Name:
Cheryl Ann Murphy
Position Title or Student Involvements:
Vice Provost for Distance Education
What degrees have you obtained or are working on?
B.A. Psychology, West Virginia University M.Ed. Educational Psychology, West Virginia University Ed.D. Educational Psychology, West Virginia University
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student/graduate?
The path in front of me was never paved or even visible at times, but – in hindsight – it was there waiting to be discovered/created as long as I maintained the determination, strength, and grit to find it. Being a first-gen graduate meant that I persevered in finding/creating a new path, and it has made all the difference in my life.
Why is being a first-generation student/graduate important to you?
It allowed me to prove to myself, my family, my friends, and my community that our futures are not predetermined for us.
What piece of advice would you give to first-generation students?
Keep going! It is worth it! Yes, sometimes it feels as if we are doing more than our peers…and yes, sometimes we ARE doing more than our peers in order to be here and be successful. But what you need to remember is that at some point in everyone’s family history there had to be that ONE person who did it first and paved the way for the rest. For some of your peers this occurred generations ago, but for you, YOU are the one who is leading the way for future generations to come. While it may feel like a heavy burden, it is also a very special privilege that most are not afforded. Embrace this opportunity…lean into it and I promise you will look back decades from now and recognize how very important this moment is, both for you and for the generations that will follow the path you have created. At times it may also seem like you are alone on this journey, but rest assured that you are not. There are first gen’ers all around you who have created their own paths and are very willing to help as you create yours. I’ll say it again because it is truth…Keep going! It is worth it!