COLORADO COLLEGE BULLETIN JULY 2007 oo &in Letters COLORADO COLLEGE BULLETIN 1st Generation Group (April Bulletin) www.ColoradoCollege.edu July 2007 Dear Editor, A publication for alumni, parents, and friends I am thrilled to learn that the First Generation group exists, and I Director of Communications applaud those who support it. Bob Kerwin In 1990, I arrived at CC via Greyhound bus to begin my own Creative Consultant “first-generation” experience, with generous financial aid from the Anne Christensen
[email protected] college. It didn’t take me long to understand that I did not fit in. Publications Director My fellow students were delivered to school in their parents’ Jennifer Kulier BMWs. I felt surrounded by rich students, with attentive, educated, and committed parents, who inhabited a world foreign Art Director to me. My mom’s parting words, “A college degree is just a piece Rick Specht of paper. What use is that?” rang in my ears. Graphic Design Myers Design Group Soon, a CC professor (now retired) told me, “You belong at a state school.” His comment gave voice to all my doubts. The issues that Proofreader caused me to give those words too much power are, in large part, Helen Richardson issues faced by first-generation students. 14 E. Cache La Poudre St. Other professors, including Dan Tynan, were more supportive. Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 389-6603 But unable to reconcile my doubts, and under financial strain, I (719) 389-6256 (fax) dropped out of CC early in my sophomore year. I earned my bachelor’s degree 11 years later, from the University THE COLORADO COLLEGE BULLETIN (122-860) is published four times of Nebraska Medical Center.