, it was helpful to connect with individuals and find mentors through work and classes, who then were able to introduce me to larger groups and other people with similar backgrounds to myself. Everyone I’ve met at UW has been passionate towards student success, and it’s a mission that I look forward to building upon as a professional. [/uwaa-readmore]

“My advice to first-generation students is to find your networks!”
–Madison, ‘20, ’22

Not only was I a first-generation college student, but I was a first-generation law school graduate. This has allowed me to support my family and tribal community.

As my tribe, the Monacan Indian Nation, sets up our tribal governance structure, I have the opportunity to help shape the framework of tribal sovereignty for my community.

“I have the opportunity to help shape the framework of tribal sovereignty for my community.” —Crys, ‘16

Being a first-generation college student is an experience full of conflicting emotions. I was excited and proud, but also terrified and full of doubt. I feel it was a marathon that I started 10 miles behind everyone. Being a first-generation college student meant that I did not have anyone close to me that I would be able to reach out to ask basic questions, such as financial aid, how to enroll in school, what extracurricular activities to pursue, or what student groups to join.

I was motivated to go to college by my uncle who raised me and whom I consider to be my dad…
In my culture, women are not expected to go to college. Especially when I was younger, the life path I was supposed to follow was to get married and be a housewife. But my dad never imposed such a limited view of my future. Ever since I was a young child, he encouraged me to focus on school and to have good grades. He and my aunt told me how poor their families were and how they always wanted to pursue higher education but were unable to because their families could not afford to send them to school beyond junior high.

The best thing about my college experience is that it opened my eyes to the world around me. It was because of my college education that I got to learn about human rights, migration, women’s fight for equity, courts and the legal field. It was because of my undergrad education that I decided to become a public interest lawyer.

The people who supported me through my undergrad career were my community college professors and academic counselors. There were professors along the way that made a huge impact on my life. Also, my now husband too. His support while I was in undergrad helped me continue working toward graduation. At times when I felt I was about to quit school because it was too much, he would encourage me to keep going.

If I were able to talk to my younger self, there would be so many things I would want to tell myself. I would tell myself to not listen to the negative things other people said. For example, a coworker once told me, I had been accepted to UW only because of affirmative action. Hearing those things was so hurtful and damaging. I would tell my younger self, that I was able to get as far as I had gotten because of the hard work I had put into everything. I would also tell my younger self to join student organizations, to not be afraid to reach out to professors, and to not be afraid to express my opinions.[/uwaa-readmore]

“I would tell myself to not listen to the negative things other people said. I would tell my younger self, that I was able to get as far as I had gotten because of the hard work I had put into everything.” –Georgiana, ‘08

For 11 years the University of Washington (UW) has been a constant in my life. In 2010, I was accepted to the UW, as a freshman, where I intended to pursue an education that would prepare me to teach, provide quality learning environments, and create equitable opportunities for underserved early learners. In 2014, I graduated with a bachelor’s in Early Childhood and Family Studies (ECFS) and a minor in Spanish.

I began my first professional job at the UW months before I graduated, thanks to networking opportunities. After five years of field experience and a grown interest in education policy, I enthusiastically returned to the classroom. I continued to work full-time at UW while taking UW graduate student courses and activities full-time.

In 2020, I lived a unique first-generation experience: I graduated with a master’s in Education Policy via Zoom! Today, I continue to work for the UW, doing the things that I love the most: research, analyzing data, and creating educational policies that support equitable opportunities for the diverse early learners and educators of our state and nation.

I am humbled and thankful for my Husky experience because it allowed me to gain the things I am most thankful for: the opportunity to be a first-generation college graduate, a dorm roommate who became my best friend, friendships from around the world, colleagues who turned into friends and mentors, peers who share similar interests in education and innovative research, and a quality education that led to my professional career at UW.

Most importantly, the UW helped me remain a resilient individual and learner. Being a Husky means being a member of a community that embraces and supports my individuality and education. I am proud to say that my post-secondary education, career, and adult life have all involved the UW, and for that I am entirely grateful. I will continue working so that students, including first-generation students, can pursue their own educational opportunities, better yet, their own Husky experience.

