Starting a New Family Legacy: Transitioning from High School to College as a First Generation College Student

Abstract

About me: My name is Daniela, but most people think that’s hard to pronounce so you can call me Dani. I am a first-year chemistry major who has two dreams in life: to be the first in my family to finish college and to gain acceptance into medical school. I’ll be blogging on behalf of TRiO, an on-campus program that helps first-generation students like me succeed in college. Join me as I share the ups and downs of college life as I make the jump from high school senior to college freshman.

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Move in day is finally here! I can’t believe that I’ll be leaving my hometown and moving into a dorm with a potluck roommate I’ve never met. Let’s hope that roommate survey I filled out actually does pair you with a complementary roommate like the housing people promise it will. I have my doubts, but I’m cautiously optimistic right now. I looked my new roommate up on Facebook and she seems nice enough from our Facebook chats. Although I’m excited about the freedom I’ll have in college, I’m not sure I’m ready for this big move. Let’s face it: it’s hard to leave your family, friends, and hometown behind. My family is really close and we do everything together, so living in a different town will be a new experience for me.