# @nauflagstaff on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DCFaoP-TeAi
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/24673354-nauflagstaff-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/eb7de79b3a.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-11-07T21:06:26.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Northern Arizona University (@nauflagstaff) — https://gondola.cc/nauflagstaff

## Caption

🗣️ "I’m a first-gen — but what does that really mean?⁠
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For me, being First-Generation meant learning a language on my parents' behalf, learning, guiding, and teaching myself, since there was no one I could turn to for help.⁠
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📍Both of my parents had to stop going to school to work to provide for their families. Since they didn’t get an education, they would tell me⁠
I had an opportunity to excel at school since theirs was cut short⁠.⁠
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They were willing to do whatever it took to help me with that⁠
I know now that they meant it with good intentions; however, as an 8-year-old all I felt was pressure.⁠
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🙇‍♀️ Pressure to get it right and to excel or all their efforts would have been for nothing.⁠ Pressure to get it right and for it to be perfect — which is why I was a straight A student from kindergarten to 12th grade.⁠
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📚 In my time at NAU, I have to give a really big thanks to nau1stgen First Scholars, a program to help first gen students, as they helped me in so many ways that I can’t even express.⁠
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First Scholars could sense what I needed and because of them, I didn’t feel as alone in college.⁠
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There were so many experiences in college that I had no idea to navigate. From navigating homesickness, struggling in class, roommate situations, career fairs, personal issues, and now graduation.⁠
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I applaud them for being with me through it all. They gave me guidance when my parents couldn’t and didn’t know how.⁠
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⁠🎓 What's Next⁠
As much as I want to finish college for my parents — the journey is ultimately mine.⁠
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I now know how to help my own siblings when it comes to college.⁠
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I know how to help them apply to school, enroll in classes, look at college expenses, and give college advice.⁠
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👀 My time at NAU has been the most valuable and my finish line is quickly approaching.⁠
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I am so excited to soon be joining and adding to the percentage of First-Generation Latinas who have a bachelor’s degree." -Darlin Ortega, Senior, Class of 2025 ⁠
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#FirstGen #NationalFirstGenWeek #MyNAUview #FaceofNAU #NAUFirstGen #CollegeBound #NorthernArizonaUniversity #Lumberjacks

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 2,089
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- **Comments:** 7

## Tags

northernarizonauniversity, collegebound, mynauview, naufirstgen, faceofnau, nationalfirstgenweek, lumberjacks, firstgen

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