Hannah Hanson poses in front of the Northrop Mall at the University of Minnesota, located in Minneapolis on March 15, 2024. Photo by Kristina Minic

 A first-generation student’s journey at UMN

No matter how much praise Hannah Hanson received from loved ones for being the first person in her family to go to college, she admits that she wasn’t fully prepared for the experience. The financial struggles and expectations of being a full-time college student took her by surprise.

With her time at the University of Minnesota winding down — and a job already lined up — the White Bear Lake native is looking back on what this accomplishment means for her and her family.

 “Being the first in my family to attend college has been both incredibly rewarding and challenging,” Hanson said. “While I receive a lot of praise from my parents and extended family, hearing words like ‘I can’t believe you did it!’ and ‘You’re going to be the first one in our whole family!’ is sweet, but it’s the unique challenges faced by first-generation students that resonate with me the most.”

The positive reaction to receiving praise and affirmation is a given, but when Hanson opened up about the unique challenges she faced, one can see every emotion that a first-generation college student endures.

When discussing the struggles she first faced, she mentioned the financial aspect.

 “One of the biggest challenges I faced was the lack of understanding surrounding finances, typical college paths and the purpose of a degree. For instance, my parents were unaware that students often live in off-campus housing, which posed financial difficulties during my transition from living at home to university life,” Hanson said.

Like most college students, Hanson learned how to overcome these obstacles. For example, she now lives in an off-campus house with four roommates who have become some of her best friends.

After adapting to new ways of life, she stumbled into a common struggle that most sophomores and juniors face: finding internships.

 Despite this intense phase of adversity, she credits her parents for her ability to figure it all out, who, despite not getting a college degree, were able to help her through times like these with unwavering support.

Hanson mentions how her initial plans were not to pursue higher education after high school, but after working full-time at a financial institution, she was quick to realize that she wanted more than the entry-level job she was in. After discussing it with her parents, she realized that they were going to be there for her and would support any decision she decided to make.

This is where her collegiate journey began. She took classes for two years at Century College, a community college in White Bear Lake, and then transferred to the University of Minnesota, where she is set to graduate in May 2024. When she first applied, she was convinced that she would not get in.

“When I was accepted, I literally thought it was a mistake in the system, until I called and made sure I was accepted,” Hanson said. She also mentioned experiencing intense imposter syndrome but ultimately adapted to her new home.

After going through roughly 3 ½ years of college, Hanson has newfound standards for her own future kids. While she does hold some expectations in terms of going to college, she does acknowledge that it may not be for everyone.

 “I also recognize that it’s not necessarily the right path for everyone. I’ve witnessed firsthand that tremendous success can stem from networking and hard work, as reflected by my parents,” Hanson said. “Therefore, while I value my own experience at a four-year institution and see it as a valuable guide for my future children, I’m equally prepared to support them if they choose a different route, just as my parents did for me.”

Hanson makes a point to mention that she would not be here if not for the tremendous amount of support and love from her parents. She also states that her success has been built from her own diligence, research and willingness to uplift others around her, along with the community she has built within her friend group and house.

Hanson has accepted a full-time position at U.S. Bank as a user experience designer, with a start date just one month after her graduation. She connects the acceptance of this position with the worth of her college experience and is forever grateful for living the life she has long envisioned.