Hi everybody! Before I started posting more, I wanted to make sure to introduce myself properly to not only be able to connect with everyone more but to also try to help others not make some of the rookie mistakes that I did.
My name is Amanda Hill, and I go to Alvernia University in Berks County. I’m a commuter living at home with my mom, and like you all, am the first in my family to go to college. My great grandfather migrated over here from Italy, so my grandfather was the first generation in my family that learned to read and write, his parents not even being able to speak the English language. My grandfather and my grandmother didn’t go to high school, and my dad dropped out freshmen year. My mom and her brothers marked the first generation of my family to graduate high school. That brings me to my brothers and I, with me being the only one to seek higher education for the better of my future. As you probably know yourself, this made college seem like a daunting beast, with nobody I was close to having any idea how it worked or what to do to even get in. Looking back, the biggest advice I can give to anyone unsure is to simply seek help. I was afraid that back then, seeking help would be seen as embarrassing because I was the only one of my peers whose parents didn’t go to college. I was afraid I would be looked down upon, and that my genuine struggles and worries would seem trivial and worthless. That was far from the case though, and everyone I ended up seeking help from was kind and forthcoming with their knowledge, which was a big reprieve in the stressful thrall of the application process.
My last bit of advice is, be patient with yourself and your capabilities. It’s okay to have trouble and stress and be confused, because you’re only human, and expecting any more of yourself in this obviously stressful time is unfair to yourself. You don’t have to compare yourself to others who may be more knowledgeable than you, because that doesn’t make you any lesser.
Just breathe, be patient with yourself, and give it your all!