Blog
Find advice and follow the college experiences of our current first-gen student bloggers.
Be above the influence and take charge of your life!
First semester of college is one of the most difficult, but exciting times of your life, trying to get your life in order, and get a routine down. One of the hardest things is getting use to the work load and how college teachers actually teach. The work load itself...
The Friends You Can't Even Imagine Yet
In the end, it is people that mean the most in life. No amount of money or successful careers could ever compete with the laughter and love felt among human beings. Exactly one year ago, my twin brother and I were in the chaotic midst of the college process, adding...
From A "Ghetto" High School to Community College to a University
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Despite all of the problems I have faced, I still wake up every morning with a fresh attitude and a burning desire to be better and better. At times, I was told that I could...
How QuestBridge Changed My Life
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Note from the editors: We asked Kenny Yim, one of the first participants in the QuestBridge program, to write about how he came across the program and how it has affected...
The Struggle of a Freshman
Finally!!! Done with my first semester in college. Definitely, this semester was a learning experience as well as a wake up call. I realized that I actually have to work hard for what I want and not procrastinate. Therefore, the next three years in college, I know are...
Here’s Your First-Gen Scholarship and Financial Aid To-Do List
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. When I started getting college acceptance letters, I couldn’t contain my excitement. The hours and hours I’d spent on applications were finally paying off!...
Christmas Countdown and Graduating Early?
Even when you’re not a senior, every final feels like some epic battle to the finish. Tying your hair back, slipping on some sweats, and pushing up those thick-rimmed glasses while you study. Then you get to that last paragraph on your research paper, you get a sudden...
Adulthood, Cliffs, and Criticism
Adulthood, Cliffs, and Criticism Wow. This first semester really flew by. My first semester in college is done. Finito. It’s a very bittersweet joy, I can tell you that. On one hand it’s a feeling of absolute happiness because the end of this semester is punctuated...
Giving My Best Effort For My Biggest Fans
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. I have always been fond of sports analogies because of how accurate they are. In sports, as in life, everyone has their big supporter or (as my parents affectionately refer...
Grit and Innovative Thinking: Qualities First-Gens Already Have That Help Them Succeed
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. One of my favorite movies is "I Heart Huckabees." In this movie, one characters tells another character: "Everything you could ever want or be, you already have and are." I...