Name:
Skyler Ames-Patton
Position Title or Student Involvements:
Learning Specialist for Educational Enrichment Services, University of Arkansas Department of Athletics
What degrees have you obtained or are working on?
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Arkansas, 2017 Master of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning, University of Arkansas, 2019 Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education, University of Arkansas, in progress
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student/graduate?
To me, being a first-generation graduate means that I am leaving a legacy at the University of Arkansas not only for myself, but for the rest of my family and for our future generations.
Why is being a first-generation student/graduate important to you?
Being a first-generation graduate is important to me because I have earned two degrees so far at the University of Arkansas, and neither of my parents or my grandparents have earned even a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree. I am currently pursuing a Ph. D., which will be a huge accomplishment for me, but it will mean even more to the rest of my family. I am working to achieve this goal for them just as much as I am doing it for myself.
What piece of advice would you give to first-generation students?
It’s easy to feel like an outsider and like you don’t belong on a university campus as a first-generation student, but just remember that you belong here just as much as everyone else. You are just as intelligent and capable as all of the other students.