CourtesyWichita State University is home to nearly 5,000 first-generation students, individuals whose caregivers weren't able to complete a college degree and who lack the firsthand experience to tackle college life. To help with their transition, Wichita State offers a number of resources to first-gen students to support them during their time in college, including F1RST GEN SHOCKERS.
Hear from Sheney Redmond, a current first-gen student at Wichita State, about their first-gen experience.
Hometown
Hooker, Oklahoma. Graduated from Hooker High School
Major
Second year student in the physician associate studies master’s program. I also have my bachelor’s degree in biology.
How does it feel to be the first member of your family to attend college?
Finding my way through undergrad and now grad school has made for a long journey. Choosing PA as my career path has presented many challenges being that I am the first in my family to pursue medicine. The work has been hard, but I am very thankful to have the love and support that I have from my friends, mentors and family, especially from my parents.
What piece of advice would you share with incoming first-gen college students?
Attending college not only as a first year, but also as a first-gen student is difficult as there are so many career paths to choose from that it can be hard to know what is right for you. Take some time to find what interests you and build from that. Also, research the careers that you are interested in. You don’t have to have it all figured out in one night, even though many of us have felt that way.
What do you hope to do after you graduate from Wichita State?
Following graduation, I will go on to take my board certification exam and then plan to begin practicing medicine as a PA. I would like to return to the area I grew up to serve in that role. Where I am from is rural and made up by a large Spanish-speaking population, so being able to bridge that gap as a bilingual health care provider would be one of the greatest rewards from having chosen this great profession.
About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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