As a first-generation college student, when the fall semester comes to a close, I reminisce on my first semester here at Texas A&M. I always felt alone and in the dark about everything. I would look at my peers who weren’t first generation college students and think, “Why can’t I be like them?” After interviewing a first gen student from A&M, I found the truth to be that we share experiences unique to us, and it’s what makes us, as students, so special.
My first semester here at A&M, I was lost and scared. Scared of failure and not belonging. Crystal Capetillo, a Sophomore Biomedical Science major here at Texas A&M says her first semester was quite similar. “I honestly felt like I didn’t belong at A&M no matter how much people told me that I did.”
We not only came to college alone and in the dark of things, but we also face the challenges of being at a disadvantage compared to our peers. Crystal Capetillo says that for her, her peers were more accustomed to the Aggie Traditions, had better connections with professors and were able to afford private tutors for challenging courses. “I envied these people because they had things that I know I couldn’t get because everything was new to me.”
With challenges comes opportunity and growth. For me, it was the opportunity to grow as a person outside my family. I finally learned who I was as an individual unassociated with my adolescent self. Crystal says it was creating a better life for herself and her family, “I hope to provide a better future for my parents. I’m also hoping my siblings can follow my footsteps, so they can also do better for themselves.”
Being a first generation college student is not for the delicate. It comes with more downs than ups, and there are days where dropping out seems like the best option, but as Crystal Capetillo said, “It’s like a superpower. Being the first in your family to go to college shows how strong we first generation students are. I feel like all the struggles our previous ancestors had are being reflected in our efforts, and that’s what gives us the strength to push through.”
To all my first generation college students reading this, if you’re struggling right now, I promise there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It may take you a year or so to reach that light, but when you do, you’ll feel the sensations of accomplishment and dignity. Keep creating your story and your legacy.