Selena Luu

What does being a first-gen student mean to you:

Being a first-generation college student means sacrifice, hard work, stress, triumph, and everything in between. My parents immigrated to the United States and sacrificed their years for me. They worked 6 to 7 days a week, multiple jobs, constantly on the move. They support me to the fullest, but navigating through college is as new to them as it is to me. Most first-generation students who share this situation with me understand that we don’t have as many resources at our disposal, that we have to work harder for the same results as our peers. We may have to work while studying, we may not be able to indulge in the same things as our peers, we may have to pay for our own tuition, but we still succeed regardless of our obstacles. Being a first-gen is hard, but it cultivates a unique kind of perseverance that becomes the key to our success. 

Why are you excited to be a first-gen mentor:

As someone who had to struggle (and still does) to get where I am now I want to make it easier for those who come after me. Navigating college with few people to help you is difficult, and it’s my duty as someone who has gotten this far to help others. I’m excited to be part of a program that aims to lift up other first-generation students so we can all achieve our own version of success.