Wagner Voices: NYU Wagner First-Generation Graduate Students
What does it mean to be a first-generation graduate student at NYU Wagner?
Jacquelin Betro (MPA-HPAM)
"Being a first-generation student has posed a few challenges: navigating the application process, financial planning independently, and communicating the time requirements of graduate school to a family that hasn't had the same opportunities. Being at NYU Wagner has made me realize that attending graduate school is not a possibility for everyone, and for that, I am mindful of giving the experience the respect that it deserves."
Giovanni Barcenes (MPA-PNP)
"Being a first-generation student meant I had to rely heavily on friends, co-workers, and folks in my life that had been through the graduate school application process.
I remember having many conversations with people. I asked questions like: Is the time, money, and effort worth it? What have you gotten out of your experience? Why did you choose your program?
When thinking about applying and enrolling in graduate school, I remember having various concerns: the opportunity cost of a full-time salary; my parents' financial situation; paying for tuition; and what skills, experiences, and connections I wanted to gain from the program. To me, graduate school has been a huge investment, and being a first-generation student means taking a risk on myself to ensure a better future for my family."
Javon Robbinson (MPA-PNP)
“Knowing I'm the first in my family to reach this level of education is my greatest source of motivation. I feel proud knowing my journey at NYU Wagner is going to create a new cycle of academic success for future generations of my family. My journey to graduate school at an institution like NYU allows me to show my younger brother that with determination and resilience, no dream is out of reach. As a first-generation student, my journey at NYU Wagner has shown me how truly resourceful I am.”
Coco Lim (MPA-PNP)
"Being a first-generation student has meant rewriting my narrative. Especially as a Filipina-Chinese-American woman, the expectation of becoming a doctor or lawyer is common. My parents did not have the option to choose their careers; instead, their decisions were a means of survival. For me, there is a privilege and a heightened sense of responsibility in choosing a career in public service, which is both terrifying and empowering. It is a privilege to be able to pursue my passion. Every day is a constant balancing act between making decisions that belong to me and recognizing that many of those decisions are, in a way, for my parents. Being first-gen means having to navigate the line between an individualist and collectivist culture every day."
Mikeala Sparks (MUP)
"Getting my bachelor's was something my family dreamed of, and after completing it, I was able to realize my dream of getting a master' s—and that is what my entire NYU Wagner experience has been: a dream. I am continuously humbled, inspired, and grateful for my family's and my friends' support. Coming to grad school made me realize I had made it far enough in my life to make decisions for myself, and this was because I had taken a chance on my education in the first place."
Sabrina Taveras (MPA-PNP)
“Being a first-generation student forces me to push the envelope. I’ve always used education as a means to step beyond the status quo and redefine what it means to be first-gen. It’s motivating to know my decision to enroll in graduate school has contributed to others from my community deciding to pursue post-secondary education as well.”