Tips

Theresa Duello Undergraduate Students

Welcome to Firstgenforesight.com

Hi, Everyone! Theresa Duello here. I was a first generation student and am now a first generation professor at a large university in the Midwest with a Badger as a mascot. As a first generation student, I made every mistake in the book! And throughout my career I have kept track of all of the things I did not know and all of the questions I did not know to ask. You are smart! You are bright! You just may not know the questions to ask.

I have been working on first generation student issues for a few decades and have created Firstgenforesight.com to extend, expand, and pinpoint more advice. So please come along for the ride and be sure to add questions and comments on the discussion board at Firstgenforesight.com.

Theresa Duello Undergraduate Students

Expert Tips for Resilience

Source: "Frontiers of Medicine/The Brain" from Time Magazine (June 2015)

  1. Develop a core set of beliefs that nothing can shake.
  2. Try to find meaning in whatever stressful or traumatic thing that has happened.
  3. Try to maintain a positive outlook.
  4. Take cues from someone who is especially resilient.
  5. Don't run from things that scare you--face them.
  6. Be quick to reach out for support when things go haywire.
  7. Learn new things as often as you can.
  8. Find an exercise regimen you'll stick to.
  9. Don't beat yourself up or dwell on the past.
  10. Recognize what makes you uniquely strong, and own it.
Theresa Duello Undergraduate Students

The Imposter Syndrome

The Imposter Syndrome: a psychological pattern where a person doubts their accomplishments and has an internal fear of being exposed as a "fraud." Students experiencing imposter syndrome may ask:

  • Am I as smart as everyone else?
  • Do I deserve to be here?
  • Am I going to be "found out"?

Many first-generation college students struggle with these ideas simply because they do not have the same resources as other students, or because they don't know which questions to ask, NOT because they are undeserving or unworthy.

First Generation Foresight is here to help.