Blog
Find advice and follow the college experiences of our current first-gen student bloggers.
Failure is Not an Option: How I Earned A Degree and Found a Passion for Education
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. My name is Dr. Eric Lara, and you just watched the beginning of my story. This wake-up call happened in 1998, and was my initial introduction to college. Persistence in...
Creating, Harnessing and Cultivating Inspiration as a First-Generation Student
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. One thing that my college career thus far has taught me is that the ability to continually cultivate inspiration is a key to keeping yourself driven, focused and resilient....
Catching Up..
I want to give up sometimes. School is just too hard right now. I probably shouldn't have started this blog post off with that sentence, but that is definitely how I feel. Remember about a month ago when I told you my mother was getting brain surgery, well-- she did...
Packing for College
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College Plan for the Long Haul When packing for college, it’s important to remember that you are not packing for just a few days or weeks. If your college is far from home, you’re likely packing for months. If...
How To: Visiting Campus or Can't Get to Campus?
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College Visiting Campus No matter how many brochures you read or websites you visit, nothing tells you more about a college than visiting its campus in person. Plus, you can learn a lot more just by asking...
Standardized Tests: What’s in a Score?
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College Most four-year colleges and universities require students to submit standardized test scores. Primarily, these institutions want to see either SAT or ACT scores, while selective schools may require...
Courage Through Support: My First-Generation Story at Merrimack
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. The Beginning Throughout my life sports always came before anything else, including school. My dad was always there, taking me to practices and games and staying for the...
Placement Tests: The Gateway to First-Year Courses
This article is published in the 2014 I’m First Guide to College As a high school student, you’re probably no stranger to taking tests. Chances are, you’ve already taken the SAT, PSAT, ACT, PLAN, and SAT IIs, or some combination thereof. But while most students are...
Opportunity Knocks: First Year Experience & Transition
Click here to view the May Opportunity Knocks newsletter featuring First Year Experience & Transition opportunities at: Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, Transitional Year Program (TYP) Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, Bridge Program Davidson College, Davidson,...
Finding Strength in First-Generation Status
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. I was the first in my family to attend college. My parents never had the opportunity, but made sure that I did. They couldn't support me financially, but my mother in...