First-Generation Faculty & Staff

Ask questions and take advantage of the resources available to you!

Try to find the area where you could make the best contribution to the world. Everyone has something special to give.

I am a first generation four year college student/graduate. My advice for all students is to learn how to maintain a growth mindset — it’s not about what you currently know, it’s what you are capable of learning. Once you figure that out, college is a lot less intimidating (and a lot more fun!).

Ask questions. Seek friends. Remember you DO belong.

Be proud of what you have achieved to be here at Wake and don’t be afraid to ask questions of anyone while you are here!

Get involved in student organizations, ask for help, talk to your faculty!

You are as capable and brilliant as any other student. Have confidence in yourself because that is half the battle.

Ask for help; don’t ever be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help.

Be mindful; explore and utilize all the resources available to you at WFU!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Particularly in a private school setting, you may feel like you are different than others because of parents’ careers, financial resources, and comfort in campus environment. Know that you belong here and you can do this!

Being denied access to places you belong does not negate the fact that you belong.

Embrace your journey. Stay focused on your goals. Make your family proud. Enjoy your time at Wake.

It is never too late to get a degree.

Go to the thing. Whether it is an info session, office hours, or a speaker series, a lot of resources go to people who show up.

Take advantage of office hours; get to know your professors and they you; take advantage of the Writing Center and other services on campus; go through the Divisional Requirements not around them; choose a major/minor that you are passionate about; make a diversity of friends.

Reach out, make connections early and often. Don’t wait until something “goes wrong” to be reach out and make connections.

Find at least one faculty member/mentor/adviser who believes in you, sees your difference as excellence, and answers all your questions without condescending to you. Embrace your unique perspective and experience as strengths. Be patient with those who are not kind to you (at first, then run…)

Don’t get discouraged! Know that you are creating a new legacy and pressing forward in your goals. Do not hesitate to reach out for help with the many resources that Wake is providing. We are here to champion you on!

Ask for help! Use this directory to find the resources that you need. There was so much institutional help when I was at Wake. I didn’t learn about these opportunities until I asked.

Do not hesitate to reach out. There are more people here who want to help you than you would likely guess.

Remember that this is YOUR journey. Do what is right for your dreams and goals, not what you think others expect. Give yourself room to fail, learn from your mistakes, and try again.

It’s okay to not know everything, including what you want to do with your life. One of the best things that you can do is ask questions. Meet with people who are doing the things that you wish to be doing-ask them how they got there, what experiences were valuable for them, what they wish they could have done differently. Networking sometimes gets a really bad rap, because it’s often times viewed as what can you make happen from me. However, some of the most valuable networks that I have is built on mutual support, mentorship, and growth from both ends- and all it took was for me to show up, to ask questions, and be receptive to feedback. If you are struggling, ask for help- it is not a sign of weakness, it’s not brave to struggle in silence, in fact it is courageous to seek support. There are so many people and offices on this campus who are here to support you in the ways that you need, but sometimes it means you have to ask for that support. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world that values caring for one another so we have to learn to be our own best advocate.

Read the book “Moving Up Without Losing Your Way” by Jennifer Morton.

Realize and accept that you do not have to do everything on your own. You have resources at your disposal that others have no qualms about utilizing. Nor should you!

Believe in yourself and embrace the unknown. I felt like I knew nothing going to college and basically did everything on my own. Just believe that you got into the school for a reason, you belong and your learning and creating a whole new path for your family in the future.

Never underestimate the value of connecting with campus resources.

Worry less during your first year or two about jobs/majors and what you will do with your degree after graduation, especially if you’re pursuing the liberal arts. You will have many skills for many different careers, and you will end up with employment (don’t allow that to dictate what you do). And a small piece of advice — visit your professors in their office hours. Office hours are student hours. You don’t need a reason to go. Go because you thought something was interesting in class, or because you thought of an idea related class discussion, or because you just want your professor to learn more about you. I didn’t know this and often avoided office hours as an undergrad. And they’re so important, especially if you will be asking faculty to write recommendation letters for internships or graduate school.

As a First Gen Student, you are already braver then I was at your age. I was so intimidated by schools like Wake that I didn’t even have them on my radar. It is okay if you are feeling overwhelmed or intimated at times. Always remember you earned your place here and that means you can do the work. There are plenty of support offices on campus (like my office in CLASS!) that love meeting with students and helping them reach their academic potential. As a first gen student, you may not be able to call home and ask your parents about what to expect about college or midterms or finals (or the social side of college), but there are many people here at Wake that will share that knowledge with you. Find a mentor (or several!), whether that be a faculty, staff, or upperclassman, to help you along the way.

Take advantage of all the opportunities you have while you have them, and embrace learning for learning’s sake!

Try not to be afraid to ask for help – so many people want to support you during your college experience.

You belong here. You’re not alone. Be proactive. Reach out to faculty, staff, peers.

Network and get to know people who are not first gen. Get as involved as you possibly can socially and academically. Study abroad. Ask lots of questions and find out about as many funding opportunities, student leadership roles as possible. Uncover the hidden curriculum by talking through things with your peers. Say hi to everyone in your dorm and participate. You don’t have to do things you don’t want to, but you should put yourself out there as much as possible. Also, don’t forget that you need to balance the above with your education. Do as well as you can in school, but don’t overdo it. Learning to balance the social with your obligations and time management are critical skills to develop, not just for a successful university education, but also a successful working life future.

Set your own standards.

Get involved as much as you can to connect to the campus and get to know your professors!

Enjoy the tremendous growth potential that exists when you’re in college. Have a lot of fun while you develop new relationships and connect with people who can aid in your growth.

You are who you are because of what and where you came from. Accept and own it; build your future from it, even if it’s necessary to start from (what seems like) scratch. Pursue your dreams bravely. Don’t be afraid to fail, and pursue excellence intentionally. Keep your eyes and ears open, observe everything and judge nothing immediately. Seek to understand more than to be understood. Create the life you want, and surround yourself with exceptional people along the way. Serve the greater good; keep an eye on the health and integrity of your humanity. Make a difference.

Be proud of your accomplishments, be proud of your academic growth, and be true to yourself!

It is frequently much harder to accomplish educational goals when you haven’t got others in your family who have gone before you to show you the ropes or share what their experience was like. If you find yourself in that situation, ask questions, advocate for yourself, and find assistance from someone on campus who can help untangle the difficult knots. The important thing is to keep going.

Always strive to know “why” you are doing something. And network, network, network.

Find a staff or faculty member who can be your go-to person. That could be for anything big or small – advice on classes or major, a thinking partner for things you aren’t ready to talk about with your family/friends/loved ones, or where to go in town if you need X or Y. Build a relationship with someone you trust who can help you.

In the words of Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus, “take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” Soak in everything, and never be afraid to ask for help.

Take advantage of every resource WFU has to offer. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance from any WFU staffer. We are all here to help.

Remember your roots. Treasure your trials. Keep your feet firmly planted in humility, gratitude, and kindness. Choose to see the best in others. Love!

Do not hesitate to reach out to fellow faculty and staff. We are here to help you and we want to help you.

There are so many resources and services available to you on this journey. Be OK not knowing what you don’t know. Be open to asking questions about what offices do and offer and how they can help you. Take advantage of the OPCD–they will help you with your first resume, to your first interview, to how to negotiate your first job offer. You’re here to land your dream job or your next educational step, so use the offices that have the resources to help you navigate those steps and reach your goals!

Use every resource and opportunity available to you! Experience as much as you can and know that your experiences are valuable and important.