The College of Life Sciences held a first-generation luncheon in the Wilkinson Student Center on Nov. 17.
The event was held to connect first-generation college students with mentors and resources to help them as they navigate through their unique college experience.
Todd Jarvis, a first-generation college student and BYU alumnus, was the keynote speaker. He shared his experiences as a first-generation student and how he achieved success.
Nefi Portillo, a first-generation college student studying exercise science, and Karina Dominguez, a first-generation student studying Molecular Biology, attended the event. They both appreciated that more events are being held to help students understand the resources available to them.
“As first-gen students, we don't really understand a lot of the resources that are available or even the routes that we can actually take in order to just gain opportunities and be able to just have success,” Portillo said.
Portillo followed by saying it was humbling listening to Jarvis share his experiences. Dominguez also shared her thoughts on the event and what made it impactful.
“It's motivating and encouraging to see people in successful positions and know that they were once in the same spot that we're in right now, and knowing that it is possible and becoming aware of the resources that they use,” Dominguez said.
Dominguez felt motivated to reach out to her professors. She said that hearing how everyone wants to support them to succeed became more real for her at the event as she listened to Jarvis’s comments on his own personal journey.
Portillo added that he took the time to talk with the mentors who were at his table, getting their emails so he could reach out to them later and meet up. He shared that asking basic questions like, “What are my stresses, what are my fears, what are my worries?” will help as he reaches out to share his plans with his newfound mentors.
Luki Benabente, a first-generation student herself, was a mentor at the event. She originally started college as a philosophy major, but switched to cell biology because she felt there was more she could do to give back in that major.
“I had so much peace and was like, okay, this is where I need to be,” she said.
As a freshman, Benabente was grateful for the mentors she had who helped her navigate the change in majors and hoped to carry that forward to the students attending the luncheon who were still undeclared with their majors.