Today we are highlighting utjschool student Julia Mahavier from San Antonio, TX. Julia's advice to fellow first-gen college students is to try everything and surround yourself with people who resemble pieces of yourself because it can bring comfort. "We are doing it for us and, in turn, for those who weren't able to before us." Julia is proud to be a first gen-college student. "It gives me a sense of motivation and that through everything I do, it's not only for my own growth, but it's fulfilling the opportunities my parents weren't able to have but have provided my brother and I with. My successes, triumphs, falls, celebrations and challenges are for my family. And in turn, it's for our entire first-gen community, all of us in this together showing that we can start new opportunities and traditions while bringing along our families who have molded us to be." Attending UT was a dream come true for Julia and still feels surreal today. #FirstGenLonghorns