First-gen feature: Five questions with Senior Haylei Drope

Meet Haylei Drope, a first-gen senior at CBA, sharing her inspiring journey and advice for future students.

What inspired you to go to college?

My grandparents worked in fields and factories, my dad is a truck driver, and my mom is a waitress. From a young age, my family always pushed me and told me they wanted more for me.  

What does being a first-generation student mean to you?

As a senior, being a first-generation student really means defeating adversity. Defeating the stereotype and getting to where I am has made me a better person and I couldn’t be more thankful for it.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a future first-generation student to help them on their journey?

Find your people! There will never be a more impactful resource than that. Whether it is friends, professors or faculty. Find someone that understands what you are going through.

What do you love most about CMU?

The community. I have made the best friends within the CBA and the CMU community. The people here truly make me proud to be a Chippewa.

What do you hope your degree will help you achieve?

I hope my degree allows me to give back. I not only want to give back to my community, but to my family and other first-generation college students. This has been a difficult journey for me and I want to one day find myself in a position to help others navigate it themselves.