First-Gen Jags: Shaelyn Brickey

Criminal Justice major Shaelyn Brickey had always excelled in high school, both academically and athletically. With her hard work came success, and she had no doubt she could turn that momentum into a rewarding college experience.

“I wanted to continue my education so I would have a larger variety of careers I could go into in the future,” she says. “I also knew I wanted to competitively cheer at a D1 college.”

Shaelyn’s situation was unique—yet, not uncommon. No one in her family had attended college before. She wanted to change that.

“I wanted to stand out in my family,” she says. “I wanted to be the difference and go far. My family had high hopes for me, and they were very supportive of my decision.”

Yet with that optimism came obstacles. First-generation college students often don’t have anyone with experience to help guide them through the process. From applying to selection to finances, they figure it out themselves.

“It was very scary for me to start somewhere that felt so much more important,” she says. “I was scared of the unknown. I was scared of failure.”

But the most difficult part, she says, was one of the biggest stressors that comes with higher education: paying the bill.

“My parents told me if I decided to go to college, it would all be my responsibility,” she recalls. “The thought of failure and letting down my family was always in the back of my mind.”

She says she also struggled with needing what she calls academic validation, something she admits she’s struggled with since high school.

“I hold myself to a very high standard and always feel as if I could be better—and moreso that I need to be better,” she says. “I feel the urge to want to show my knowledge through my grades. It is a very challenging head space to be in.”

Shaelyn says during the past two years, she’s been able to thrive thanks in large part to her family’s support, calling it the biggest advantage in her college career.

“Knowing that I have such a strong support system truly keeps me going,” she says. “I want to prove who I am to my family and make it into the big world. I also want to be a good role model to my younger siblings so they believe they can truly go anywhere their mind takes them!”

That’s why she encourages other first-generation or potential first-generation students to move through the hard parts of the process. They’ll not only broaden their academic horizons and future opportunities, but they’ll likely learn more about themselves along the way.

“Throughout my college career, I have so many skills that have been brought to light,” she says. “I now know I can do things I may not have imagined myself doing. I have learned to be independent, making my own decisions, managing my daily life, and taking on bigger responsibilities. I have also learned to adapt and navigate through tough situations while being resilient. Furthermore, I learned how to develop discipline and motivation to achieve my personal goals.”