You're going to share one interesting
fact that you've learned about someone
in your group, so each group needs everyone...
My advice to first generation students
is to become engaged on day one. Get to know faculty. Get to know let's say higher
level students, like juniors and seniors,
and to find your way in the campus, but
do it in an engaging way. The UT LEAD program is offered at the Student Success Center.
It's a program that's specifically for
first-generation college students.
UT LEAD program offers academic,
social and cultural support programs and
the LEAD acronym stands for leadership,
excellence, achievement and diversity.
Well you got to understand the audience
because...I think they should get plugged
in you know. Get plugged in with a
faculty member. Get plugged in with you
know, some peers that they may look up to that may be doing great things on the
college campus. So they're gonna try to
figure out what is it that they're doing
you know that allowed them to be
successful. Try to pick up some of those
habits, you know emulate some of them if it fit with who they are,
but while they're emulating those habits, find out what really connects with who they
are as an individual. And once they're
able to do that they'll find their footing,
and they'll find ways to create a
successful pathway within the college.
It also becomes more about you being a hero...There are systematic supports. There are social supports
if you look for them. And
to not give up hope, because I just feel
like they need that encouragement. At 2:10... Come by our offices. Knock on our doors.
Give us give us a call. Shoot us an
email. Shoot us a text message. If you need
support we are here for your success, and
so don't ever be afraid to raise your
hand. Don't ever be afraid to knock on
that door, and say...Hey, I have no idea
what I'm doing can you help me? And I
guarantee there's somebody on this
campus that will help them get wherever
they need to get to. Which college are you in?
For a lot of people this school is bigger than their hometown you know,
so most of the conversations I have
with my first gen students are just
about I guess establishing their
identity for one thing, but then also
figuring out how that identity factors
into the campus community as a whole.
My freshman year I was involved with Hess Hall Council, and so I really wanted to
make my mark here as soon as possible.
Because of that support I get from my
parents I wanted to make them proud.
(student asking question) Believe in yourself. You know you came to
this university. It's a great university,
and if you got in here you could succeed
here. You can graduate in four years.
So use that that grit, that absolute
drive to stay committed to your success,
because you've obviously overcome
an adversity to get here. Rely on those
same tools and abilities as you're here
to be successful. (music ends)
