Hear from others.

"I'm proud to be the first college graduate in my family..."

At first, I was definitely nervous about bringing up college with my parents. They didn't go, and their parents didn't go, either, so I knew I'd be doing something that no one in my family had ever done before. That was exciting and scary at the same time. I just tried to take things slow and warm them up to the idea. Because of their own experience, it took some convincing to explain to them exactly why I wanted to do this, and why it was so much more important today than it was when they were my age. It helped to do some research ahead of time so I'd be prepared to answer their questions. In the end, they were impressed that I took the initiative myself and was so passionate about college. They were even surprised to learn how much help was out there for families just like ours. All it took was a little courage in the beginning, and being patient with them while they got used to the idea. Today, not only are my folks proud of what I've accomplished, but I'm proud to be the first college graduate in my family.

Brandi R. from Conway, SC


"I did it on my own..."

Growing up, there was never much money left over after my parents paid the bills, put food on the table and got us what we needed for school. As I got older, I knew I wanted to go to college, but I also knew I'd have to find a way to pay for it myself. After all, my parents had my younger brothers and sisters to look after once I graduated. During high school, I got a part-time job at the restaurant around the corner and started saving money early on. I also started searching for math-related scholarships and grants — I always got really good grades in math, so I knew that's what I'd study in college. It was really cool to see all the programs that were out there just for math. I ended up getting a partial scholarship and a grant that covered most of my tuition, and I was able to pay the rest with the money I had saved up from my job. Looking back, I'm so glad I didn't let the cost of college stand in the way. I made a plan and did it on my own.

James W. from Columbia, SC


"I overcame my fear of leaving home..."

Being from a small town, I was never far away from home when I was growing up. We didn't really go on vacation or big trips. When I started planning for college, it was pretty scary to think about leaving home and everything that felt comfortable to me. Not only was I going to leave my family, but I'd be leaving my friends, too. I grew up with most of them, and never went more than a few days without seeing them. Even though it was intimidating to think about leaving, I just kept reminding myself of why I wanted to go to college so much. Every time I'd get worried about leaving, I'd focus on my goals and stay positive about it. By the time I graduated, I was ready to make the move and get started — but there's always summer break and the holidays to come home and visit.

Dwayne J. from Orangeburg, SC


"College helped me help my family more..."

My mom raised me and my three siblings by herself, and for a long time, I thought I'd finish school and go straight to work to help her support my brothers and sisters. It didn't take long to realize that my older friends who went to college were getting better jobs and making more money than the ones who didn't. I knew if my goal was to help take care of my family, it just made sense to go to college. It scared my mom a lot at first, but I showed her how much of a difference a degree could make when I got a job. I could apply for management positions. I could start at a higher salary. Most importantly, I could help my mom more if I put in the time to go to school. Now that I'm out, I don't regret my decision for a second. College wasn't just the right choice for my future, but my family's future, too.

Monica L. from Georgetown, SC


"Mr. Kennan told me to do it for my own reasons..."

School was never really tough for me — I always got good grades and I stayed out of trouble for the most part. My teachers always had the same complaint, though: they wanted me to care more. They said it was frustrating to see me succeed yet know that I wasn't motivated to keep learning after I graduated. I heard it (and ignored it) for years. Then during my sophomore year, Mr. Kennan, my English teacher, kept me one day after class. When everybody had left the room, he closed the door, pointed at the notes on the board and asked, "Why do you think I do this every day?" I couldn't think of what to say, so I was quiet. He kept going. "Do you think I came to teach class today so you'd memorize some lines from Hamlet? Or did I show up so you'd find something you're passionate about and teach yourself?" Nobody had ever put it like that before. All the other teachers had just come down on me over and over without giving me a reason to care. Mr. Kennan didn't care that I got good grades if it didn't mean anything beyond that. He's the reason I got serious about college, and thankfully, I still had time to make it happen.

Tim G. from Pickens, SC


"My mentor showed me how..."

When I started high school, I hung out with a really bad group. I was always getting in trouble at school during the week, and always getting in trouble with my parents on the weekends. My grades started to slip and the future wasn't looking all that great by the end of sophomore year. The principal suggested to my parents that the school assign me a mentor. At first, I was totally against it. I didn't want some older girl I had never met telling me what to do and how to act. The first few meetings were terrible. We didn't get along at all. Then, instead of telling me what to do with my life, she asked me what I wanted to do with my life. Nobody had ever asked me that before, and honestly, I had never really thought about it. She started talking about college and how somebody had helped her make it happen when she didn't think she could. That was exactly what I needed to hear, and it was the first time I ever thought of myself going to college. Without her, I wouldn't have made that goal for myself.

Hillary A. from Gaffney, SC


"From a hobby to a profession..."

I've always been interested in cars. Most Saturdays growing up, I'd work under the hood with my dad and my brothers, fixing up junked cars and even racing a few times at tracks around the state. I did a good job keeping my grades up during school, but nothing ever got me as excited as starting an old car for the first time after working on it. For a long time, I always thought college was just for things you learned in the classroom behind a desk — math, science, languages. When I learned about technical degrees and all the chances I had to turn my love of cars into a job for life, I knew that's exactly what I wanted to do. I saved up money from making repairs on cars around town and talked to my counselor about the different programs that could work for me. Instead of a computer, I worked on engines. Instead of a desk, I had a workbench — and college helped me turn my love of cars into a lifelong career.

Paul E. from Port Royal, SC