As a first-generation college student I have set many goals for myself during my academic journey. After high school my goals were to graduate with my associates degree and later to graduate with my bachelors degree. Those two accomplishments alone were out of my comfort zone and something I had to navigate through on my own. After reaching those goals, the pandemic hit.

I finally got a job doing what I had always wanted to do in July 2021– I headed back to my alma mater Southwestern Michigan College and worked in housing and residence life. After I had adjusted to working while not being in school, I looked at those around me. I was the only person in my department that only had a bachelor's degree. This is where the journey started.

Originally I had applied to my masters program as a self-ratification thing. I wanted to have the degree that everyone else had around me. I also wanted to say that I did it, and that I was not only the first person in my family to attend college but to have a masters degree. Going to ‘Grad School’ is not something I would have ever seen for myself as I just wasn’t the best student in high school, and always felt like I had to work extra hard to get close to where the average was.

Another reason I applied to my masters program originally was for career trajectory. In housing and residence life, it is the baseline to have a masters degree. My supervisor had taken a chance on me with my bachelors degree and 4 years of experience. At the time I thought I wanted to stay in housing for the rest of my career (I laugh about this now). In order to move up or transfer to a different institution I would need a Masters degree. 
As I started my courses in the Masters of Arts in Educational Technology program, I felt like my work confirmed that I could do this– I could be the first person in my family to get a Masters degree. However, as I interacted with my classmates, read material, and continued my school work while working full time I realized that I did not want to stay in housing for the rest of my career. 

I realized that upon graduation my original goals would be met. The program shifted my goals because it made me realize my potential and that I could change my mind and my career path. I have since then embraced new goals such as teaching an online course and leading workshops for students at my institution.

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Being in my masters program has shown me that I can have so many more opportunities and goals and that I will constantly continue to change. It has also shown me there are so many ways I can get students to be engaged– online and in person. Challenging myself has been the best decision that I have made in regards to applying to my program. The feedback I have received in my courses is the biggest contributing factor to the way my outlook has changed. I have pushed myself each semester to do something I never thought I could.

In conclusion, my journey as a first-generation college student has been transformative, pushing me beyond my initial goals of earning my associate's and bachelor's degrees. The decision to pursue a master’s degree was initially driven by a desire for validation, but it has evolved into an opportunity for growth and exploration. As I continue this journey, I look forward to continuing to grow and help others all while inspiring them to realize their potential.