1st Generation Club
Executive Board
Fall 2024
Year: Junior
Major: Psychology Minor: Human Services BIOGRAPHY: I have an unhealthy obsession with collecting manga and K-pop albums. I’m currently collecting the Spy x Family series and starting my TXT album collection!
WHAT DOES BEING A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT MEAN TO YOU?: Being a first gen student means being a trailblazer for not just my family, but my community. It means to accept the challenges and hardships that may await, but never giving up when they do arise. It means to be a person with bravery, courage, and perseverance. Having the title of a first generation student is not easy, and I consider it my greatest honor. |
Year: Senior
Major: Finance BIOGRAPHY: Hi everyone! I’m Arielle and I’m entering my senior year here at UNLV! Somethings that I like to do for fun are going shopping, hanging out with my friends, and playing video games. Some games that I like to play are mariokart and uno! I’m also involved in a sorority here on campus called Sigma Theta Psi! Outside of school I work at Cowabunga Bay as a Revenue Administrative Assistant! I have a friendly personality so you are always welcome to come say hi to me!
WHAT DOES BEING A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT MEAN TO YOU?: To me, being a first generation student is such an accomplishment because you are the first in your family to graduate college!! That means that we went through the whole process of college trying to figure out what we want to do, the steps we had to take to pick our classes, dealing with the workload, etc. Being a first generation student is difficult but it is very rewarding at the end of it. I used to think being a first generation student wasn’t a big deal, but once I started school and realized how much there was to it, I realized that being a first generation student is a HUGE deal! |
Year: Junior
Major: Psychology Minor: Sociology BIOGRAPHY: A 1st gen student
WHAT DOES BEING A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT MEAN TO YOU?: Being a first gen student mean that I am one of the first people in my family to get the opportunity to go to college. This means that I got to to make the best out of it for myself but also to help other first gen on the way to my goals. Being a first gen student is remembering that you have other to help you and know how you feel, but with this we have the power to lend a helping hand to other first gen student when we see them struggling. |
Treasurer
Ashley Hernandez (she/her) Year: Junior
Major: Treasurer Minor: Information Systems BIOGRAPHY: Hi! My name is Ashley, and I’m a junior here at unlv! In my free time, I enjoy hitting the gym, playing video games, watching kdramas or listening to music, and hanging out with friends. I also enjoy being involved on campus and am a part of Girl Gains UNLV, Layer Zero and LWIB. I’m excited to start this new semester as a part of the 1GC E-Board and also love meeting new people so say hi if you ever see me around campus!
WHAT DOES BEING A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT MEAN TO YOU?: With the objective of achieving academic success, a first-generation student is persistent. Persistent to finally be in the grasp of the diploma; persistent to walk across the stage; persistent to maintain good academic standing. They are resilient in overcoming the challenges of integration and unfamiliarity due to the lack of empathetic parental guidance, simultaneously developing values of self-sufficiency and independence. First-generation students are hard-working, dedicated, and resourceful. They are quick learners as they begin to adapt to college norms, beaming with excitement and encouragement as they look toward the completion of their goals. "First-generation student" is an honorable title, representing generations of hard work and dreams, which the student holds the responsibility of pursuing. |
BIOGRAPHY: Undergraduate student who enjoys being involved, works on campus, and enjoys hanging out with friends!
WHAT DOES BEING A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT MEAN TO YOU?: Being a First Generation student means having the recognition of the many accomplishments one has taken throughout their journey to being successful. Everyone has a different story to themselves and all the hard work one is continuing to demonstrate should be recognized and rewarded for their contributions. Everyone has come a very long way to be able to make it to this point in their life and to be able to push through obstacles/overcome potential fears is highly acknowledged. |
Major: Social Work
BIOGRAPHY: Hi, my name is Jasmine and I am a second year at UNLV. A few things about me are I am currently a substitute teacher, I like going to the gym, and I own a small business (insta: sweetssbyjas) if anyone wants to follow. I like meeting new people so if you see me on campus you are welcome to say hi.
WHAT DOES BEING A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT MEAN TO YOU?: Like any good parents, my parents have always wanted the best for me. They expect me to achieve a lot of things, but one of them is go to college—something they never got the chance to do. My parents frequently encouraged me to go to college so I can obtain a career and not endure hardships in life, to avoid making the same mistakes they did. Being the first in my family to attend college is both an honor and a huge responsibility. |
Major: Information Systems
BIOGRAPHY: Born in L.A, I moved to Las Vegas by myself to start a new chapter in my life and hopefully return to school one day. Six years later I am happy and thriving! I was a cocktail server for many years on the strip. Currently a full time student and eager to graduate next year.
I'm a plant mom, succulents are my favorite to grow. I'm also a mother to 2 full bred American Dobermans. Boy and girl. I love watching period pieces (i.e. Bridgerton, Pride and Prejudice). WHAT DOES BEING A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT MEAN TO YOU?: Being a first generation student means honoring my parents sacrifices by pursuing a higher education for myself when such a thing was out of reach for them. |
Graduate Liaison
Kathryn Henry, M.A. (she/her) Management Emphasis in Leadership - M.A.
Criminal Justice - M.A. IN PROGRESS: Public Affairs Ph.D. BIOGRAPHY: I relocated to Nevada from the Midwest. I miss some of my favorite people, but I do not miss the cold winters. I am an animal lover, an avid reader, and I enjoying trying new things. I am working toward a Ph.D. in Public Affairs. My career goals are becoming a researcher, working on policies addressing interpersonal and sexual violence, and sharing my knowledge with others in a college setting through teaching and mentoring.
WHAT DOES BEING A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT MEAN TO YOU?: Being a first-generation student means being on a different journey than many others. I set out to get my first degree, so that I could break the cycle of poverty in my family. I hated living in a trailer park and attending schools on the other side of town where my classmates lived in lush houses. Their parents drove cars that were only a few years old and never broke down. They didn’t understand that I simply couldn’t afford to have the same things they had. Some of their parents were not kind to me. I remember one lady that told me that I couldn’t be friends with her daughter because I lived in a trailer, and they lived in a house. I was heartbroken. I was judged for many years because of where I lived. I was left out of many opportunities simply because I was viewed as a poor kid. I was accepted into a local college in my home state and started working towards getting my first degree. When I graduated with that first degree, I was reminded by those around me that I hadn’t really accomplished much, it wasn’t a law degree or a medical school degree. So, I did not walk at graduation. I moved away and started my career. When I earned my first masters, I was super proud of myself. I had done something not everyone gets a chance to do. I finally was proud of my accomplishment and was being viewed as a role model for others who were not given a chance to go to college. In 2020, I relocated to Las Vegas, earning a second masters in 2022. Now I am working towards my Ph.D. Not too bad for the girl from the trailer park who was told that she would never be successful. I believe all first-generation students have a unique story to share about how they got where they are today. I believe all first-generation students are role models to those who come after us. I also believe that we are some of the most resilient people because we face more challenges than the average college student. |