Category Stories: First Generation
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First Generation Student Abroad
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Grit Gets You There. Becoming a first generation student scholar through IFSA was one of my biggest dreams come true. Despite the high financial demands of attending college and studying abroad, I accomplished this though persistence, grit, and hard work. I was looking forward to gaining research skills and relevant job experiences to improve my…
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Keeping Current From Thousands of Miles Away
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Writing for IFSA ‘s student blog as a First Generation Scholar has made my study abroad experience so unique and special. It has also made it a bit daunting. There are endless topics I could write about, well past 1000 words. There are also students out there just like me, first generation college kids with…
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I’m A First-Generation Student Who Studied Abroad, Now What?!
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Applying to college was hard. Planning to study abroad was even harder. And now that my time here in Sydney is nearing the end, I’m facing the biggest challenge of them all: coming home! So here are my final thoughts on how I started, how I ended, and how I’m moving forward. Rude Awakenings: chicken…
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How Does a First-Generation, Non-Traditional Student Study Abroad?
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My Story My parents did not attend college, and I was not really expected to attend either. My family also does not travel, and international travel was always a far-off fantasy for me. I never really expected for it to be possible for me to go anywhere; it was just something I daydreamed about from…
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What the Food in Buenos Aires Taught Me About My Latina Identity
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As a person of Mexican descent living in the United States, I also identify as being a Latina. To be quite honest, I didn’t even know that the term “Latino” or “Latina” existed until about the third grade when I started taking standardized tests that asked me to bubble in my ethnic identity. At the…
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APP-y Hour: Four Mobile Apps + One Card You Need When Studying Abroad in Shanghai
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After living in Shanghai for three months, I have learned that mobile apps are a huge deal in China. These apps are super convenient and have allowed me to stay within budget while enjoying all the Shanghai has to offer. It is imperative to have working smartphone, especially in a mobile consumerism-driven society like China.…
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Dear First-Generation College Student, You’re Gonna Be Okay
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Studying Abroad as a First Generation College Student Being a first generation college student, studying abroad seemed out of reach at first and a bit terrifying. My decision to study abroad in Buenos Aires is one that I am deeply happy with and wouldn’t change it for anything. One of the hardest decisions before studying…
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Taking STEM Further
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As an Engineering student, it was important to me that my study abroad program was centered around a course that would fit into my degree plan and offer me the opportunity to further my career network. IFSA-Butler’s program at Ulster University: Engineering and Irish Studies offered me just that. Choosing your program One of the main points…
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Home is Where Your Family Is
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There is a saying that goes ‘home is where the heart is’. I’ve heard this phrase numerous times, however I never really understood what it meant until I studied abroad. The opportunity to study abroad allows you to learn so much about yourself. You are given the chance to gain independence, discover how strong you…
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3 Ways a Student Can Save Money in Northern Ireland
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What I Didn’t Plan For Financing a study abroad program can be a challenge for some students, especially, it seems, first-generation students. I know that one of my most pressing worries was “Do I have enough money to sustain myself in a foreign country?” I was very careful about anticipating expenses and planning my budget…
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