“I’m eternally grateful to my mom who made it her life goal to give me the life and education that she always dreamed of. I’m continuously inspired by her hard work and dedication which has instilled confidence and ambition in me. I’m so grateful to have been raised by such a strong and thoughtful woman.
Being a first-generation college student is something that I will always hold close to my heart. I’m proud of my ability to say that I’m completing my education, both bachelor’s and master’s, for the women who came before me. It’s my honor and privilege to honor the legacy of the strong women in my life and take advantage of these opportunities.
My advice to any first-generation student is to always remember the people in your life who paved the way for your success. Remember their resilience and use that as your passion and purpose for chasing your dreams.”
— Madison Fahlborg '24, MS '25
“I’m so grateful to my mom and my grandparents who always pushed me to work hard and set high goals for myself. My mom was always very positive and encouraging, and my grandparents did everything they could to support my Quinnipiac journey. It meant everything and shaped my life as it is today.
For students who are the first in their family to attend college, I would encourage you to get involved in groups that mean something to you and network as much as you can. Don’t get tied up in overcommitting yourself, but be selective so that you have time to be engaged and also take care of yourself and your courses. Finding balance now is setting yourself up for success in your college experience and for post-graduation..”
— Charity Kuchyt, director of conferences and events
“As a first-generation college graduate, I’m grateful to Ann Martin, the high school English teacher who saw a spark in me that I never saw in any mirror. For a kid who loved to write but needed some direction, she encouraged me to think boldly and differently on paper. Ms. Martin helped me find my writing voice and a pathway to attend Syracuse University; playing tenor saxophone in the SU marching band was just a bonus. After a 30-year career in journalism, I proudly earned a master’s degree from Quinnipiac in 2020. Although Ms. Martin died in 2010, she was the ladder I needed to reach my family’s first college degree. Thank you, Ms. Martin, for believing in me and so many other kids from upstate New York.”
— Brian Koonz, director of editorial services
“My parents came to this country from Italy in their early teens. They worked in factories and taught themselves to speak English. I was inspired to pursue higher education by my mother. She encouraged us from a young age to continue our education and make the most of all opportunities that came our way. My parents sacrifices and dreams for a better future for their children motivated us to overcome challenges and to seek opportunities that education can provide.
My advice to any first-generation students is to take the opportunity that is in front of you, however challenging it may be. There are campus resources that are there to help. There are times when it may get challenging, but maintain a positive mindset, you can overcome anything.”
— Maria Porto, director of campus visit experience
“I am grateful to my mother and father for their tireless support and encouragement throughout my journey in higher education. As they did not have the opportunity to go to college, they instilled in me the importance of education and the opportunities it could bring. Their belief in my potential and their sacrifices have been the foundation of my success.
My advice to first-generation college students is to stick with it. It can be difficult at times, especially when you see your peers with more support systems. However, that drive within you, the one that makes you dig deep, is the same thing that will propel you further in your career.”
— Carl Pitruzzello, associate vice president for advancement services
"Thank you to my superhero mother for all the sacrifices she made to ensure I could go to college. And thank you to my incredible mentors, Dr. Linda Johnson and Dr. Jack Stallard, for taking me under their wings and demonstrating how to be a caring, involved professor.”
— Kiku Jones, professor of business analytics and information systems
"I am grateful for my family and friends for supporting me to attend college as a first-generation college student. I am grateful to the advisors/faculty along my journey who said I wasn’t an imposter, and I deserved to be there, especially during my MFA and PhD journeys where less first-generation college students’ journey. Finally, I am grateful to the various institutions, Catholic U, Syracuse U, NYU and of course Quinnipiac U for believing my experience, personality, and character traits would be something they value. I am blessed.”
— Tom Ellet, chief experience officer
"Being a first-generation college student I am grateful for those that motivated me because I now work for the same university that gave me an incredible experience. If it wasn’t for those saying, go to college and to make the most of my experience, I wouldn’t be able to impact the lives of incoming students and students here on campus every day. For those that are first generation college students now, my advice is to find your people and find your passion. If you love what you do it makes life so much easier and much more fun.”
— John Shepherd, assistant director, next generation and affinity giving
"I was blessed to have some amazing mentors throughout my life. My parents always believed that I could be the first to attend college even when I didn’t think it was possible, and I cannot thank Coach Frankie Brown enough for the care he showed me in high school, it truly encouraged me to live a full life and strive for more."
"The greatest advice I could offer is for first gen students to take a moment and reflect on what you’ve accomplished. We often spend so much time racing to the end, that we forget how long the track truly was. You are all worthy to be in college, and every day you show up proves why.”
— Jahmil Effend, associate director of student engagement
"I'm incredibly grateful for my family, especially my mother and grandmother, who supported and encouraged my interests in higher education. I also deeply appreciate former Associate Dean Jean Blue (College of Liberal Arts) who advised me not only on a major, but was a mentor and taught me to be a young professional and inspired me to reach higher and challenge myself.
My advice to current first-gen college students is to be curious and ask a lot of questions. There's a lot to learn from research and experiences in the classroom; however, learning about ourselves and the world around us doesn't end once we finish college. As an academic advisor I want students to know that you're surrounded by people who want to teach you how to advocate for yourself, mentor you and take genuine interest in who you are as a individual. And once you have those mentors they'll continue to be in your corner, long after you leave college.”
— Rosa Nieves, assistant director academic advising
The university has two days of celebration of National First Generation College Students Day planned. This events give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to write their own thank-you notes to family, mentors, teachers and friends who assisted them on their journey and receive a commemorative pen sponsored by the office of inclusive excellence:
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