About the author
Hello! Welcome to my senior project. My Name is Kelsey Molina. I am a fourth-year English major with a minor in Ethnic Studies at California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo. I am looking forward to finishing my undergrad and graduating this Spring of 2020. First-Gen Features is a product of my love for hearing stories less told. I am so excited to share these projects and narratives, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. As a first-generation student myself, I often think about how the things I have struggled with or experienced are not things that the greater majority of students can relate to. I know that this path is not an easy one and that there are many others like myself who have a story to tell. I wanted to use this project as an opportunity to give other students and myself the space to share their passions, struggles, and joy. I had known that my experience as a first-generation college student was not the same as my peers when I was in high school. I remember hearing other people speak about how their parents were encouraging |
them to apply to prestigious places, to take SAT prep courses, to do so many extracurriculars so that they would be seen as competitive. As for me, I had to fill out college applications on my own and figure out financial aid by myself. Even now, I still go back and fill out financial aid forms for my younger sibling.
Coming to Cal Poly, this difference in background was even more prominent. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Educational Opportunity Program which I often attribute much of my college readiness and success. This program plays a huge role in ensuring some of the most vulnerable students, both first-generation and low-income, have the tools they need in order to navigate the predominately white institution that is Cal Poly.
My experiences with EOP as well as my every day lived experiences on Cal Poly's campus are the inspirations for the creation of this project.
Coming to Cal Poly, this difference in background was even more prominent. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Educational Opportunity Program which I often attribute much of my college readiness and success. This program plays a huge role in ensuring some of the most vulnerable students, both first-generation and low-income, have the tools they need in order to navigate the predominately white institution that is Cal Poly.
My experiences with EOP as well as my every day lived experiences on Cal Poly's campus are the inspirations for the creation of this project.