Maritza Gonzalez-Mojica Art Major What does being a first-gen student mean to Maritza? For her, it means changing her history. Her journey of going to college is groundbreaking territory. What has her experience been like? At first, she felt scared because her parents did not have previous experience to tell her what to expect as she started her postsecondary education. They had to learn about the process alongside her. That being said, college has a lot of value for her – she recognized that her parents worked hard and how challenging it was for them to achieve this opportunity for her, and that makes her feel grateful. Her advice to others with similar backgrounds: Ask plenty of questions! People here want to genuinely help you and make sure you’re able to get the resources you need.