March’s Student Of The Month!!!
Congratulations Kevin Yee on being nominated as our March Student Of The Month!! Kevin is a fourth year information systems major with a computer science minor at UMBC Congratulations Kevin, and keep up the great work!!
Q: Tell us about yourself. (what school do you go to, your major, what year, what do you hope to accomplish with your major after you graduate, etc)?
A: I am a fourth year information systems major with a computer science minor at UMBC. After graduation, I plan on finding a job and joining the workforce.
Q: What do you like about UMBC?
A: My favorite thing about UMBC is the community. Being a smaller school, you can always expect to see a familiar face when getting around. The people here are also typically easy to get along with.
Q: What motivates you?
A: The thing that motivates me the most, is knowing that I can be better than I currently am. Never being satisfied with where you are, is an incredible driving factor.
Q: What could be done to help first generation students?k
A: I believe that one of the most impactful things that could be done for first generation students is improving the financial aid system. A lot of first generation or low income students miss out on financial aid that they are eligible for.
Q: What would you like to see different for future students?
A: I would like to see future students not have to worry about the cost of pursuing higher education.
Q: What do you like to do in your down time?
A: In my free time, I like to play video games, hang out with friends, or work out.
Q: What is something you wish you knew before that you know now?
A: Something I wish I knew before, was the importance of staying organized and on track. My first year of college was quite a disaster because I just wasn’t ready for everything. At some point, I even considered dropping out, but I managed to get by and learn an important lesson in managing my time and resources.
Q: What are your post graduation plans and how might you overcome first gen challenges in those spaces?
A: My post graduation plans are to find a job, preferably in cyber security, and to cement my place in the workforce. The biggest challenge for me is meeting family expectations. I do not want to disappoint my family, so I have begun job searching early and carefully, making sure to apply to many different organizations and companies so that I can have options.
Q: If you can give any advice for future first generation students, what would it be?
A: The biggest piece of advice that I want to impart on future first generation students is that they should take things at their own pace. It is easy for first generation students to experience imposter syndrome or feel ashamed of themselves, and those negative feelings can greatly impact their mental health, academic performance, and daily lives in general. It is hard to feel satisfied with yourself. I notice a lot of first generation students being way too harsh on themselves, and I want all of them to know that they are doing fine wherever they are.