First-Gen College Experience with Marcklen

Transcript

Greetings and humble salutations. Going from being the kid fascinated with LEGOs growing up to becoming a first-generation Haitian-American college student was certainly challenging. Add an Engineering major to the mix and simply put, I was scared. That’s when FAMU came in, also known as the College of Love and Charity, or COLAC, one of my favorite terms.

My parents always pushed me to be the best I can be, so I knew I had to get involved. My first campus involvement was with the Engineering Living Learning Community at Polkinghorn Village. This program immersed me in how to navigate this world of college and professionalism. It was integral in boosting my confidence and my ability to walk a path my family hasn’t traveled.

Plus, FAMU has some of the greatest teams working across departments, from New Student Orientation to University Housing. They ensure that you, especially as first-generations, are equipped with places to learn and grow. These experiences motivated me to go study abroad in Madrid, Spain. It was the opportunity of a lifetime to explore and learn an entirely different culture.

As a resident assistant here on campus, I often urge freshmen to take the leap, because you’ll grow so much in just a few weeks. I’ve also had the chance to serve on the executive board of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Phi Delta Chapter of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity.

These organizations have catapulted me in my career aspirations. Over the past three years, I’ve earned paid internships with Whiting-Turner and Kimley-Horn, leaders in the civil engineering field. Overall, FAMU has taught me that no matter where you come from, you can and will be great. That’s all from me.

Thanks for watching.