THE FIRST-GENERATION EXPERIENCE

IT WASN’T UNTIL Yuying Ou’s sophomore year that she felt comfortable at UW Bothell. She was living away from home for the first time, and during her first week she realized many of her peers had parents they could lean on for support in navigating college life.

Like many first-generation students, she often felt lost without that kind of familial support. “We didn’t know how to plan our college years or find out whether we should continue studying or start working after graduation,” she said.

Ou felt some shame about her first-generation status until she attended the National First Generation Celebration week. Meeting other students like her, she said, helped her feel that she belonged.

“We helped each other and shared information — like, where you can apply for scholarships,” Ou said. “Or if you have a housing problem, what you can do. Or even where you can get free textbooks.”

Ou chose to come to UW Bothell so she could stay close to her family but also because she knew about the small class sizes. “I remember in my first chemistry class, the professor asked everyone’s name — and he remembered our names after just the first week,” she said. “That’s nice because you feel like you’re making connections with people.”

When she learned about the concept of faculty “office hours” where students can meet one-to-one and talk with professors, Ou started attending. One professor encouraged her to ask more questions during class after she expressed nervousness about raising her hand. The encouragement gave her more confidence to speak up, she recalled, and she became more engaged during classes.

Scholarships have also helped support Ou as she has become more active on campus. “I feel like the support of a scholarship is not just about the money,” she said. “It’s also about giving me opportunities to grow and to study.”

Without scholarships, Ou said she would need to work part-time to afford college, which would leave her less time for studying. Having scholarships has also allowed Ou to cover small expenses such as the required coat and glasses to use in her science lab classes.

Next, Ou wants to participate in research projects. After graduation, she then hopes to work in a medical laboratory. “I set a goal to work in a lab when I was 17, and I’ve never once thought of giving up,” she said. “I know that keeping a goal is much harder than setting one — but the joy and excitement that comes with making progress is beyond compare.”

Yuying Ou received the UW Bothell STEM Scholarship. Donate to the scholarship fund by clicking here.