Our Stories – First2 Network

Cinthia Pacheco, Ph.D.

Assistant Director, Office of Undergraduate Research at West Virginia University

“‘I am a first-generation and I can make a difference.’ When I heard this from a group of students during the 2021 First2 Network Convening, it brought me back to my first years in College. At that time, as a first-generation student, I couldn’t have been more scared. The feeling of not belonging to that place, which no one had prepared me for, was overwhelming. It was when I met other students who, like me, were also the first in their families to go to College, that the feeling began to wear off…”

“’I am a first-generation and I can make a difference.’ When I heard this from a group of students during the 2021 First2 Network Convening, it brought me back to my first years in College. At that time, as a first-generation student, I couldn’t have been more scared. The feeling of not belonging to that place, which no one had prepared me for, was overwhelming. It was when I met other students who, like me, were also the first in their families to go to College, that the feeling began to wear off. Being part of that small community encouraged me to seek opportunities, which ended up shaping my whole career. During my college years, I got a scholarship to participate in undergraduate research and since then, a new world of opportunities has opened to me. After getting my degree in Dentistry, Masters and PhD. in Biological Sciences I started my career as a University Professor in my home country, Brazil. Today, as an Assistant Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at WVU and part of the First2 Network I seek to create opportunities to engage students in research, particularly for those who are underrepresented and first-generation. Participating in research experiences will have a huge impact in their lives, just as it did for me. Paraphrasing the students from First2 Network, I can say today that I am a first-generation and I am making a difference!”

Rachel King, First2 Student Director

Physics and Computer Science student, West Virginia University

Rachel presented on the student panel at a First2 Network Conference and spoke about how that experience was memorable for her because, “it wasn’t even just like being at the conference itself, but sort of like the culmination of being in a place where I’m able to present to a big group of people. In high school, I was very shy and then at the conference, I’m in this room in front of mostly professors from all these institutions that I’ve never met before and I was able to present confidently to them; and I think First2 has really helped me develop that.”…

Rachel learned from her First2 Summer Immersion experience at the Green Bank Observatory in 2021 that she wanted to do astronomy research and she is planning to pursue a graduate program in astronomy in the future.

Rachel has been interested in science for as long as she can remember; “I was a little kid and I had this pink telescope that we used to look at the moon.” She attended the International Pulsar Timing Array Meeting for two weeks in Australia after learning about the opportunity through her research mentor. Rachel said that, “at the time, I had never been on a plane before, but I was like, ‘I have to say, yes, I’m going, that’s amazing.’” She spoke about how the first week of the conference focused on teaching related to foundational astronomy and pulsars and that even though this content was geared towards graduate students she learned a lot from this experience. She discussed how the second week, “all these collaborators from across the globe shared their up-to-date data and projects that they’re working on; and I think in addition to learning so much more about my potential field of study in the future, one of the highlights was getting to meet and make friends with graduate students, learn more about what their experience is like and sort of see that it is genuinely what I want to go into.”

When asked what advice she might offer to students planning to major in STEM fields, she said, “Don’t worry about feeling imposter syndrome. Everyone feels it, I even feel it now, I’m kind of at the top of where I could be as an undergraduate in astronomy research at this point and I still feel like I see all the other undergraduate students and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m not doing nearly as well as they are’ when I know objectively, that’s not true.”

Heather Arnett, Ph.D.

First2 Network Program Coordinator

“I’m normally quite shy when it comes to talking about myself. I am not sure if that is something that comes with the territory of having significant struggles growing up or perhaps a combination of a more introverted personality type but today I’m going to share a little bit of myself because it’s important that we all know we are not alone (today and every day). Like so many of you I am also a first-generation student. My parents separated when I was quite young and I was raised by my single mother, who worked multiple jobs sometimes. I can still remember her struggling to get a job when my parents first separated since she had not been working for so long. She was my first model though, and my first manta: we can do better for ourselves and this is what it looks like-GROWTH IS NOT LINEAR. When I first applied to University it was very difficult to navigate. My high school was very excited that I even graduated and was so excited to tell me that I went ‘against all statistics’ so many times all I did was cry by graduation and the guidance counselors were not very helpful beyond that in finding schools or scholarships. Like many of you, I ended up going to a school that was fairly near home (within 2 hours) since I often went home to be with and help my little family as needed.”

Kaleb Cole, First2 Student Director

Computer Science student, West Virginia University
Institute of Technology (WVU Tech)

Kaleb was first introduced to the First2 Network by Dr. Rai, a professor at WVU Tech who was part of bringing the First2 program to their campus, who encouraged Kaleb to apply for their summer immersion program. As part of that program Kaleb learned AI and participated in other lectures related to computer science. “I really enjoyed the program and I still talk to people from there to this day,” Kaleb said. “That brought me right into the school year where I joined the First2 club and made a connection with them.”…

When asked what inspired his interest in technology, Kaleb said he has loved technology ever since he was a little kid and then in high school had the opportunity to attend the MidOhio Valley Technical Institute. He said his instructor there, Mr. Lopez, was “phenomenal; he helped me so much to get me to where I am today.” While attending that program Kaleb learned about computer hardware systems, built his own computer and earned a TestOut PC Pro Certification which is a nationally recognized certification. In his senior year of high school, he was the only person to ever take a computer programming course through that program.

Kaleb served as the President of his First2 Campus Club and felt proud that this club was voted the best club on campus for two years in a row. He says the club is, “active on campus in terms of doing…events that [bring] faculty together with students.”

Kristy Henson, M.S.

Assistant Professor of Forensic Science at Fairmont State University

“I took college classes during my last 2 years of high school and I couldn’t wait to go to college! I am a first-generation college student from rural Ohio and college was not exactly something my family pushed or talked about. I knew I wanted to do great things and that was how I would do it. My family was somewhat supportive of me going to college, it was more of a bragging right. They did not want me to move away to Athens, Ohio, and refused to offer any help or support when that time came. I learned quickly that I needed to grow up and be independent to move into my dorm room and survive. My parents did not let me file the FAFSA and would not give me any financial support. But, I did it… and they eventually assisted me. Thanks to this experience I learned I was a fighter and I could do anything I set my mind to. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ohio University, another bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Marshall University, I lived in Japan for a year, earned a master’s degree in Biological Sciences, and I’m currently working as an assistant professor of forensic science at Fairmont State University and working towards my doctorate in Bioarchaeology from the University of Leicester.
My story is like many people in Appalachia. I grew up with monster trucks and mud bogs, two things many people wouldn’t associate with me. Today, I’m a physical anthropologist who enjoys cosplay, monster trucks, and mudbogs.”