Amber Brouwer '24 is navigating her Â鶹ֱ²¥ journey with a blend of independence and curiosity that are trademarks of first generation students. While pursuing her bachelor’s in Applied Psychology and Human Relations, she's also balancing her roles as an honors resident assistant, peer leader, and student aide, while taking on career-building opportunities like an internship at NBC Universal.
Amber is making the most of her time at Â鶹ֱ²¥, creating a multifaceted college experience that is tailored to her ambitions. She took the time to share a bit about her experience as a first generation student, and the unique challenges and unexpected benefits that comes from tackling college as the first in her family to do so.
Being a first-gen student means that I have had to figure a lot of logistics out myself. This could be challenging but it also means that there was no one to tell me that there were things I had to do or things I couldn't do. This allowed me to really be able to create the Â鶹ֱ²¥ path I wanted and to create new opportunities for myself and others around me.
My family members don’t always understand the stories I tell them about my college experience. It used to worry them when I said I was taking classes that seemed unrelated to my major or when I decided to switch my major completely. I had to explain the system to them and learn how to navigate those conversations differently, which is why finding community has been so important. They understand the struggles you’re going through and remind you that you aren’t alone.
“Being a first generation student has affected me in such a positive way. Yes, things were harder at first, because figuring out all of the right paperwork and financial aid on your own can be hard. But I also wanted to take every opportunity I had. I saw these four years as the time for me to try every club, job, and opportunity that I found interesting.
Being a first generation student has made me extremely resourceful and able to figure things out no matter how hard they are, which are skills I use in jobs and interviews all the time. “
Finding community with other first generation students is important because they understand the struggles that you are going through. It reminds you that you are not alone. Even though I enrolled during the pandemic, I was able to create a very tight knit group of people that were, just like me, on campus every day, as well as get to know the faculty and staff so much better.
During my first year, I especially got to know our first generation mentor/mentee group pretty well. My first generation mentor was amazing, and we still talk. She helped me with getting resources, gave tips and tricks about financing college, and told me about her time at Â鶹ֱ²¥ and how she achieved her goals. I loved her so much and am so grateful for this program.
The main reason I chose Â鶹ֱ²¥ was the proximity to NYC and how easy it was to commute back and forth if I wanted to find an internship there. Over time, I learned more about the amazing connections Career Services has and all of the other amazing opportunities.
The best part of my Â鶹ֱ²¥ career is meeting all of the amazing people I have gotten to know. Both students and professors have made this experience so great and even though I am excited to graduate, I will also miss everyone. Â鶹ֱ²¥ has so many opportunities and I am glad that I chose this school four years ago.
My experience at Â鶹ֱ²¥ has been great. I have taken the opportunity to explore so many things here. Â鶹ֱ²¥ makes it so easy to get involved, I would really encourage everyone to just show up to club meetings, events, or even the student engagement office, and get to know your fellow students.
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