Celebrating My Achievements as a First-Generation College Student

Celebrating My Achievements as a First-Generation College Student
What does being the first in your family to go to college mean? Each year, it means something a little different to me. Most often, I think about my family. Being a first-gen means leading the way for my siblings to follow in my footsteps. It means carrying the weight of succeeding for those who came before me—those who ever only dreamed of higher education. This past semester, I discovered that being a first-gen means accomplishments don’t always feel like accomplishments. But, reflecting and seeing the strides you have made is essential.
Looking back, it is clear that 2024 was full of success for me, some of which I failed to recognize at the moment:
- I completed my 50-page capstone, marking the end of my journey as a College of General Studies student.
- I stayed on campus as a summer admissions student representative, serving as the face of BU for nearly 30,000 visitors.
- I traveled to Washington, D.C., for the first time with Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack to promote Class Dismissed, a book I helped finalize in real time.
- I joined my first-ever E-board as marketing coordinator of the First-Generation Low Income Partnership.
- I won “Best Campaign Strategy” at the Adlabbies just last month.

I now realize that I conquered 2024. Yet I never felt like it. Instead, after every success, I felt undeserving. Unsatisfied. Why me? It was as if my body wouldn’t let me feel pride. I was trapped inside my head, stuck between thinking that any success was a fluke or not grand enough to be a success. Imposter syndrome is a tale as old as time.
However, a close mentor of mine noticed my accomplishments for me. Just a little after finals week began, Maria Erb, executive director of the Newbury Center and listener of all my troubles, called me into her office:
“Would you be interested in writing a Hey BU Blog?”
Initially, I was taken aback. Again, why me? But I also felt a sense of pride—a feeling I had forgotten. Maria had come to me personally. She saw someone successful, with a story worth telling, and in that moment, I saw them, too. At my core, I had forgotten what success looks like.
An old friend once told me that when times are rough and it feels like nothing is going right, it is important to celebrate little wins to remind ourselves that we’re merely steps away from where we want to be. Whenever I felt like I had a little win—whether cleaning my room or doing my homework—I wrote it down. I did this until I got to college, where I was swept up in a “go-getter” mentality—a mentality that prioritizes the final destination over the journey.
I was so focused on graduating and finding work that it felt like my little wins meant nothing. I neglected small triumphant moments despite them being vital stepping stones in my journey. By neglecting these little wins, my big wins started to feel less like wins. If it didn’t get me to where I wanted to be, it wasn’t worthy of my pride.
It took me nearly three years to remember that each of these wins and losses, big or small, has guided me closer to the finish line without realizing it.
So, that brings me to today, where I can confidently say that I am successful—not just because of my eventful year, but because every moment I exist as a first-generation student, I am defying the odds. I am living proof that cycles can be broken. Whether moving into a college dorm, writing a research paper, or walking across a college campus every day, I am the first in my family to do it. These moments, too, are worth celebrating and being proud of.

For my fellow first-gens: as college’s nonstop hustle and bustle tries to sweep you away, ground yourself in the little wins. Let them remind you that you are not behind, but moving at your own pace. Above all, allow yourself to feel proud of them. When you do, you’ll realize you’ve accomplished much more than you think.
Join us for the Grand Re-Opening of the Newbury Center on Wednesday, January 22, and it’s 4th Birthday Party! Festivities kick off at 4 pm with a community painting project, DJ, games, dinner, and plenty of Newbury Center/Terrier F1RSTS swag. A brief formal program featuring remarks by President Gilliam will take place at 4:30 pm, followed by a drop-in dinner starting at 5 pm and concluding at 7 pm. We look forward to celebrating with you!
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