A First Gen’s First Year: A Roller Coaster Ride to Remember

Imagine you are on a roller coaster pushing through a dark tunnel at 130 mph. You feel weightless, yet there's an adrenaline rush to make it to the end of the ride, which seems like it's taking forever. Yet, a very distant light appears just at the end of this tunnel. It's within grasp, but you can only reach it once you go through loop after loop, twist after turn, pushing your mind and body to its limit. You turn to see if anyone else is on the ride with you experiencing the same thing, but there doesn’t appear to be any other riders besides you. This is how my first year of graduate school felt as a first-generation grad student.

During my first year at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, I experienced a rush of emotions from excitement to imposter syndrome to eagerness to excel. Initially, I was excited to reach a milestone in my education that I had dreamed about ever since I was exposed to the possibility of graduate school in the 10th-grade. What I did not expect was the weight the milestone carried on me to now become a first-generation grad student. First-generation, or first-gen, is a term applied to individuals who are among the first in their family to receive a degree that likely was not a privilege afforded to their ancestors decades prior. 

As the granddaughter of a Mississippi sharecropper and housemaid, I am the fruition of my ancestors' dream for their descendants to receive a quality education and go above and beyond what they accomplished educationally. The pressure of being one of the first to accomplish something can be daunting, especially without representation or an instruction manual showing you how to succeed in this new stage. It often leaves one feeling in limbo about what to do when you can't ask others in your family for school advice since they have not experienced it at this level. This sensation eventually led to me developing imposter syndrome in my first semester.

It was challenging to see myself making it to the end of the tunnel without the support of others who could provide keen insight or just a glimpse of what is beyond the light at the end of this grad school journey. Connecting with other Black women from Mississippi in higher education was the supportive foundation I needed to not feel like an imposter at Friedman. 

My first day of graduate school was like the major drop you anticipate as you coast along. Still, nothing truly prepares you for the free fall you experience. Each day was a new challenge, a fresh surge of adrenaline to understand my purpose: 1) for deciding to be on this path of getting my Master of Science degree and 2) for helping my rural community in Mississippi combat food insecurity by aiding local Black farmers in the Delta GREENS Food is Medicine Project. 

The mentorship I received has helped me push through my insecurities as a Black graduate student at a predominantly white institution and acts as a guiding light to see that others around me have similar experiences. I'm not alone on this journey. 

This spring, my goal was to ensure Black undergraduate scholars at my alma mater, Tougaloo College, did not feel as if they were isolated in their future graduate classes, so I organized one of the first HBCU visits to Friedman and Tufts Medical School. The trip allowed six Reuben V. Anderson Center For Social Justice scholars and Delta GREENS fellows to have a Q&A session with Friedman School and Tufts Medical School representatives, a campus tour, and a graduate class experience.

By creating a safe, supportive, and open-minded space for diverse representation, I hope there will no longer be a stigma on first-gen students who must fend for themselves to prove their excellence. We are competent and prepared to excel in our desired fields. My advice for other first gens who want to make it to the end of their tunnel of uncertainty is to start genuine conversations with others who have experienced what graduate school looks like before, during, or after you receive a degree. 

In my spare time, I offer free mentorship sessions for students who want to learn more about the graduate school experience or refresh their resume/cover letter for school and job applications, resulting in multiple acceptances and employment opportunities. After reflecting on my contributions during my first year, I can feel the ride beginning to slow, with a sense of accomplishment washing over me. Although the roller coaster ride is gearing up for year two, I'm proud that I conquered my fears, embraced the thrill of this journey, and found a renewed sense of wonder and excitement for what's to come next.

Have questions about graduate school? Let’s connect—schedule a mentor session here. 

Sharon Jimerson can be reached at sharon.jimerson@tufts.edu.