Author: Mahbuba Sumiya, first-year student at Harvard University
Back in the spring of 2020, everyone was grappling with challenges of the pandemic, one of which was the grim reality of the admission process. No words can suffice the feeling of applying to colleges when faced with strings of uncertainties.
College is a tricky topic in First Generation applicants' households. There’s always a tension between support and willingness for continuous learning. The feeling of loneliness and abandonment of knowledge about colleges are the norms. When everything was changing around me last spring, I found myself collectively questioning how the college application season will work out for me. I was told how I should always hold the courage to conquer any circumstance, but this wasn’t enough to overcome the pressure of being the first student from an under-resourced public high school to apply to prestigious institutions.
“When everything was changing around me last spring, I found myself collectively questioning how the college application season will work out for me. ”
Going into high school, I wish everyone around me normalized applying to reputable colleges. I felt victimized by the past college acceptances of my school. I was one of those kids who was afraid of telling people about colleges that interested me because I knew it would be considered unconventional. To this day, I often wonder how I did it. Despite the curvy roads, what drove me to chase after a goal regardless of circumstances?
The answer is there are several factors that influence the outcome of an achievement. In my case, the adversity I experienced as a high schooler made me self-resilient, which gave me the confidence to work tirelessly to leave my mark in high school tirelessly. From not having enough resources for challenging courses to a lack of stories about college experiences, my decision to work for what I want in life and desire to improve my circumstances was pivotal. I live by the motto that I have the resources within me to make a dream reality. Searching for different directions exposed me to new challenges and helped me discover my passions.
“I live by the motto that I have the resources within me to make a dream reality.”
As a freshman in high school, I woke up to the realization that I don’t need to have everything figured out. The mistakes I endure are a privilege and essential to developing values to live by.
As a sophomore, my English teacher taught me what it takes to find my voice in writing, which was a gift that made me realize the power of words.
As a junior, I learned to appreciate everyone who crossed my path that led me toward success- my parents, siblings, mentors, teachers, friends, members of the community, and many others.
As a senior, I committed myself to do what is considered unconventional and embraced my adversity.
It was the small lessons that I refuse to neglect that have helped me persevere and succeed. When the odds were against me, I had the grit to sacrifice something to achieve my vision—several rejection emails from professors who I reached out to and shared my interest in research before a few said “yes,” learning to navigate what it takes to become a strong applicant on my own, fighting for opportunities to uncover my interests, and many more. I unlocked doors for myself with effort and self-direction, which changed my entire college season into a pleasant experience.
My top three tips for first-generation college applicants:
Approach the college application season with a growth mindset and embrace any lessons you learned throughout your time in high school. It was the small lessons that I refused to neglect that have helped me persevere and succeed. One lesson I learned: You are the person you surround yourself with, so be around people who encourage you to strive for excellence.
Your authentic self shows who you are and the characteristics that make you a unique individual. Don’t compromise a part of yourself to fit into your assumptions about a college.
Examine yourself and identify what opportunities are given to you. You can’t force something to happen, but the capability to unlock what you want is within you. Unlock doors for yourself with effort and self-direction.
Mahbuba Sumiya is a first-year student at Harvard University and plans to concentrate in Bioengineering with a minor in Computer Science. She is the first student in her high school’s history to be accepted to an Ivy League school. She submitted her application to Columbia, Stanford, Harvard, and University of Michigan Ann Arbor and received acceptance letters from all four schools. “The college application process is full of uncertainty. I want to shed light by telling my story and encouraging current students to take risks and be open during this process.”
Photo of Harvard University by Juliette Melton, published under a Creative Commons License.