Shanel Baxter
Share Your Story
My first generation proud story is not only my own, but the story of my family and loved ones. Growing up, I always knew I had a passion and value for education. As I got older, I started to recognize the gaps in resources and differences in experience between my peers and I. My mother; a single parent, sacrificed her education to care for my grandmother who received a late diagnosis of colon cancer. My father unfortunately did not graduate high school, and elder members of my family worked endlessly to attend school during times in the United States when there was no Civil Rights Act and were later forced to discontinue their education due to The Great Depression. My mother worked tirelessly to ensure that I had the education that every child deserves, and I worked tirelessly in an attempt to take some of the burden off of my mother. In High School, I applied to the TRiO program which forever changed our lives. TRiO supported me both in high school and in my undergraduate degree by helping with AP testing and college application costs, locating scholarships, and providing meaningful life skills that would shape my life forever. I am now eternally grateful; and proud, to represent myself, my family, my culture, and other first generation students at the University of Michigan as a graduate student at the School of Public Health. I hope that sharing my story will inspire others to dream big and always have confidence in who they are, and the things that make us, us!
Your advice for other First-Gen students
My advice to undergraduate students is to never limit your dreams and to utilize the sources around you! You are not alone in your academic and professional journey. I can confidently say that I would not have the privilege of having a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology or the privilege of attending one of the top public health institutions in the nation without the support of first generation programs like TRiO. TRiO; alongside other high school and undergraduate programs, helped me strengthen my personal confidence and professional skills as a young woman. This opportunity made me realize that being first generation is not an obstacle, it’s not a burden— it is my superpower. It is my opportunity to share my experience, honor the sacrifices of my family, and support those who are also first generation. While being first generation can cause you to narrow in on just “graduating”, recognizing your strength and passion can allow you to realize your ability and determination to achieve anything. When we limit or put ourselves down, we are blocking our own dreams from coming true. Never stop dreaming of what is possible for you, and Go Blue!