Jane

As I started college, I was automatically connected to uAspire through my high school’s bridge program. At first, I felt what many first-gen students feel: excited and totally overwhelmed. What helped most was having a real person to text, call, or see when I had questions I couldn’t answer, and my parents couldn’t either.

My uAspire advisors walked me through the financial aid pieces step-by-step: FAFSA, TAP, and the Excelsior Scholarship. They made sure I didn’t miss deadlines and always had a plan. uAspire’s workshops and events were just as important. Sessions on professionalism, mental health, and career steps helped me feel less isolated and more prepared during a tough first year.

I’m a Human Biology major on the pre-med track. I love that my program looks at the whole person, including biology, psychology, sociology, and nutrition. It’s also intense, and balancing that pressure taught me to be honest with myself about what I need to succeed academically and emotionally.

In five years, I hope to be on the path to medical school, steady in who I am mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and giving back through community health outreach. College is a privilege and a responsibility. uAspire gave me access, guidance, and a community so I didn’t have to figure it out alone.