Name:
R. Panneer Selvam
Position Title or Student Involvements:
University Professor, Department of Civil Engineering (CVEG)
What degrees have you obtained or are working on?
BSCE (civil engineering), 1978 ME (structural engineering), 1980 MSCE (civil engineering), 1982 PhD (civil engineering), 1985
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student/graduate?
I considered graduating from high school itself as a Himalayan achievement when none around me graduated from high school. The other degrees, I don’t have words to express. This did help me to motivate my younger brother and two other sisters to go to college. In the recent years, my two sons also graduated from college. I am sure just being around graduates open the door for others around to go to college. This elevates the level of the society.
Why is being a first-generation student/graduate important to you?
Being a first-generation graduate helped me to find my life and also many around me. I never dreamt that I would get PhD one day in a faraway land. To me education is the only thing kept me going in my life. I entered school at the age of 3 and I am still in school even after 63 years!!! Also, the same education helped to visit several countries in four continents.
What piece of advice would you give to first-generation students?
Keep focus in passing your classes with good grade and graduate as early as possible. The hurdles you face from financial challenges to how your peers treat you will disappear once you start learning how to make money and live a good life.