‘Just keep trying’: First-generation student musters grit to graduate

Jesse Vido, a first-generation student at CSU Pueblo, overcame struggles with academic, work, and family demands to earn a bachelor's degree in computer information systems and a Master of Business Administration.

So, Vido doubled down. He retook biology - twice - and after three semesters of arduous work, he had straight A's in his classes and qualified to enter the program that would grant him a bachelor's degree in computer information systems and a Master of Business Administration. All the while, he served as a leader in student government, participated on CSU Pueblo's CyberWolves cybersecurity team, and continued working on campus to help support his family.

In May, Vido will become the first in his family to earn not only one, but two college degrees.

He is featured this month in a CSU System documentary film series, called First Degree, which traces the personal and academic journeys of first-generation college students and young alumni as they realize the benefits of higher education. First Degree demonstrates that college is possible and that it opens doorways to career opportunities, financial security, and quality of life for students and their families - boosting entire communities in the process.

Like many first-generation students, Vido said his family is his inspiration.

"We grew up not so financially stable, and I want to make sure we never go through that again. That's my motivation," he said. "I want my brothers and sister to see college is possible, even if it's difficult. I'm trying to break through barriers so they can do the same."

At CSU Pueblo, first-generation students make up 40 percent of total enrollment, or about 1,300 students.

"First-generation students are part of CSU Pueblo's identity," Armando Valdez, president of CSU Pueblo, said. "When nearly half our students are the first in their families to attend college, it shapes our entire campus culture. These students bring valuable life experiences and perspectives to our classrooms."

While pursuing his degrees, Vido was a leader in student government and competed on the CSU Pueblo CyberWolves cybersecurity team.

Meantime, at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, the CSU System's flagship campus, first-generation students make up about 25 percent of the undergraduate population, or about 5,600 students this academic year.

With their special interest in the success of first-generation students, CSU and CSU Pueblo were recently named First Generation-Serving Institutions by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The schools are among 13 four-year public institutions in Colorado to earn the new designation, which underscores the support first-gen students need to graduate and succeed.

First-gen students - the pioneers of higher education - reflect the mission of land-grant universities, including Colorado State University. The Morrill Act of 1862 established these universities to educate the children of working-class families, thus increasing the nation's scientific prowess and growing the professional workforce during the Industrial Revolution and beyond.

"These students represent a vast reservoir of talent, and we provide the opportunity to unlock that potential. All of us benefit in the process," said Tony Frank, chancellor of the CSU System. "That's the promise and the potential of a land-grant university."

In 1984, Colorado State was the first university in the country to offer scholarships for first-gen students. The project became a model nationwide and has blossomed into an institutional priority.

Such programs are critical for many first-gen students, who often face challenges paying for college. For instance, Vido said he is attending CSU Pueblo with help from a federal Pell Grant and multiple scholarships; without that support, he would not have been able to attend, he said.

Vido also received encouragement from his professors on campus, including Roberto Meijas, an associate professor of computer information systems and director of CSU Pueblo's Center for Cyber Security Education and Research. Mejias was a first-generation student himself, and as a Hispanic professional was an influential role model for Vido, the student said.

Vido, right, works with Precious Roldan in the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership at CSU Pueblo. He is a student manager in the office, overseeing a team of 16 other student employees.

Mejias has key advice for students facing the adversity Vido faced - when the cumulative pressure of school, work, and family responsibilities prompted him to consider dropping out.

"I have at least four or five students a semester who come to me saying, 'Dr. Mejias, I need to drop out of college - I just don't have the time.' And I say, 'Don't drop out. Drop back,'" Mejias says during a conversation with Vido in the First Degree video. "It's like, 'I never thought about that.' So, they're taking 18 credits, working 40 hours a week. Something's got to give. So, I say, 'Drop back to nine credits.'"

Even if it takes longer to graduate, Mejias noted, students realize their time and financial investments in higher education only when they complete their degrees.

For Vido, it's especially rewarding to anticipate graduation after the hard work of re-establishing his good grades and completing his dual-degree program.

"I'm proud of myself for just not giving up. I thought it was impossible, but I ended up doing it, so that's a big pat on the back," he said. "I learned I'm resilient and determined if I'm set on a goal."

Resources

• Learn more about CSU's First Generation Award.
• Donors may contribute to CSU scholarships for first-generation students.
• Check out all First Degree videos and stories. As part of the project, the CSU System is releasing one video per month through May 2025.
• Read CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank's thoughts about first-generation students.
• Read CSU President Amy Parson's reflections on first-gen students.

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