Take a moment and say thanks…like NOW
Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday, for many reasons of course. For one you get to be with your family. You all take a break…
Hugging Isn't for Us
Hugging isn’t for us. There’s simply no need for it. As with most other twins, my brother and I are inseparable. I’ve never gone a…
Meet the new I'm First Bloggers
We've selected 8 awesome first-year college students who beat the odds to become the first in their family to attend college as winners of the…
From a Bad Chicago Neighborhood to the University of Illinois: How I Got Into My Dream School
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Every day at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign I strive for excellence.…
Fearing the Need
As I was getting ready for college, I was pretty nervous about leaving my little sisters. Not my parents. (I really needed to be independent…
How I Chose My College Major – When I Didn't Have A Clue
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. The Fairy Tale Fades Once upon a time, in a land far away,…
How Every First-Gen Should be Using Social Media
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. Almost everyone is a member of at least one social network, but how…
Discipline
These poor guys! Like greedy deprived creatures scarred by a former scarcity, they grasp at every chance for sex. The judgmental one who makes nature and God…
Embrace the Challenge
I touch down on Campus, the first to ever do that in my family, and the first thing I feel is gut wrenching fear that…
New Resources Encourage First-Generation Students
We're excited to be featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education! This article was originally published in the October 24. 2013 edition of the Chronicle…
Homesickness is Like a Sine Wave: The Ups and Downs of Missing Siblings, Friends & Parents
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. As first-generation students, it is often difficult for us--and potentially even more so…
Decide What's Best for You
Although high school did get tough at times, overall I had a pretty good high school career. I never failed a class, I did not…
My Message to First-Gens: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Achieve Greatness!
This article was originally written for FirstGenerationStudent.com, now a part of ImFirst.org. I remember waking up and putting on my suit. While I took the…
#AskAdmissions First Generation Panel
On October 22nd, I'm First held an #AskAdmissions Google+ Hangout, featuring our College Partners and our I'm First Bloggers! I’m First College Partners, University of…
Be the Reason
Passion. I remember looking online for advice about college admission essays and seeing the word “passion". All the articles I read warned me not to…
Homecoming
3 months into my collegiate experience, I am having an excellent time. I have made new friends, become involved in various organizations and have even…
Drive It Before You Buy It
As I sit here thinking about how to start this particular blog, my lips are slowly curving to form a smile. I’m reminiscing on all…
Overcoming Fear!
Thinking about college can be scary, stressful, and even disappointing. There are so many choices to be made and so much paperwork to get done; it gets crazy. As a…
Best Times Of My Life
College has been one of the best times of my life. It’s been full of fun times, late nights, and getting lost around campus. It…
You & I can change it all
There are a lot of things that the pretty college brochures that will/have attacked your mailbox don't show. Sometimes they forget to mention how outrageously…