Of Illinois State University’s 18,000 undergraduates, more than 3,000 students—17% —are the first in their family to attend college.
Three first-generation students—Ash Ebikhumi, Christian Arceo, and Makiah Watson—share their stories of navigating college.
Ash Ebikhumi
Junior Ash Ebikhumi is a political science major who was born in Nigeria and currently resides in Darien. At Illinois State, he is the Board of Trustees’ student trustee, a director of the Alternative Breaks program, an Honors Peer Mentor, and works in University Housing Services and for the Division of Student Affairs.
“ISU gives you opportunities to grow and take flight,” said Ebikhumi.
Ebikhumi chose to attend Illinois State based on the “welcoming environment” and the “feeling of family” that he experienced when visiting campus.
As a first-generation college student, Ebikhumi said, “It’s like you’re discovering a new world.”
Ebikhumi said he can always go to his mom and ask her questions, but she hasn’t experienced the entire college process. “It’s super interesting and super exciting because I get to be the first trailblazer,” said Ebikhumi. “I get to set that path and get all these experiences and pass it down.”
Ebikhumi credits Illinois State with providing resources to help him succeed such as Career Services, Student Counseling Services, and Student Health Services.
“ISU has created opportunities to grow,” Ebikhumi said. “The Dean of Student’s Office has a LEAD program where I met some of my first friends on campus doing leadership launch, getting to know more people, and getting active and learning how to be a leader on campus.”
As an involved student and someone who has maintained a 4.0 GPA, Ebikhumi said it’s been challenging to find a balance between academics, involvement, and a social life in college. He said there is a lot of freedom, and he’s had to learn to “create personal responsibility” for himself.
To prospective first-generation college students, Ebikhumi said, “College is kind of scary at first, but look at is as an opportunity to grow yourself as an individual, but also a leader and a person.”
Christian Arceo
Christian Arceo is a senior criminal justice and political science double major. A native of Berwyn, Arceo has interned twice in Washington, D.C., for both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. At Illinois State, he serves as the membership and recruitment chairperson for First Gen Redbirds, a registered student organization (RSO).
“My time on campus has been better than I could have ever hoped to imagine,” said Arceo.
As a freshman, Arceo said it was challenging to be in a new environment where he didn’t know many people. Nevertheless, he said campus felt welcoming and he’s happy to be a part of the Illinois State community.
In addition to his work with First Gen Redbirds, Arceo is involved with the Association of Latinx Students, the Mentoring, Academics, Scholarship, and Achievement Initiative mentor program, works for University Housing Services, and he is a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
“The best thing ISU did for me was making me aware of all the resources I could go to,” said Arceo. He noted Student Counseling Services and organizations such as First Gen Redbirds and TRIO Student Support Services.
Arceo said he has experienced his share of challenges in college. “For me as a first-gen student, there wasn’t really anyone in my family for me to go to with questions about college,” said Arceo. “I kind of had to figure it out on my own. But I think this really helps with building character and building resiliency, which is important to succeed in life.”
To current and future first-generation Redbirds, Arceo said, “Believe in yourself and find the right resources ISU has and let them guide you in the right direction because they will definitely do that.”
Makiah Watson ’22
Makiah Watson ’22 is a first-generation graduate who earned a Bachelor of Science in human development and family science last May and is now pursuing a master’s degree in the same program. Originally from Chicago, Watson has immersed herself in the Bloomington-Normal community. She serves as a graduate assistant for TRIO Student Support Services and as the host and producer of the First-Generation Triumph Podcast.
Watson said she was inspired to start the podcast to create a platform for first-generation students to share their stories.
“What it means to be a first-generation student or what it looks like is not really being talked about,” said Watson. “Having a podcast and being able to execute that allows me to help people see that glory; that triumph; that victory in their stories.”
In reflecting on her own experience as a first-generation college student, Watson said, “Being a first-generation student is being the first in a thousand ways. It’s being the trailblazer of your family and stepping out with faith and hope. It’s powering through something that’s unknown, and with that comes a lot of characteristics and skill sets that you never even thought you had.”
At Illinois State, Watson said she is supported by the University’s many resources and connections within Admissions and TRIO Student Support Services.
In addition to her graduate assistantship and the First-Generation Triumph Podcast, Watson recently participated in the Make it Matter program through the College of Applied Science and Technology’s CAST Connections, which involved a 2022 service project for YWCA’s sexual assault program. Last year, Watson was the first-ever student to receive the Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusivity (DEBI) award. She also received the 2022 Future Alumni Leader Award, which is awarded to one student from the University.
While Watson is proud of her accomplishments, she said her journey has included some challenges along the way. “As a first-generation student, I would say it is challenging to pave the way when you don’t have a sidewalk in front of you,” said Watson. “How do you know where to walk?”
Watson has succeeded in creating her own path. She said, “Being a first-generation student is great. It’s powerful. It’s a learning experience but it’s definitely an opportunity for student development that a lot of first-gen students aren’t privy to or don’t really know anything about.”
As a graduate assistant for TRIO Student Support Services, Watson has attended several First-Gen Fridays, sponsored by TRIO, which provide an open-forum learning community and “empowerment zone” for first-generation students, professionals, and advocates. The focus of the events is building unity and bridging the gaps in knowledge, opportunity, and access.
First-Gen Fridays occur on the first Friday of the month. Upcoming First-Gen Fridays will take place Friday, November 4, and Friday, December 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Escalante Room in Hewett-Manchester.
