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Stephanie Smile, Stephanie Monique Smith

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

A young African American girl struggled to stay socially afloat in a predominantly white private school. Longing for a connection with a community of black scholars in college, she surprisingly grew very intimidated of her own people. Not only was she stuck in this limbo, but she felt insecure and unconfident transitioning to a four-year university as the first in her family. After finishing her first year and returning from her first study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic, Stephanie reflects on her journey in education, pursuing her dreams, and coming into her own as a young woman.