Ryan Klinger

As a first generation student, the two obstacles I had to overcome were: (a) a lack of expectations (What should I expect from others? What was expected of me?) and (b) minimal social support.  The resources to succeed were all around me…but I wasn’t aware of them.  And neither were the people in my social circles.  Having a mentor really helped me discover a lot of these resources and realize the importance of treating college like more than just a series of classes you’re expected to pass but rather like an opportunity to invest in yourself…and to maximize the return on your investment.