If I could go back to 2010, I would say to my college self, “Those goals you have, those are only the beginning. You’ll cross goals off your list, re-shape some, and create new ones — some even bigger ones and others yet unthought of.”[/uwaa-readmore]

“Those goals you have, those are only the beginning. You’ll cross goals off your list, re-shape some, and create new ones…” —Ruth, ’14, ’20

Like many who come from an Asian immigrant family, you learn that going to school and obtaining a high quality education was part of your family’s dream. And that was the case for me. I’ve been taught from my family at an early age to always be thankful for the opportunities I had in school and to always work hard. I was also taught that when you put in the work, a lot of doorways will open for you.

I really took those messages near and dear to me because I truly believed in the idea that hard work does pay off. That was one of the many reasons why I wanted to go to college. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree was something my family both wanted and expected of me because they knew that was a stepping stone towards finding a great career. I could have also been satisfied with this pathway, but I knew that I had a lot of momentum to keep learning… [uwaa-readmore]

I remained a Husky for two different graduate programs because I knew that UW had great programs I was still interested in exploring. I went on to receive two master’s degrees within 3 years after I finished my bachelors.

Looking back on my journey, I will say there were many nights where I questioned why I was working so hard, and I had lots of thoughts of quitting. I continued to push myself, even when balancing school and work was hard, because I not only wanted to continue to make my family proud, but I also wanted to make myself proud too.

Although growing up, I have been taught to work hard in school, it was hard to actually be proud of my own accomplishments. Because I had the momentum and I was still interested in other programs, I knew that obtaining more than one degree would be a testament to the hard work I put in. I know that my family is happy with what I have accomplished because they share those sentiments with me, but I am equally proud of myself for not giving up and pushing my own boundaries of what hard work means to me. [/uwaa-readmore]

“I not only wanted to continue to make my family proud, but I also wanted to make myself proud too. ”
–Nadene, ‘20, ’23

I’m the first to attend college in my family, so there was definitely a lot of pressure to do things “right.” I am the daughter of two Filipino immigrants who came to Seattle in the seventies/eighties. Through hard work and perseverance, they navigated life in America with limited English.

Being a First Generation college student meant being able to use that same determination and work ethic to make use of the opportunities made available to me as an American-born citizen. I wanted to make my time at UW a reflection of my parents’ sacrifices and efforts to give me and my younger brother a better life.

I wanted to attend college to not only unlock more doors and opportunities for my future, but also to prove to myself and my family that I could do whatever I set my heart and mind on. There were many doubts and obstacles I faced along the way. Some factors included being the first in my family to complete college applications and apply for FAFSA and scholarships. I also had to share a room with my parents and my brother for much of my childhood up until college. I witnessed all of the late nights and early mornings my parents went to work. They would pick up extra shifts just to make sure there was food on the table. My main motivation was to make sure their hard work was repaid with my completion of a college degree.

The best thing about college was the wide array of activities and events on campus. It seemed like there was always something going on, and it made the campus feel very warm and welcoming. I loved being a part of student organizations and meeting other students with similar experiences. I also loved the opportunities to learn about other cultures and diverse perspectives. It was very easy for me to feel like I belonged on campus.

I was involved in the UW Upward Bound program during high school, which allowed me to make connections with advisors and counselors through the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity. They were a big part of my success as a First Generation college student.

If I could give words of advice to my college self, I would remind myself not to work too hard and forget to make time to relax and play. I balanced internships, sorority activities, homework and class projects, and home responsibilities all throughout my four years at UW. Those four years really do fly by, so make sure to make the most of your time there!

“I loved being a part of student organizations and meeting other students with similar experiences.” — Rhea, ’17

Since high school, my dreams of attending the University of Washington were inspired by the fact that my parents immigrated from Mexico to the US to seek new opportunities. Only a handfull of others from my high school wanted to take off to Seattle but I wasn’t very close with them. Therefore, it made the transition feel a little lonelier as a first-generation college student. Navigating applications on my own such as housing and financial aid were overwhelming. I also experienced a huge culture shock my first year when I moved to the city. However, it wasn’t all “foreign” to me by the time that I graduated.

