Alicia Rhodes, 1GLI

My Story

During my undergraduate years I did not know that I was considered a 1G/LI student. Sure, I knew that I was the first from my family to go to a 4-year university and that I would be the first to receive a college degree, but I had no idea that there was a name for it and that there were resources to assist me. I also knew that my family was from a low-income background but I shrugged it off as the norm, because we’ve always struggled to survive. I started identifying as IG/LI as I started going through my Master’s program for Career Counseling and realized that all of those years there was a name for it and there was a population of students who has similar stories. I have learned a lot through my experiences and often look back at what I’ve accomplished in admiration. My commitment to help others is strongly rooted in my 1G/LI background as I strive to make sure individuals are aware of the resources that are available to them and love to see people succeed in accomplishing their goals!