Jan. 7, 2024
Story by Bre’Awna Warren
The definition of “first-generation student” — introduced in the late 1970s by TRiO — is someone whose parent or guardian has not completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in the United States.
But to Hanna Caldwell, the term is much broader.
Caldwell grew up in Hillsboro, Missouri, a small town south of St. Louis. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s in communication and an emphasis in health communication. While working full-time for Mizzou, she went on to earn her master’s degree in public health.
“My academic career has been so different in terms of the degrees I have pursued,” she said. “In communication, I really wanted to tell stories that mattered to people. Through my public health degree, I realized I wanted to get more involved in decision- and policymaking. Now I’m pursuing my master’s degree in public affairs, and it feels like it’s all coming together. All these little puzzle pieces connect to my larger goal of helping people.”
Being the first person in your family to go to college can be challenging, and having a support system is critical to student success. Many students rely on their parents and siblings to navigate the higher education experience. First-generation students, however, often need to find that support through a variety of communities both on and off campus.
Caldwell found that support from a best friend she met in a journalism class and by building a network using the resources Mizzou provides all students. Prior to Mizzou, Caldwell attended William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, for a semester, and as a transfer student, she found community among other transfer students as well as through campus activities.
“As a transfer student, it felt like I missed so much,” she said. “Mizzou does so much for transfer students and first-generation students and that has ramped up over the last couple of years.”
She also credited the Campus Activities Programming Board for creating fun student activities, as well as the Women’s Center.
“If you are looking for a place where you can build a community and get the support you need, it’s a no-brainer: choose Mizzou,” Caldwell said. “Even if you are unclear on what you want to do or if you’re undecided about your major, or the path forward for your career. Mizzou is so welcoming to so many people and there is something for everyone.”
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