Valentina Rojas Abreu ’24 knows the experience of a first generation student better than most. Not only is she one herself, but she’s been helping cultivate a supportive network as President of the First Generation Program.
Read on to hear her perspective on the distinct challenges and triumphs that define the first generation student experience.
I’d heard great things all through high school about how many connections Pace has to different companies and programs. I liked that I could commute and that there was a New York City Campus I could take advantage of if I wanted to.
A lot of us first generation students are so independent because we don't have that safety net. Not that we don't have people to depend on, but at least on an academic standpoint, you are on your own.
As a first generation student, I ended up being very independent. I'm the firstborn in my family. So I don't have an older sibling to ask ‘how did you do this’ or ‘what is FASFA?’ I feel like a lot of our students, including myself, feel like school is a bit easier now because I've been doing everything by myself. Having to figure things out on your own can help students reach for the stars. They know how to opportunities or have higher aspirations because they know they’ve always had to.
Some people don’t even realize they’re a first generation student. Even if your parents received an associate degree rather than a four-year degree, or your siblings have gone to college, you're still considered a first generation student.
I try to encourage students in the First Generation Program in the same way I was encouraged.
Join Danielle Shoulders '24 on her transformative journey as a first generation student at Pace, where she's making every moment count. From her Environmental Studies program, student clubs, internships, and more, learn how she's overcoming challenges and helping create a vibrant community.
A first-generation American, and the first in her family to go to college and law school, Maria Profeta '22 always had the goal to use her education to better her family and her community.
Meet D'Andrè Butler and follow along with his inspiring journey as a first generation student at Pace, balancing academics, work, and club leadership with an unwavering quest for independence. Read on to explore his unique challenges and triumphs, and how he's shaping his future at Pace.