I'm always proud to have been a first-gen student because I know that's not the image people have of a professor. For me, first-gen means to be a trailblazer: to seek new paths that challenge you, explore where others haven't gone, and achieve what might seem impossible. To be a first-gen faculty means to be the trail guide for those coming behind you, so their paths aren't quite so arduous, their quests are more fulfilling, and they don't feel alone in their exploration.

I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world and work with people but I didn't know where to begin. All the jobs I thought would be a good fit for those goals required a college degree, so I started planning to go to college. I didn't realize how important the type of college would be or that not all colleges are the same.

I come from a long line of hard-working people, but neither of my parents and none of my eight older siblings went to college, so it was daunting to pursue higher education without anyone to serve as a role model. And I worried sometimes that it wasn't the right choice because there were so many things that I didn't know about the process of higher education. I didn't have anyone I could ask, and I wasn't sure where to turn for resources on my undergraduate campus of 10,000 students. There was a lot of trial and error and making things harder than they needed to be. I think that's when being first-gen was the hardest, because it often felt like it was my own fault for not knowing what to do or where to look for help, and that can be really discouraging. Fortunately, I had a great professor who listened, offered advice, and gave me the confidence to be successful.

I attended a large state school, and it was hard to stick out or find help when I needed it. I was lucky to have a professor who challenged me in class and pushed me to become a better student and offered advice on continuing to pursue the path I wanted to take beyond college. I wasn't confident in my ability to be successful in graduate school, but as I got closer to graduation and excelled in the toughest classes in our programs, I began to consider that I might be able to pursue my dream of becoming a professor. I knew I wanted to be a professor at a university that focused more on holistic student success, especially for first-gen students like I had been, and the individual pathways that allowed students to achieve their life's passion and fostered life-long learning. That's why I came to UE; to be at a place that was the type of university experience I wish I would have had as a first-gen undergraduate!