Studying Abroad as a First-Generation Student

Making my dreams a reality 

I am a first-generation Latina college student who has never traveled outside my country and is the first in my family to study abroad. This is my first time traveling outside the country, and it is also one of my first times traveling abroad, having only traveled outside my home state of Florida for the first time a week before leaving for Korea. For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of traveling the world and studying abroad in a foreign country. I knew that if I didn’t get the opportunity to travel before college, I would make the most of the opportunities out there and study abroad for at least a semester. Call it manifestation, but I am just honored that my lifelong dream became a reality. 

To everyone’s surprise, my parents were supportive of my decision to study abroad in South Korea for a semester despite their reputation for being strict. Their focus was to improve my studies. My mom saw it as an opportunity for me to fulfill my dreams and take advantage of opportunities she never had. My parents were concerned about how I would manage living in a foreign country for the first time, but I did not experience much anxiety. 

As I stood at the top near Namsan Seoul Tower, I took a moment to reflect and take in the views of Seoul. It was at this moment that it really hit me, and I was able to take in the fact that I had made it this far—something I wouldn’t have imagined would become a reality. All thanks to the sacrifices my mother made as an immigrant and the sacrifices my parents made to make my dreams of studying abroad possible. 

Doing my part 

Just being a first-generation college student was a struggle, so being the first to study abroad was not an easy feat. I had no family or friends who had studied abroad, so I had to do most of the research myself. Luckily, I have been looking into studying abroad since high school, if not earlier. Although I had no family I could reach out to about studying abroad, one of the things that helped—apart from keeping in contact with my institution’s study abroad office—was reaching out to other students who had studied abroad and had also been to South Korea. 

I also spent over a year looking into scholarships and applying to many competitive scholarships to help cover as much as possible for my study abroad so that it wouldn’t become a financial burden on my parents. Despite facing rejection from some scholarships, I remained determined and saw it as a redirection towards the right path. My hard work paid off, and I received the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, study abroad scholarships offered by my institution, and TEAN’s Global Opportunity (GO) Full-Ride Scholarship. There are many scholarships and grants out there that can help make your dreams of studying abroad possible.

Getting over the guilt

It can be a little difficult to know that I am living not just my own but also my parents’ dream. Although I feel blessed to live this dream, it also brings me some feelings of guilt.

I was raised by a single immigrant mother, so we have always had a close relationship. I try my best to keep in contact and will video call my mom at significant attractions like Namsan Seoul Tower, the top of Lotte Tower, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Haeundae Beach in Busan because although she won’t be able to experience studying abroad in Korea, she can at least get a glimpse of what it’s like.

I try not to let the guilt stop me, which can feel hard to do at certain times. It is hard to get over the guilt of your parents not having the same opportunities. The best thing to do is not to let that guilt get in the way of enjoying your experience and making the most of your time abroad. 

But at the same time, I feel tremendously blessed for all the sacrifices they have made, and the best I can do is honor their sacrifices. As I have gotten older, I have learned that guilt is an inevitable feeling and what makes us human. 

One of the most significant pieces of advice I can give first-generation students is that if you have the opportunity to study abroad, take it, especially if traveling has always been your dream. 

Emily Valdovinos, Florida Gulf Coast University, is studying abroad in South Korea with TEAN.