When the newest group of Davis Maine Scholars started their post-secondary careers last fall, they had heard about the college experience from their friends, mentors, and others. However, for these Scholars they were going into the complete unknown as first-generation college students. While the Mission and the Davis Maine Scholarship program had prepared them for the transition, they were now starting college.
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Now, with the first semesters behind them, we asked about the challenges they faced, the surprising things they found, and highlights from those first few months. Each of the four 2028 Scholars—Cadence Braughton, Riley Crowley, Brisa Ortiz Garcia, and MacKenzie Schors —are attending the University of England (UNE). Cadence is studying occupational therapy, Brisa is studying dental hygiene, and Riley and MacKenzie are both studying nursing.
Most of the Scholars shared that the transition to college was tough, especially with classes and studying. “I didn’t have to study a lot in high school, so learning how to study along with studying habits was definitely a challenge at first,” Riley explained. MacKenzie added, “I was not expecting the difficulty of the classes, even though they were just freshman intro classes for psychology and biology. They were a struggle at times.” She felt the support from UNE, which offers programming for first-generation students through the First-Gen Bridge Program, as well as Davis Maine Scholarship helped her through her initial struggles with studying in classes.
Cadence also struggled with something many college students are familiar with feelings of homesickness, accentuated by a five-hour drive away from home for her. Though she said, “Once I got into the swing of things, it kind of worked itself out.” MacKenzie expressed worry about not making friends, as she did not know anyone attending UNE from high school. However, she made friends with other students right away and they helped make the transition easier. Brisa and Riley also felt that new friends helped them succeed.
Each of the Scholars also joined clubs their first semester, giving structure to their downtime. Riley made the UNE Cheer Team and joined the Red Cross Club. MacKenzie joined Bolt, the student newspaper where she writes, does photography, and is their social media coordinator. Brisa joined the Pre-Dental Club, the UNE Hunger Initiative, the Breakfast Club, and the Skiing Club. and Cadence joined the Red Cross Club and the Preoccupational Therapy Club.
And while they were happy to come home for winter break and see their families, they are still thinking about college. Brisa said, “I am excited to talk with my family and friends and share my experiences with them.”
