Student Perspectives: Being a First-Generation Student at USC
Hello there!
I am a first-generation college student. To say that navigating higher education has been a journey filled with highs and lows is an understatement. However, it’s through these challenges and uncertainties that I have been able to experience growth.
I’m Melissa and I’m a junior majoring in Health and Human Sciences with a minor in Occupational Science. Before I could even begin my journey at USC, like many first-gen students, I had to navigate the admission and financial aid process on my own. There was a point in time when financial barriers made me uncertain if I could even attend college at all. Spoiler alert: USC was able to provide the support I needed to overcome this barrier, but I have discovered that the support at USC extends way beyond just financial assistance. Through various resources, I have been able to reach academic and personal growth, shaping me into who I am today.
Discovering Resources
When I first arrived at USC, I struggled to adjust in large part because I didn’t know what resources were available. During my first semester, I felt lost and uncertain while it seemed like those around me had it all figured out.
Things began to change when I finally met with my academic advisor at the end of the semester. She took the time to understand why I was struggling and helped guide me towards different resources on campus that I wasn’t even aware of. She directed me towards group counseling through the Engemann Student Health Center through which I was able to connect with others who were in a similar situation. It helped me feel less alone. She also guided me towards academic coaching offered through the Kortschak Learning Center to develop my academic goals.
One of the most significant changes, however, came when she suggested I take an Occupational Therapy (OT) class. Because of the flexibility in course planning, I was able to take it the following semester. Before this class, I was not aware that occupational science existed. However, I became so engaged in the material that it opened my eyes to a career path I never would have discovered otherwise. I added the occupational science minor and, while I had entered USC on the pre-pharmacy track, I changed my plans and switched onto the pre-OT track instead.
Building Community
Adjusting to college also meant finding a place where I could feel at home. My advisor suggested I visit the Student, Equity, and Inclusion Programs in the Student Union. I spend a lot of my time in the LGBTQ+, LA CASA, and the First Generation Plus Success Center. Each of these centers provide an abundance of workshops and programs to empower students and foster a sense of belonging. For example, not only is the first-gen center a great study spot, but it also provides workshops on financial literacy and professional development. To me, these spaces allow me to freely express who I am and build community in a space that I thought I had to assimilate to. Each center has allowed me to connect to a community of people who understood my experience and have supported me as I navigate my identity.
Joining clubs on campus has fostered a sense of belonging even further. I joined Hermanas Unidas, a club aimed at empowering primarily Latinx women, and QUEST, which stands for Queers in Engineering, Science, and Technology. These clubs have offered their own service opportunities and social events, which have instilled in me a sense of belonging at USC while allowing members to support one another and the surrounding community of Los Angeles. Having spaces like these where I could be myself is something that allowed me to become more confident and to be more involved with the USC community.
Parting Words
My journey as a first-gen student has been shaped by the challenges of not knowing where to turn and struggling to adjust. But embracing those challenges—and learning to advocate for myself and lean on others—has been one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned. From discovering resources like counseling and student union centers to exploring classes, I have learned to embrace change and new discoveries.
The support I’ve received at USC has been transformative, and it could not have happened without the guidance and community I’ve been able to find here. Now that I am more than halfway through my journey as a student, I look forward to the discoveries ahead. I’ve even become a tour guide, through which I have the opportunity to be a resource myself for prospective students who may be feeling as uncertain as I once did. Wherever you are in your journey, I encourage you to embrace change, lean on the support around you, and of course, fight on.
Written By: Melissa Montoya, Class of 2026