LSU Strategic Initiatives of the Graduate School - SIGS

07/05/2023

01/21/2023

Join Dean James Nguyen Spencer next Wednesday, January 25, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. as he shares:

“Planning for Development in Global Deltas: Urbanization, Infrastructure, and Community Participation”

Location: Energy, Coast & Environment Building - Dalton Woods Auditorium

01/16/2023

This 👇is the goal of true education.

12/16/2022

Congratulations to LS-LAMP Scholar, Londyn Edwards, who will be graduating today with her B.S. in biological sciences. Way to Geaux Londyn!

11/12/2022

For your sacrifice and service, we salute you, veterans!

11/08/2022

First gen college grad and doctoral student Sean Brune is pursuing his PhD in social work, but it has not been easy.

Sean shared:

"Being has been a challenge, but also great motivation! During undergrad, I worked 30 hours per week in addition to keeping a full course load and having an internship. It kept me on track to stay motivated and graduate within four years, but I didn't socialize or explore the university extracurriculars as much as I'd preferred. During my master's program, I worked full-time and managed an internship. In addition, the student loans piled up as that was the way I paid for my studies. I was able to pay off my undergrad loans before starting the master's degree, but perseverance was necessary. Being a first-generation student for each degree has been empowering as well, considering I've been able to spread awareness of my learnings to family members. However, there are also different expectations, since most family members marry out of high school and have several children."

Advice that Sean would give to other First Gen students:

"It's okay to be on your own track of life! Know your barriers and find support to build your strength. Set your goals and go for them! I'm grateful to have the opportunity to study at LSU and work on my doctorate now!"

11/08/2022

Rose Torres is a first-generation master's student, who was also the first in her family to earn her bachelor's degree.

Rose shared:

"Being a first-generation college graduate has shaped me in ways I probably don't even know yet. It makes me more grateful for the people in my life that have helped me get to a point where I feel comfortable doing something that no one before has. I am proud to be where I am, and I couldn't do that without the help of my family, friends, mentors, professors, teachers, etc. I feel lucky to be in this position."

Advice that Rose would give to other First Gen students:

"Don't forget to reflect on all of the hard work you have put in to be where you are."

11/08/2022

Master's student Marissa Mackey is the first in her family to pursue a graduate degree. Driven by the high value she's placed on education, she's raised the bar for her family.

Marissa shared:

"As a minority and a first-generation college graduate student, there is a great sense of pressure to succeed, but also the wish to empower others contemplating the pursuit of higher education. The immense shaping of my overall character and cognitive development has been enriched by the academic leaders of the institutions I have attended. I value education, support the empowerment of women in education, and strongly believe that one's academic dreams can be turned into reality. For too long, I let fear take over my life and I've learned to embrace the challenges to achieve successes that once seemed unrealistic."

Advice that Marissa would give to other First Gen students:

"The college experience is truthfully a tough road to travel, and there will be times when you feel unworthy or silly for trying to get a college education. Allow yourself to feel that fear for a short while, identify the reasons behind your feelings of uncertainty, and seek out solutions and/or help through the resources made available by the institution. Find your will to fight and conquer those sleepless nights, the exams, and the grueling coursework. The struggle is temporary, but the final result is permanent."

11/08/2022

Doctoral student Derek Medeiros was the first in his family to graduate with his bachelor's and master's degrees.

Derek shared:

"Being a first-generation college graduate has made me increasingly self-dependent and strengthened my work ethic, specifically given the fact that I lack many of the intangible advantages that many of my colleagues had and thus needed to work harder to achieve the same goals."

Advice that Derek would give to other First Gen students:

"The first piece of advice I would give is to recognize that by virtue of your status as a first-generation student, you do not have the same access to benefits as many of your peers. Given that, you should be kind to yourself and not compare your academic progress to anyone else's. Second, you should be an advocate for yourself. This may mean seeking out people and groups who are in a similar situation and can provide assistance, resources, or camaraderie. It may also mean seeking resources that the university provides (such as counseling) to help you navigate college on an emotional level. This is particularly important if you are not from the Baton Rouge area and, therefore, are both culturally and geographically distant from your home."