TWO OF CBA’S FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS

Get to know Heidi Garayestupinian

What inspired you to go to college?

I was inspired to go to college for the opportunities that it brings. The opportunity of a good life, but most importantly, the opportunity to work a job that challenges me, pushes me to grow and expands my skill sets.

What does being a first-generation student mean to you?

Being a first-generation student means everything to me. It means that I can set a positive example for my brothers and show them this path is possible for people like us. It means I can increase the visibility of the number of Hispanic students who attend college. It also means I can help anyone who is scared and intimidated by college by providing them with the guidance and answers that I didn’t have.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a future first-generation student?

Never let imposter syndrome get to you. You deserve to further your education, and you are just as capable as all of your peers.

What do you love most about CMU?

I feel connected to the university in everything I do in my daily life. I have never felt like just another student in my classes or student organizations. I have meaningful connections with my professors. In my extracurricular activities, I feel like I am genuinely making a difference on campus.

What do you hope your degree will help you achieve?

I hope to secure a job that aligns with my passions and is mutually beneficial. I hope to contribute quality work, and in return, experience a sense of purpose knowing that my skills are being utilized to their maximum potential.

Haylei Drope shares her first-generation experience.

Get to know Haylei Drope

What inspired you to go to college?

My grandparents worked in fields and factories, my dad is a truck driver, and my mom is a waitress. From a young age, my family always pushed me and told me they wanted more for me.

What does being a first-generation student mean to you?

As a senior, being a first-generation student really means defeating adversity. Defeating the stereotype and getting to where I am has made me a better person. I couldn’t be more thankful for it.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a future first-generation student?

Find your people! There will never be a more impactful resource than that. Whether it is friends, professors or faculty. Find someone who understands what you are going through.

What do you love most about CMU?

The community. I have made the best friends within the CBA and the CMU community. The people here truly make me proud to be a CMU Chippewa.

What do you hope your degree will help you achieve?

I hope my degree allows me to give back. I not only want to give back to my community, but to my family and other first-generation college students. This has been a difficult journey for me, and I want to one day find myself in a position to help others navigate it themselves.