First in their families: Five first-generation students share their stories

What does it mean to be a first-generation student? Technically, a first-generation student’s parents or guardians have not yet completed a four-year degree from a college or university. First-generation students may face barriers to attending college, like financial and time pressures related to caregiving or employment. And they may need additional support to successfully navigate the application and financial processes, as well as the academic system. 

Despite these challenges, being first generation builds resilience, fosters leadership, and motivates students to succeed. National First-Generation College Celebration Day is November 8, a day that commemorates the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the creation of the federal financial aid programs that turn the dream of education after high school into a possibility for so many. 

VSAC and colleges and universities across Vermont are celebrating our first‑generation students’ contributions to their communities and recognizing the work still to be done to break down barriers to first‑generation student success. A few first-generation students from around Vermont shared their experiences with us. 

“You can do anything—but you can’t do everything.”

Ailyn Langley participated in VSAC’s GEAR UP college and career readiness program in high school, and she began working with VSAC outreach counselor Kassidy Moore at the end of her junior year. Narrowing her interests and selecting schools to apply to was a journey, but whenever she made a college list, Dartmouth College was on it. Thinking back to the moment she found out that she was accepted to Dartmouth, Ailyn says it felt a little surreal.

Now Ailyn is in her second year at Dartmouth. A first-generation student, she tapped resources offered by Dartmouth to help provide additional guidance and support to students whose parents did not graduate with a four-year degree. 

The director of the Dartmouth first-generation office helped her get oriented during her first year, she noted. “He always says, ‘You can do anything—but you can’t do everything at Dartmouth.’ It kind of helps narrow my focus a bit,” she explained. 

Ailyn said Dartmouth’s community contributed to her successful transition to college, and she especially appreciated the support system the first-generation office provided. “The director has a tissue box in his office signed by everyone who’s cried in there. There are a lot of names. You can get so overwhelmed in college, but that helps you know it’s normal to feel that way,” she said.

 “Having that person who could explain it and believed I could do it—that changed everything.”  

Tasha Gallup was wrapping up high school, and she knew she wanted to go to college. But she also faced the reality that her family couldn’t afford to help her. 

When she first told her mother she wanted to go to college, Tasha says that her mom said: “We can’t afford that. It’s not going to work.” Tasha notes, “I was dashed but I was heated. I wanted to do it, so I was going to do it.”

She met with Clark Amadon, an outreach counselor working in VSAC’s Talent Search program at the time. Clark began helping her figure out what might be possible.

“I told Clark the truth. I said my parents couldn’t afford it. I was ready for him to say goodbye. Instead, he said, ‘Okay, if your parents can’t do this, there are other options. There are steps along the way.’ And I started to see it could be attainable.”

When her financial aid package arrived, she was excited and apprehensive. She remembers, “it was so exciting to see that financial aid package. It felt like a true success when I had the realization that my goal of getting to college, being there, was going to happen.”   

Tasha also recalls what it felt like to sign that first promissory note. “I took it so seriously when I signed that note. That meant a lot. My mom was nervous. She said, ‘This is for real. You have money on the line. If you’re going to do this, do this.’ I was committed. I had to get myself into a career field that could substantiate the obligation of what that loan meant.”

Tasha not only earned her bachelor’s degree, but years later she also earned a master’s degree, which allowed her to become a physician assistant. Looking back, she is clear that the help she got from VSAC mattered. “Clark helped me understand the steps I needed to take to secure financial aid. He came to the house, sat down with my parents, and helped us with the paperwork. Having that person who could explain it and believed I could do it—that changed everything.”  

“If more education gets me to my goal, that’s what I’ll do.”

“I always knew I wanted to go to college,” Hadley Kistler said. “And my family is really supportive of that.” In 2025, Hadley’s family moved, and she transferred to St. Johnsbury Academy. She’s been working with Trish Turner, an outreach counselor in VSAC’s GEAR UP college and career readiness program, ever since. Hadley’s goal is to get into a competitive academic program and become an early childhood educator. 

“Trish has helped me understand when deadlines are, when grants are open, what scholarships might be good for me. Sometimes I struggle with deadlines and she’s great about helping me with remembering them,” Hadley noted.

Hadley knows she wants to earn her bachelor’s degree. It’s not only a requirement for early childhood education, but an opportunity for her to be the best teacher she can be in the field. If finances, life, and time allow, she’d like to go further to her master’s degree or beyond. “If more education gets me to my goal, that’s what I’ll do,” Hadley said.

“My parents and I had so many questions.”

Patrick Dillon is nailing his education goals. But just a few years ago, he didn’t picture himself going on to college after he graduated from Fair Haven Union High School. Even when he enrolled in Dual Enrollment his junior year, then signed up for Early College his senior year, he figured he was getting a few college credits under his belt “just in case”—but he probably wouldn’t go any further, he thought. 

While still in high school, Patrick participated in VSAC’s GEAR UP college and career readiness program, and Rachel Casey was his VSAC outreach counselor. As Patrick started thinking more seriously about college, Rachel started meeting with his parents too. “The college stuff didn’t make sense to them, so Rachel helped me and my parents understand it… Rachel’s explanations of how everything worked were so helpful. My parents and I had so many questions,” he says.

Despite his initial indifference about continuing to college after high school, Patrick says his perspective began to shift when he stepped into his Early College classes at Vermont State Castleton. The campus felt different than he expected—more personal, with details that made him feel acknowledged, and memorable professors who made him feel included. 

As his interests developed, earning a psychology degree at Vermont State Castleton stood out as both a meaningful and practical option. Now in his third year of college, Patrick is studying to become a psychiatric registered nurse, as well as working as a crisis recovery specialist and psychology tech. “The experiences I’ve had inspire me,” he notes. 

“I kept asking for help along the way and she kept encouraging me. It was hard, but she kept telling me it would be worth it.”

Neema Isadore is the middle child of five siblings. A 2026 graduate of Winooski High School, she started at Saint Michael’s College this fall.

Neema has known she wanted to go to college since she started high school. But the path was challenging; Neema was born in Burundi. She came to Vermont when she was in the seventh grade, speaking Swahili and Kirundi. As she got used to a new community and a new school, she was also learning a new language; then, halfway through high school, she experienced a traumatic brain injury.

Neema persisted, keeping her eyes on her goal. While at Winooski High School, she joined VSAC’s GEAR UP college and career readiness program, which, among other support, helped her visit several colleges. When she toured Saint Michael’s College, she says that she felt immediately connected to the school, the professors, and the campus. 

She worked with her VSAC GEAR UP outreach counselor, Stevya Mukuzo, on her applications and her financial aid forms. “I struggled a lot because English isn’t my first language,” Neema noted. “But Stevya was helpful, making sure my mom and I knew what we were doing. I kept asking for help along the way and she kept encouraging me. It was hard, but she kept telling me it would be worth it. And now it is and I really appreciate that.”

Neema was delighted to receive a full-tuition scholarship from Saint Michael’s College. She is also leveraging additional scholarships and grants, which will help cover some of her other expenses. “It was a happy moment,” she said, when she got the news about her scholarship. “Not everyone gets that opportunity and I was so excited and surprised. My family is very proud,” she added.

The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency. We advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to achieve their education and training goals. We create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to education are closed to them. Growing families save for education with VT529, Vermont’s official 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or job training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and are also available to work with adults. Our grant, scholarship, and workforce development programs create opportunity, help students re-skill or learn new skills, and grow the economy. VSAC’s loan, loan refinance, and loan forgiveness programs provide competitive education financing to students and families. Find us at www.vsac.org or visit Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Read the story on VTDigger here: First in their families: Five first-generation students share their stories.