Celebrating First Generation College Student Week: Sylvia Vivian Boguniecki’s Story of Perseverance
Sylvia Vivian Boguniecki is a student in Northwestern's MSEd in Learning Sciences concentration in the School of Education & Social Policy.
Persevere. This word defined my life. Even at nine, though I didn’t fully understand it, I felt its weight. I needed to make my parents’ sacrifices worthwhile. Growing up in an immigrant household, learning looked different for me than for the conventional American family, especially since we were collectively learning English together as a family.
Middle school was challenging and was a wake-up call for how my elementary school failed to prepare me. Being bilingual affected my learning, leading me to often feel out of place. “Did you not learn that ‘where’ and ‘were’ are two different words?” “How do you not know all of the presidents?” At home, my family primarily discussed Poland's political and social history. This, coupled with only speaking Polish at home, gave me limited exposure to American dynamics outside of school. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t ‘catch up’ to my peers, and embarrassment consumed me.
In high school, I faced challenges common among other first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students: creating effective study habits, applying to colleges, and missing opportunities that would have allowed me to gain experience and explore various fields. But this was just the beginning of the imposter syndrome that I felt. Starting college at the University of Miami, I felt isolated from other peers who pitied me because of my background. Hearing stories about their wealthy, educated parents made me feel like I had nothing to offer. Struggling to find people to connect with, I felt lost.
Thankfully, due to my freshman status, I connected with a mentor who offered guidance. However, when I transferred to Northwestern during my sophomore year, I was lost all over again. I lacked the familial support that others relied on to manage college. I needed mentors, community, and resources to navigate this new environment. Yet, it was just assumed that I had a pre-existing understanding of the college system because I already attended another university for a year. But this was far from the truth.
It was not until the junior year of my undergraduate career that I found the Summer Academic Workshop (SAW). It opened doors to a FGLI community that I was missing and needed to prosper, which inspired me to become a SAW counselor. I supported new students with class selection, financial resources, and managing academic stress, providing the guidance that I wish I’d had to manage a large university like Northwestern. Participating in SAW allowed me to realize my passion for education, ensuring I could continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of those facing similar obstacles.
Being FGLI sometimes felt like the odds were against me, but I was determined to persevere. I earned a bachelor’s in psychology and statistics from Northwestern in June 2024 and began the Master of Science in Education & Social Policy Program this fall. My background made me more resilient and developed my work ethic, propelling my desire to be a trailblazer for my family. While I may not have had the same resources as other students whose parents attended college, I was still able to get into college, work, and gain experience that in the end not only makes my family proud, but myself as well. During this First-Generation College Student week, I want others to know that being FGLI isn’t a setback, but a source of strength—our achievements are a testament to our resilience.