Do you realize that you will be making history? As the first person in your family to attend college, you are starting a new family tradition. First generation college students comprise about 30% of the WCU student population. Explore the information and links below for helpful information about our university and how to navigate the college search and application process. Follow our guidelines to help you find the college that is the best fit for you.
|
|
 |
“I can't describe how vital college accessibility is, and I'm one of many examples.
I came from a low income, undereducated home, and although my parents had no way to
provide me with the means to go to college, they always provided me with ample motivation.
They reminded me daily that life without an education is an endless struggle and a
losing battle. I remember watching them pour over the newspapers looking for employment
opportunities that didn't require a degree; they always found work, but they rarely
found jobs that paid the bills, and I don't know that they ever found work they enjoyed.
When I was a teenager, graduating from high school was a big deal. I never really
believed I would end up in college. I certainly didn't think I'd end up being my university's
student body president or vice president of the UNC's association of student governments.
But here I am.
Every day is an incredible opportunity. I still work to make ends meet; my waitressing days aren't quite over--but the days of struggle are coming to a close because I was afforded the opportunity to earn a degree. My accomplishment doesn't just affect me; it lets my parents know that even when their sixty hour work weeks didn't buy them the nicest things, the work they did paid off in other ways. Their taxes were invested in a system that allowed for upward mobility of their offspring. I will have a better quality of life, and as soon as I'm able, I'll make sure they do, too. And that's what higher education is really about: investing in our future one student at a time." Alecia Page President, Western Carolina University Student Government Association |