Dear First-Generation Student

Feb 21, 2022 • Sabrina S.

First, I want to congratulate you on starting college! All your challenging work paid off. As a first-generation student whose parents migrated from South America to the United States, I wanted to give you some advice on how to navigate college as a first-generation student. Here are my top 4 tips.

Tip 1: Get involved

Get plugged into different clubs on campus, get to know your professors, and find encouraging friends to build a support system. Becoming involved allows you to fully embrace who you are and helps you to take advantage of the resources Liberty has to offer.

Tip 2: Be financially savvy

College is expensive, so constantly looking for scholarships always helps. Be proactive with financial assistance to see what scholarships the school has to offer and always fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Another fantastic way is to get a job, especially a work study job where you can easily accommodate your work schedule with your school schedule to help pay off tuition.

Pro tip: try limiting your personal spending and save some money every paycheck.

Tip 3: Balance

College can be stressful, and the workload can be heavy, but learning to have balance between school and a social life can help with your mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Try not to burn yourself out. College is a time to learn and experience all the wonderful things it has to offer. Go to several types of student activities Liberty offers or find a hobby you enjoy doing.

Tip 4: Don’t give up

Push through — you’ve got this. There are many other students going through similar situations. Before you know it those 4 years of college will fly by. It is easy to be discouraged or have feelings of doubt, but just know that once you get that degree, all that challenging work will be so worth it.

Best Regards,

From one first-generation student to another,

Sabrina S.