This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org.
It is fascinating to me how it becomes harder to write our autobiography as we age. Maybe it is because by the time you’ve reached 19, you have already encountered many harsh realities of life. I take solace in the fact that most people have this same epiphany regardless of socioeconomic status. These harsh realities are what shapes us all; how we respond to them directs us. The obstacles I encountered growing up with a single mother who had not completed her education served as a springboard that propelled me into the Ivy League. Unfortunately, many of my peers in similar situations belly flopped and didn’t make any forward progress, but it certainly does not have to be that way for you.
An Early Start
I was born on January 5th, 1994 in Jackson, Miss. Along with my younger brothers, I was was raised by our mother alone, your typical 1990s African-American family–a norm that sadly persists until the present day. Once my mother had me, she dropped out of school to work full time (something I’ve just recently learned). I’d always assumed she at least had her GED. Regardless, she was a brilliant woman with tremendous vision. She decided that she would do whatever she could to make sure I had a good future, i.e. go to college.
I remember a teacher from Head Start (a federally funded preschool program) coming to read to me and it was magical. My hunger for knowledge was also fueled by the simple books that my mother got for me from Wal-mart. My mother would always get books that were a grade level ahead of my current grade; her initiative showed in the classroom as I took off academically in elementary school and never looked back.
Learning Leads to Opportunity
There are some things that I deem necessary to building a bridge to a better life. A moment ago, I detailed one of them: having the support of someone close. Having a caring parent or mentor is helpful beyond explanation. However, you have to decide for yourself what you are going to stand for; our actions and thoughts are the pens that write out our lives. My life was largely spent trying to not be like everyone else in my community–struggling and devoid of hope. I knew that was not the life I wanted, nor the life my family deserved. Fortunately, many opportunities are created just by learning, which seems almost too good to be true. We are constantly learning things one way or another, and it is great to know that you can make a living by simply studying what interests you the most. For me, that is looking into urban communities, seeing the influences there that affect the trajectory of the youth and figuring out how to make that trajectory the best one possible.
Patience is Key
Lastly, patience is key. If you’ve ever waited for your favorite pie on Thanksgiving Day or for your favorite TV show to come on (Teen Wolf for the win!) then you’re already experienced. In a sense, patience is synonymous with perseverance. There were times when I would sit in a freezing cold house without electricity, waiting for the bus to go to school in the morning. Just having that experience made me wonder about the broad spectrum of other struggles my fellow peers may have experienced. It really made me appreciate school and my classmates more so than before.
Breaking the Cycle
I have always been a dreamer who knew it was pointless to allow myself to be pulled down by others whose dreams for me were smaller than my own. More and more first-generation students are rising to break the cycles of limited opportunities and education in their families. I broke my family’s cycle through optimism (which stemmed from my belief in Jesus Christ), dedication to excellence both outside and inside the classroom and being proactive in learning more about what it took to make my goals of attending a top educational institution a reality (such as taking SAT subject tests).
We are to transcend what past generations have done. That involves being educated, being knowledgeable on important issues and being willing to give of yourself even when you feel you don’t have anything left to give. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns via Facebook or email me at travis.reginal@yale.edu.