Here’s firsthand advice from VCU’s first-generation students

By Elinor Frisa

In recent years, more than 4,000 new students have stepped foot on Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus each fall — and over a thousand share something else: They aren’t following in the footsteps of their parents by coming to college.

VCU has long served many first-gen students, and their percentage has been on the rise: At 40.7%, the incoming class for the 2026-27 school year has VCU’s highest share of first-gen students on record.

This week, You First at VCU is hosting a number of events as part of its First-Gen Week. The You First Center provides support and resources, as well as a sense of community, for first-gen students. One way is by connecting students with first-gen faculty, staff and, of course, other students.

Student mentors – there are more than 60 this year – provide guidance to peers, and VCU News checked in with them to ask about their VCU experience and what advice they have for first-gen students following in their footsteps.

Aja Reyes
Majors: English and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies

What made you decide to go to college?

Neither of my parents went to college, so I was motivated to be the first. My mother was very supportive of my decision, and I wanted to make her proud.

What VCU resource has been most helpful to you so far?

I found that You First itself and the peer academic coaches were by far the most helpful to me. In freshman year, I had a peer academic coach, and she helped me a lot when I was adjusting to the workload of college, specifically after changing my major.

What’s your favorite piece of advice to give to mentees?

Use the resources available to you, because your tuition covers them. They are all really helpful resources that will make things a lot easier throughout your college career.

Takiyah Banks
Major: Psychology

What made you decide to go to college?

I wanted to chart a different path than my parents, who didn’t go/weren’t able to go to college. Going felt like I was taking the sacrifices my parents made for me and turning it into knowledge, growth and stability.

What VCU resource has been most helpful to you so far?

Career Services and the You First faculty/staff student mentoring program have been the most useful. With Career Services, I was able to find out what I wanted to do and gain information in getting there. My mentor from You First helped as well.

What’s your favorite piece of advice to give to mentees?

This is a four+ year process – think about how different you were in freshman year of high school and senior year. Don’t rush everything now, even though you’re an adult. Give yourself time to still grow and change a lot.

Luke Lawrence
Major: Psychology

What made you decide to go to college?

I decided to attend college to further my education, expand my network and become the first person in my family to graduate. My experience at VCU has been very fulfilling, socially and academically, and it remains a source of pride for my family and me.

What VCU resource has been most helpful to you so far?

Cabell Library has been a place of research, studying and socializing for me and many VCU students. I would also highlight the librarians who connect students to all the resources the library has to offer.

What’s your favorite piece of advice to give to mentees?

Practice time management early in your experience and engage with professors and classmates consistently. I find that this advice is essential for students who wish to get the most out of their experience.

Emmie Weatherholtz
Major: Elementary Education and Teaching

What made you decide to go to college?

I came to college to move away from home and have a fresh start. I was really excited to pursue my dreams and do something that not many people in my family have done. I am so proud that I made that choice – no matter how scary it was at first.

What VCU resource has been most helpful to you so far?

The School of Education has been incredibly helpful for me as an education student. I have been able to turn to many of my professors in my department for various resources, and they have always been supportive and helpful. Getting to know the people in my department has made me feel a lot more connected to my studies.

What’s your favorite piece of advice to give to mentees?

It’s OK to mess things up the first time you do it, and that I know that because I have done it (multiple times). I remind them that nobody has everything figured out right away – and that you have to learn how to mess up to make things right moving forward.

Crisley Ventura Lozada
Major: Biology

What made you decide to go to college?

I wanted to create new opportunities for me and my family, who knew nothing about higher education in the U.S. I knew that it was going to come with a lot of challenges, but I saw it as an opportunity to grow, learn and set an example for my younger siblings. I want to make my family proud and show them that pursuing higher education is possible.

What VCU resource has been most helpful to you so far?

You First has been especially important throughout my college journey, even before I stepped foot on campus. Knowing that I had faculty and staff members I could reach out to on campus to ask questions, and a space where I felt welcomed, helped me feel at home at VCU. Having that support throughout my three years at VCU and into my final year, along with the opportunity to become president of the Rams First at VCU student organization, has allowed me to give back and help other students who may be going through similar experiences.

What’s your favorite piece of advice to give to mentees?

Keep going, even when things do not go as planned. Whether you get a bad grade or fail a class, remember that there is so much more beyond that, including so many other opportunities and different paths. If you are planning to pursue a pre-health or pre-professional track, everyone’s journey looks different, and we all move at our own pace. Most importantly, do not forget to make time for yourself and take care of your well-being along the way.

Bibby Diaz Perez
Major: Kinetic Imaging

What made you decide to go to college?

I decided to go to college to honor my mother’s tireless sacrifices as a single mom and to change my family’s future as the first in my immediate family to graduate. Beyond financial stability, I wanted to turn my lifelong passion for art and animation into a career where I can open doors for underrepresented LGTBQ+ and Hispanic creatives. Higher education is my vehicle to build a secure future while creating space for those who often go unseen.

What VCU resource has been most helpful to you so far?

My academic advisor and the student networks dedicated to creative collaboration. Coming from a nontraditional background, where I had to navigate higher education largely on my own, having a supportive advisor helped me map out my classes and stay completely on track to graduate soon debt-free. Finding that guidance and community changed everything for my confidence as an artist and a student.

What’s your favorite piece of advice to give to mentees?

Success is rarely a straight line, and stumbles are just powerful pivots, not the end of your story. When I failed my classes during my first college semester, I thought my dream was over, but getting crucial advice to restart at a community college saved my entire journey. I always tell my mentees to ask for help early, embrace their setbacks as accomplishments and remember to look at how far they’ve traveled.

Vi Chau
Majors: Biology and Psychology

What made you decide to go to college?

I wanted a change from my hometown, and I wanted something new. I wanted to challenge my thoughts and keep learning, so I knew college was for me.

What VCU resource has been most helpful to you so far?

It definitely has to be the study abroad program or the Campus Learning Center tutoring center. These programs do a great job helping students navigate their classes and careers.

What’s your favorite piece of advice to give to mentees?

Shoot for the moon and land amongst the stars. You won’t ever know if you don’t try, because you miss all the shots you don’t take.

Shea Samford
Major: Psychology

What made you decide to go to college?

I’ve always felt sure about what I wanted to do in life, which I know is kind of a rarity, so that pushed me to go to college. It felt like the right next step, and I get to make my family proud.

What VCU resource has been most helpful to you so far?

I’m very grateful to have had so many professors who have advocated for me, believed in me and, overall, just connected me to greater paths.

What’s your favorite piece of advice to give to mentees?

Build a strong network. Having good and communicative relationships with professors, especially within your department, always produces the most benefits.

If you are a first-generation undergraduate student and would like to become a peer mentor, the application for 2027 mentoring is open. Visit the You First website for more information.