Sherifa Madou '25

Major: Nursing

What was it like being among the first in your family to go to college?

Being the first among my family to go to college was confusing and scary. I had to navigate the application process, scholarships, and the moving process alone. My mother's support definitely helped me succeed. She always encouraged me to pursue whatever I wanted as long as I was happy. She would always look up things that she was unsure about on the internet and asked friends and coworkers about their experience with sending their kids to college to better understand and help me with the process. Seeing how much s he has worked to be where she is today has been the greatest example of how hard work with determination pays off.

What does it mean for your personally to be a part of the FGEN community and, specifically, to be a FGEN student ambassador?

Being a part of the unity and, specifically, to be an FGEN community has made the transition into college a lot less stressful and lonely. I find it comforting knowing that many other students are also FGEN at UP. The FGEN community prioritizes celebrating us and the achievements that have led us to attend U P. It normalizes our experiences as FGEN students and helps us feel less separated by giving us a community that establishes friendly faces around campus. As an FGEN student myself, I can relate to feeling lost and confused. I didn't understand how to utilize the resources available to me or how to even find them. It was so useful having my FGEN mentor help point out the various resources and give me tips on how to navigate college. Additionally, it was helpful having someone who I could turn to when I had questions that were not directly related to my classes. A lot of change comes with the transition into college. Being an FGEN ambassador means being a resource for first-generation college students them not only the academic challenges that they may be facing but, the emotional ones as well. 

What is your advice to FGEN students at UP who are facing challenges?

One piece of advice that I have for first-gen students at UP who are facing challenges is to not feel afraid or feel ashamed to reach out and use the resources on campus. There are so many resources available to students on campus from counseling to help with academics. A realization that I wish I had come to earlier is that I don't have to do this alone. The biggest thing that helped me academically was normalizing and asking for extra help. This was hard because I was so used to figuring out everything myselfResources are available to help us succeed and we pay for them so don't be afraid to use them! I would also advise first-gen students to try new things. Making friends can be difficult and finding friends that can relate to the experiences that you have faced can be even more difficult. Join clubs that interest you, attend resident hall activities, and attend school. wide events such as Pilots After Dark to meet new people.

Did a mentor play a role in your experience? Why or how?

Speaking to my FGEN mentor biweekly and also being able to text them whenever I had a question was very helpful. The extra support of having someone who I can trust and turn to whenever I had questions about how to navigate college contributed to making the transition a lot easier. I found that I had a lot of questions not about academics but about living on campus, roommates, dining, and in general the lifestyle change. Specifically, it was nice being able to talk with another FGEN student because they too could relate to my experiences. My mentor always gave me tips and advice on things from a student's perspective which made them more applicable.

What resources have been significant, meaningful, or helpful so far during your UP experience?

I would say the Shepard Academic Resource Center (SARC) has been the most helpful resource during my UP experience so far. Having someone explain a concept in a new way and different from my professor often helped me grasp the concept better. Additionally, speaking with family and friends regularly has been significant for my mental well-being and the biggest encouragement.