It’s okay to change your mind. Advice from Kathia who trusted her gut and switched schools.

Story by Brittany Delaney

Kathia is a first generation, Latina student who began at Edmonds Community College and is transitioning to Pima Medical Institute for spring 2020. Before going into higher education she had no idea what it was going to be like. As many might not know, being a first generation student comes with this shoulder weight that is constantly telling individuals to push forward, don’t ask for help and to fulfill these high family expectations. As Kathia was becoming more independent she always questioned her life decisions. 

            Is education worth it?

            Can’t I make more money doing something else? 

            Am I wasting my time? 

The moment she realized that it was all worth it was when she figured out who she wanted to become in life. She made a choice to be happy and pick a career that suited her values and strengths. She trusted her instincts. She took a couple classes at a time so she had time for self care. She worked part time to help support her family. She looked for answers to her questions even when people didn’t make the time for her. She learned that it is okay to take her time to be the best she can be and to not know what she wants to do with her life at that very moment. 

Her best advice for first gen students is “never stop looking for the answer.”

“Never stop looking for the answer”

Why Not Western?

Story by Brittany DeLaney

Colby is a junior who attends Western Washington University. He started his journey by participating in a mentor program through the Student Outreach Services provided by WWU and eventually expanded his involvement to intramural sports such as soccer, flag football, basketball, and softball. Not only does he play video games and go to the gym in his free time, he also has a part time job while balancing his education. I had the pleasure of interviewing him to find out what helped him make the jump from High School to Western Washington University and asked for advice he has for high school students now contemplating college.

“ Don’t be afraid to talk to your advisors and attend office hours”

Can you tell me any initial thoughts you had before deciding you wanted to go to college?

“Initially I was really happy to actually be applying to college. I had no initial plan until my high school advisor brought it up actually. They asked if I was interested in going to college and from there I decided why not and ended up really happy with my decision”

What was it like to transition from high school to college?

“The transition for me was actually pretty difficult. I wasn’t aware of all that came along with college. The personally created schedules, the independence that I suddenly had. Like making meals and figuring out self-care”

Did you have any challenges while in college? 

“A challenge I faced was not being able to have a relationship with my professors while being in large lectures. However I was able to utilize resources such as S.O.S and their advisors”

Thank you Colby for sharing your story and advice with us today and we wish you the absolute best as you head into your senior year at WWU.

If you have advice for incoming students attending a 4 year university, or are a high school student who has a question please leave your comments and questions below.

From Whatcom to Western

By Brittany DeLaney

Ivy is a Senior attending Western Washington University pursuing a major in Human Services. She began her higher education journey at Whatcom Community College with the opportunity to play for the WCC Women’s soccer team on a scholarship. After finishing her sophomore year she transferred to Western.

“Take breaks. Try not to fill your plate 100%. Ask for help”

What were your initial thoughts when applying for college?

 “I clearly had no idea what I was doing, where to look or where to go. I thought that I wanted to apply for a college in California. I had lived in Bellingham since I was born and had always wanted to live somewhere warm. I applied for Santa Barbara Community College and Whatcom Community College, and ultimately chose to go to Whatcom because I got an offer to play on the Women’s soccer team on a scholarship. I was scared, but excited to do something on my own.”

How has your transition from high school to higher education affected you as an individual? 

“The transition was nothing like I imagined it would be. I had an easier transition than I anticipated, it came naturally to me to be independent and resourceful. The transition taught me that I am stronger than I thought, and more adaptable that others might have expected.”

Could you describe any challenges you faced during college? 

“My biggest challenge was not having the support from my family. It was hard for them to understand that I needed to leave in order to achieve the goals that I had more myself. I found myself being lonely in my experiences, but I later realized that I have a strong support system that is my chosen family.”

What was your experience like when using resources at your college?

“I’ve had good and bad experiences. When it came to financial help, I always got very clear answers about how to receive help. It was academic advising that was a struggle for me. Even when I got my Associates in Arts and Science, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. I felt lost and like I didn’t belong in any of the career paths I had already considered. I eventually found the right Academic Advisor that helped me explore different degrees, which is when I decided on Human Services at WWU.” 

Thanks Ivy for sharing your experiences with us! We wish you all the best as you complete your senior year!

If you, or someone you know have resources or tips for transfer students, please feel free to include them in the comments section below.

WCC Women’s Soccer Team 2015