Despite initial challenges, first-generation nursing students share successes, advice for others

Being a first-generation college student comes with a host of challenges, but three West Virginia University School of Nursing students share how they paved their individual paths to success.

Bella Botero, a junior in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, said she didn’t know what it meant to be a first-generation student before coming to WVU.

“At first, I was nervous about it. I didn’t want people to know my parents didn’t go to college, not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Botero said. “Now that I’ve been here though, I have been very proud to be a first-generation student. It’s something not everyone gets to represent. I’m really excited I get to talk about it and advocate for it.”

For her, some of biggest challenges were in applying to college and filling out the forms.

“We talked a lot at home about it, but it was still so unknown for all of us,” she said, adding that becoming more comfortable about asking questions has been helpful for her.

She encourages other first-generation students to get involved in student organizations and support groups like TRIO Student Support Services, a federally funded program offering services to help participants remain in college throughout graduation.

“I think a lot of first-generation students are scared to advocate for themselves because they feel alone, but there are so many first-gen students, especially here at WVU.”

Botero is also a WVU Nursing Ambassador, which she said has helped her develop leadership skills. It has also allowed her to share her experience as a first-gen student with potential nursing students.

After graduation, Botero is interested in working in the ICU and eventually going back to graduate school.

“It makes me really excited that it’s something I want to continue,” she said. “I love learning and I want to keep growing as a person and eventually as a nurse, too.”

Alexis Pate, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) student in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, is the first person in her family to go to college. Like Botero, navigating the paperwork of applying to college was one of the biggest challenges for her.

“I grew up in Morgantown and my parents always encouraged me to go to college growing up, so that was something that was instilled in me,” Pate said. “Going to WVU for my undergraduate degree, I felt like I found a sense of community here. I had a really good experience at WVU and my professors along the way helped a lot. It wasn’t as difficult of a transition as I thought it was going to be.”

She encourages first-gen students to make connections with their professors and fellow students.

“Especially in West Virginia, there are a lot of first-gen students, so there are a lot of people who know what you’re going through,” Pate said. “Forming those relationships and having someone to bounce ideas off of and talk to is really helpful.”

After graduating with her BSN from WVU four years ago, Pate began working as a labor and delivery nurse and has since been working with high-risk OB patients. She said her time with WVU School of Nursing instilled in her a sense of lifelong learning and continued education, so she wanted to advance her degree and become a provider.

“I feel really proud of myself, and that’s not something I feel like I say a lot,” Pate said. “As healthcare workers, we’re always focusing on other people, so I’m really excited about the opportunity. I don’t think I could have done it if I hadn’t had my undergrad experience at WVU.”

Grace Wilson, also a junior in the BSN program, said she was drawn to WVU because of the affordability of the college. As a Pennsylvania resident, she said she struggled to find a local school due to the cost.

“I do still have financial insecurity as a first-gen student,” Wilson said. “One of my experiences freshman year, I had a balance on my account and I didn’t know how I was going to pay for it, but I’ve been grateful to get lots of scholarships coming here.”

Aside from finances, time management and studying were Wilson’s two of the biggest obstacles. She said moving from the high school class schedule to being responsible for going to class on her own was an adjustment.

“After some trial and error, I got into the groove of what worked for me and what content I needed to study,” she said.

Her biggest advice for first-gen students is to keep your grades up in high school — she attributes her grades as the reason for receiving scholarships and now being debt-free.

She said she’s glad she landed at WVU: “It’s like home away from home, which is really nice.” Her nursing school and clinical experience at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital has provided her an opportunity to see nursing specialties and patient cases she wouldn’t have been able to experience elsewhere.

“I’m really glad I chose here because of the clinical experience. The faculty here are wonderful, too. With smaller class sizes, you get to know the faculty and build relationships with them.”

After graduation, Wilson hopes to work at her community hospital, either in the ER or in the psych unit.

To learn more about nursing options at WVU, visit nursing.wvu.edu.