Wow- where do we even start?! Cynthia has been a trailblazer this year with our organization developing/leading new programs; hosting our First Gen Fridays podcast and lead of the First Gen Navigators Program. Cynthia is a thoughtful leader and advocate, and when supported will accomplish anything she sets her mind to. In all the work she does, Cynthia centers student experiences in our community and helps them find resources and support to achieve their dreams. Cynthia’s vision for the future and drive for creating better systems will make her an asset to any team she joins. We are excited to see where Cynthia ends up after graduation, but one thing is certain- she will make a positive impact wherever she goes. In addition to this beautiful interview, Cynthia is also a featured student on the Ready WA blog (English, Spanish, Vietnamese) if you want to learn even more about her experience! Below, Cynthia has been generous to share her experiences with us, leaving another piece of her legacy for us to celebrate.
Q: First of all, how does it feel to have reached this huge accomplishment?
Knowing that I actually went to college, am getting a degree and graduating is crazy! I was never able to envision myself going to university so it is a surreal feeling. It is a huge accomplishment and I am super excited but I am also scared of the unknown, this is something I highlight in the First-Gen Fridays podcast. I have had jobs before but now I feel that I am equipped with skills to go into my career which is something completely new to me. Since I am a first-generation student I feel like I am doing the process of going to college all over again but this time it's getting into the world of working. There will be so many things that I do not know but I am excited about the new things I learn along the way.
Q: What advice would you give other students who are either thinking about college or in the process of completing a degree?
If you are a student interested in going to college, definitely do your research. Look into the schools you are interested in and look at what majors they offer and the classes with that major. You want to look into their dorms if you are interested in living there, clubs or an ethnic student center for community, and the requirements of that college in order to attain a degree and graduate. An important thing to remember is that different majors, colleges, or programs have different requirements so it's crucial to look into those requirements and talk it over with the department head/adviser of the program you are interested in. Many students worry about the pricing of university, in my circumstance I am low income and did struggle financially my first year at university. If I were to do things differently I would have definitely gone to a community college first to knock out the core class requirements and then just transferred over to a university, it would have saved me a lot of money and better prepared me. One thing I did during my process of completing my degree is getting a second opinion. I utilized my adviser when I came in asking about classes I still needed and what I should be taking the next quarter. I often felt confused or would catch something that didn’t make sense so I would ask another faculty member in the department to look over my schedule. Other faculty members would find mistakes so I am glad I trusted my gut instinct, I saved myself from taking pointless classes and prolonging my time at university.
Q: What did you wish you would have known as you navigated higher education?
Everything! Coming into college I had no idea how college worked, how they assigned classes, what classes look like. I wish I had someone who was a current student to talk about their experiences and the things they learned along the way. I also wished the university would have advertised their services better, like resources for first-generation students, BIPOC students, mental health, and financial support. As a first-generation student and having no knowledge at all, I didn’t know where to go for these resources or if they existed. I think universities should improve their outreach and advertising of resources to first-generation students. First-generation students will not seek out support if they don’t know what they are supposed to be looking for.
Q: How did completing your Financial Aid application help you reach your goals?
Without filling for FAFSA my senior year in high school and every year I was in college, there would be no way I could have afforded to go to college. I was fortunate to receive the College Bound Scholarship and a bunch of other grants to pay for most of my education, the rest I paid out of pocket but it was an amount that I could manage. Completing a financial aid application can be crucial for many students, even if you don’t think you will get anything it doesn't affect you in any way to just apply and see if you receive some form of money.
Q: What will you miss the most about college?
What I’ll miss most is springtime on campus. The flowers and cherry blossoms start to bloom and the sun is coming out. Walking after class with music playing was one of the most relaxing parts of my days.
Q: What is a favorite memory you have from your time FuturesNW?
The supportive environment with the Futures NW team is something I will always cherish. I have never been in a position where my input and ideas were taken seriously. Everyone was so supportive and amazing to work with, our meetings were always the best to attend and was something I always looked forward to every week.
Q: What’s your next chapter looking like?
I have learned so much through my internship and the lasting connections I have made with my students. I am currently struggling with job searching as there are not many positions that are opened due to the pandemic, but I remain hopeful that I can continue supporting students in reaching their educational dreams through college and career readiness.
