FIRST GENERATION

What kind of student were you in middle school?  High school?

I was a pretty good student in middle and high school. I loved learning and enjoyed reading, so that was a plus in every course (except Honors Physics, but I am still not over that yet, so we won’t talk about Bruno). Looking back, I should have done better in high school, but I was still a pretty decent student overall. 

Tell us about growing up being the first in your family to graduate from college.  At what age did you realize you might be the first?

That’s a funny question. I did not find out that I was the first to graduate from college until I had already earned my Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Doctorate. About two years ago, during a random conversation, my mother was talking to me about being the only one in her family (out of 11 children) to get her high school diploma. From there, we figured out that I was the first. 

Did you feel added pressure being the first in your family to attend/ graduate from college?  Explain?

I felt no pressure because, as I said before, I did not know. My grandfather was a sharecropper and worked hard in the fields all of his life. He may not have been able to give my mother land or provide his children with a nest egg, but he gave them a sense of pride in doing whatever you put your hands to well. My mother gave that to me and I can see that I have passed that on to my five children. We do well because that’s what we do. There is no added pressure. It is just how we roll! I did not know that was unique, but I am so happy to have that as my foundation. 

What colleges/universities  did you attend and graduate from?  What was your major? 

I graduated from North Carolina Central University (Go Eagles!) in Durham NC with a Bachelor of Arts degree; my major was Middle School Education, with a concentration in Language Arts and Social Studies.  I then received my Master of Science Degree from North Carolina State University (Go Pack!) in Raleigh NC ; my major was  Communication. I received my PhD from Capella University; my major was Curriculum and Instruction.  My dissertation topic was research about the type of female student that most effortlessly  transitions to a single-gendered environment based on prior theories and data received from several teachers. 

Did you experience any obstacles / challenges while in college?  How did you overcome them?

I think I was super focused in college. I graduated early without early college credits because I was determined to graduate. I will say that I can remember one issue I had in a math class. I was working out math problems and showing my work (for all the math teachers reading), but I was not showing it step by step like the math professor wanted. I kept only getting partial credit on my work, even though my processes and answers were right. I met with the professor during her office hours. She explained to me that she wanted to see me do the problem her way, the long way. She said that I could shortcut on my scratch paper to complete the math the way that I am accustomed to doing it, but that she wanted to be sure that I had every part of the process mastered because my shortcuts would not work in the next unit. I received her critique, made the changes she suggested, and had no more issues on my assignments. I think that is why I love for students to learn to accept critique because sound critique does not tear you down. Genuine critique prepares you beyond where you are and makes you better. 

Who were some of the people who championed you throughout your college years?  

I met my husband at NCCU. We were married the next year (YESSSSS, AND WE STILL ARE-HAPPILY MARRIED!!!!!!). He was and IS my biggest cheerleader. He worked full-time so that I could focus on school and being a mother because by the time I graduated, I had two baby girls looking up to me. My children kept me focused and grounded, and although they are all adults, they still do!

What piece of advice or words of wisdom do you have to WYWLA students who will be the first in their family to attend/ graduate from college?

It is like being the first child. There is nothing to prepare you for it, so just embrace it. There will not be a path laid out for you, so make your own yellow brick road and make a few friends along the way that may help.  At some point, you’ll “ease on down the road” and have a path made so others who follow will not have to work as hard. That’s the beauty of it all!