Blog
Find advice and follow the college experiences of our current first-gen student bloggers.
Hugging Isn't for Us
Hugging isn’t for us. There’s simply no need for it. As with most other twins, my brother and I are inseparable. I’ve never gone a day without seeing him and while it sounds crazy saying that, it’s true. We never experienced the same level of boredom as other people...
Meet the new I'm First Bloggers
We've selected 8 awesome first-year college students who beat the odds to become the first in their family to attend college as winners of the 2013 I'm First Scholarship. Scholarship winners receive a $2,000 four-year, renewable award and blog here to chronicle their...
From a Bad Chicago Neighborhood to the University of Illinois: How I Got Into My Dream School
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Every day at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign I strive for excellence. I am proud to be where I am now, especially considering from where I came, and I know...
Fearing the Need
As I was getting ready for college, I was pretty nervous about leaving my little sisters. Not my parents. (I really needed to be independent and I could use less of the being told what to do and when to do it). It seemed weird but it was my little sisters who made me...
How I Chose My College Major – When I Didn't Have A Clue
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. The Fairy Tale Fades Once upon a time, in a land far away, lived a young girl. Since she was very young she knew that she was quite beautiful and thought she might grow up...
How Every First-Gen Should be Using Social Media
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Almost everyone is a member of at least one social network, but how much attention do you give to your posts, your profile or the photos you share? What do your privacy...
Discipline
These poor guys! Like greedy deprived creatures scarred by a former scarcity, they grasp at every chance for sex. The judgmental one who makes nature and God his enemy, who refuses to fight for what isn't worth fighting for, searches in vain for something of value....
Embrace the Challenge
I touch down on Campus, the first to ever do that in my family, and the first thing I feel is gut wrenching fear that almost doubles me over. My mom, dad and sister set up my dorm while I watched reminiscing over all the times they each had set up a room for me in...
New Resources Encourage First-Generation Students
We're excited to be featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education! This article was originally published in the October 24. 2013 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/article/New-Resources-Encourage/142597/ (subscription required) October...
Homesickness is Like a Sine Wave: The Ups and Downs of Missing Siblings, Friends & Parents
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. As first-generation students, it is often difficult for us--and potentially even more so for our families--to think about moving away to pursue higher education. Despite the...