Students of marginalized identities give advice

Student advice from those who navigated college in under-prioritized and underrepresented bodies.

From students of marginalized identities who have been forced to make the margins their home.

It is GOOD to ask for help.

“Nearly every student, faculty member, and administrator in higher education has utilized a network of family and friends to make it in this world. [Ask for help. Build your networks]. Asking for internships, jobs, research opportunities, what classes to take, from people you respect and trust does not make you less-than or weak.” ~Ted Lewis, University of Mary Washington ‘04, University of South Carolina ‘06

You are a pioneer. Your presence matters. Your voice is needed.

For all students breaking through to become the first in their family to attend college, at times you may feel out of place. Own that. Chart your course. Write your own story.

“Your presence matters. Your voice is needed. There will be times that you will feel out of place (and you actually might be out of place) because attending an institution of higher education has never been done by anyone in your family. …think of yourself as a pioneer” ~Omar A. Ramirez, UNC Charlotte ‘15, Columbia University ‘16 MSW

It’s your future, you get to decide how you spend it.

“For people coming from poverty: you are likely accruing debt of some kind—think about what will be worth repaying someday. … it’s your future earnings, as much as you can control—decide how you spend it. ~Julia Gilmore Gaughan, University of Kansas ’02, University of Kansas School of Law ’08

Making mistakes is the path to knowledge that sticks.

“Just because you have questions or don’t get the lesson immediately doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the label of being ‘smart’ – asking questions and making mistakes is the path to knowledge that sticks.” ~Sally Yue Jiang,University of Kansas ‘19

#StartOfSomethingGood #FindYourWay #NeverGiveUp

Credit: www.teenvogue.com/story/college-advice