I was fortunate to have found a community on campus that I was able to relate to and that came from similar backgrounds.

Even though I experienced academic trauma and was rejected from my major at first, this very same community lifted me up and reminded me that I was capable of graduating still. I wish I had reminded myself of my capability throughout my four years in school which would be my biggest piece of advice for all first-gens.

In my four years, I was fortunate enough to have had great mentors that kept me in my lane as I paved the way to graduation. There were several moments where I felt like quitting but I knew I was setting the example for future generations. Through all my successes and failures, I realized everything unfolded as it should which was the best part of my college experience because it made me who I am.

“I wish I had reminded myself of my capability throughout my four years in school.” —Fabio, ’16

I may not have fully realized it before, but my university degrees are as much my own as they are my parents’. Because of who they are and everything they did, I was able to achieve my goals.

My parents both studied at the University of Washington however, due to life circumstances did not have the opportunity to complete their degrees. My dad was living in Terry Hall majoring in chemistry when he got a call that his father had died unexpectedly. He went to help his mother on the farm and never returned to finish his degree.

My mom was studying political science but left once she married and soon had her first child. My parents are both intelligent and hard-working individuals who have supported me in innumerable ways. They paved the way for me to pursue my aspirations including higher education.

As a commuter student I found homes on campus: working in the HUB as a barista and as a grad student in special education south campus became my stomping grounds. One of my greatest college experiences was the opportunity to study abroad spring quarter of my junior year. This was an immersive experience into other countries and cultures that helped shape me into a student and citizen of the larger world.

We have now come full circle as our oldest son begins his college journey at UW this year as a freshman. As he forges his own path, he has the support and love of those who came before.

“We have now come full circle as our oldest son begins his college journey at UW this year.”
–Stacey, ‘95, ’98

Only two of my grandparents — my maternal grandfather and my paternal grandmother — graduated high school. Humble, blue-collar roots is where I come from. I’m the first college graduate for each degree I hold — associate’s, bachelor’s, and now a master’s from the UW. My going to college, especially at a world-class institution like UW, was a brand new experience for the family. Never had someone done it before, whether it was filling out the FASFA, applying for student loans, or learning the ins and outs of academia. Never, that is, until me.

I graduated in 2005 from CSUS in California, and went to work almost immediately after getting my BA.

The UW was my dream college, but staying in California meant that I could take advantage of resident rates (and the veterans benefits my father earned through military service for himself and his descendants.) I always intended to get a master’s, as it is needed in my field (libraries) if you want to advance anywhere. But it wasn’t until my husband encouraged me to apply to grad schools that I decided it was time; even then, I wasn’t going to apply to the UW. Ranked #2 in the US for my intended degree, I thought there was no way I was going to get in. My GPA from CSUS was less than the best and, even with 15 or so years of experience… I thought for sure the UW would reject me. The day I got accepted into the graduate school at the University of Washington is still one of the happiest days of my life — so happy, in fact, that I made my husband read the acceptance letter to me over and over to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Attending an online master’s program isn’t easy. Connecting with other students, with faculty and staff, is as challenging as making sure you are self-disciplined enough to stay on top of assignments, lectures, weekly response posts, readings, and everything else that comes with schooling. Attending an online master’s program in the midst of a worldwide pandemic is even more challenging — people getting sick, hospitalized, or even dying puts things into a new perspective. The support system that was built for us, though, held strong. Faculty and staff checked in on us regarding our stress levels, were even more flexible when it came to assignments, and were probably as freaked out as the rest of us. Those long, stressful days linger with many of us — but surviving and even thriving demonstrates that together we can persevere.

If I could offer advice to my younger self, I’d say: don’t wait as long to apply. Be kind to yourself. Grant yourself the grace and space to mess up. Thank your husband and other family members a whole lot more for putting up with you. Take two nights for yourself to just be — one night a week for “family night” isn’t enough. And, more than anything, remember that you are boundless. Just like your university.

“I made my husband read the acceptance letter to me over and over to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.” —Jamie, ‘21