Being a first-generation college student comes with additional challenges tied to trailblazing and venturing into the unknown. We strive to support these students who are the first in their families to attend higher education, including several student resources and first-generation-student-specific resources designed for success.
Among the many resources, TRIO-Student Support Services is one of the first places to check out. This free program provides personalized, long-term support from day one to graduation, supporting specifically first-generation students, low-income students and students with disabilities.
Just a few of the resources provided by TRIO are:
- One-on-one academic and career advising
- Free textbook and technology loans
- FAFSA and financial aid guidance
- Tutoring and mentorship
- A great community with fun events and workshops
Scroll on to read student testimonials from first-generation students at the University of Montana and what they have to say about their experience. Not only are these students first-generation, but they have all taken advantage of the many resources available from Trio-Student Support Services:
Roo Gibson-Andersen
I’m Roo Gibson-Andersen, a proud First-Generation Student at the University of Montana. Being a First-Gen student is a milestone for both me and my family. From a young age, I dreamed of going to college and pursuing any of my many passions. If little me could see where I am now, I believe they would be overjoyed.
My journey has never been easy. Neither of my parents graduated high school, and I grew up facing numerous personal and familial challenges; addiction, abuse, absence, homelessness and the many awful moments associated with all the above. There came a point when I knew I had to make a change. I discovered my mother’s true kindness when I spent half of my senior year living with her, before she passed in February 2024.
Despite my hardships, I continue to persevere. No one in my family has ever made it this far in education, and I am determined to break that cycle. My goal is to become a child psychologist, so I can help children who have faced similar struggles. I want to be someone that little me could look up to, a person they can trust and find hope in.
Caitlin Saxton
Earning a bachelor’s degree is important to me because it represents growth and change for my entire family. It shows that it’s possible to reach goals that once felt out of reach. It’s not only a personal achievement but a symbol of perseverance, sacrifice, and hope. By becoming the first in my family to earn a degree, I’m creating a new path—one that opens doors to a meaningful career and inspires others in my family to keep learning and striving for more. I will be the first woman in my bloodline to earn a degree, something my grandmothers could not have imagined.
"This achievement is more than a personal milestone; it is a statement that I define my own path. I do as I please, and I do so with determination, breaking barriers and creating possibilities for the generations that follow. "
Harman Maan
Being a first-generation student means being able to take a step my parents could never take to achieve the dreams of all the people who came before me. Their sacrifices and hopes have instilled a passion in me, and to be the first to pursue a college degree is a huge honor and responsibility that gives me a sense of pride and purpose. It’s important to me that I’m changing my family’s story and doing what no one has done before me means everything to me
“It’s important to me that I’m changing my family’s story and doing what no one has done before me means everything to me.”
Kyie Salerno
As a First-generation student, it is all about breaking the cycle. It is about pushing yourself beyond what you thought was possible and exploring your inner self through study and the pursuit of knowledge. There is nothing wrong with going straight into the ancient trade or working the land with calloused hands as your predecessors have.
Yet, where a first-generation student thrives is the acknowledgement that they have something they want to pursue and that they do not have the answers to the world. Perhaps they will go back to the family farm, or they will go into a field where their degree means little.
"College is not about a degree. It is about expanding one's knowledge and acknowledging that they can make a change by changing oneself."
Justin Reynolds
I was raised in a 4th-generation Montana family, and in some families, having a college degree is not of high importance. Stepping out and becoming a first-generation college student was definitely a step into the unknown.
"I am very grateful for the support of Trio to assist in the pursuit of that degree, as it does require patience and a belief in yourself to pursue your goals."
I will always be indebted to Samantha & Ben in the Trio department for their kindness and support in this process.
