University of Maine First-Gen Voices: Karen McNeil
Transcript
Hi, my name is Karen McNeil. I am from western Maine. And I am currently a sophomore studying wildlife ecology at the University of Maine. And I am a first generation student. I am the first in my family to attend college after high school. My family comes from a long line of people in the workforce so my dad was a tin knocker and my mom bounced from job to job waitressing she…also worked in construction so my parents have worked a lot their entire life and never had the idea of going to college and pursuing an education.
It felt like pioneering my first day on campus. I knew nothing. I knew nobody. My only resources really were my RAs who knew the standard procedure. Sign in, get your Maine Card and here’s the pin to your door. That was kind of it. That’s where I left off and then I had to throw myself out there. I’m not really a people person but I had to be in order to advance.
I guess I didn’t know that I was a first generation student and I actually found out through a pamphlet in the mail from TRIO Services. TRIO is a program through the University of Maine that reaches out to students who are first generation or they come from struggling backgrounds. It’s a very descriptive service but I filled out their survey and they let me know that yes I was a first generation student and I was eligible to receive these services. Through TRIO I was able to access tutors and scholarship coaches and even just having a separate advisor.
It was hard, it was really hard but I threw myself out there and I found some really amazing people in my first year whom I am still friends with to this day. We live together and it’s awesome.