Lia Okenkova, Class of 2023

Being FGLI to me means feeling a deep sense of pride for braving the journey it took to get here, often alone, often filled with doubt. However, it’s also recognizing how difficult it was for my parents, who came to this country in search of a better life for their children, yet were unable to help me achieve my higher education goals in the ways other more affluent or experienced families could. Being FGLI also means realizing the end-all, be-all isn’t just college. It’s having to constantly feel the pressure to make something of ourselves beyond the lives we were born into. To not squander the opportunities we fought so hard for in the first place. Failure isn’t an option when you’re FGLI. The only way is up and it’s a challenge I’m willing to take, always with the intent of giving back to those to come like me.

I was brought to tears when I learned that I had matched to Vanderbilt through the QuestBridge National College Match. That day seems so long ago now as I have adapted to life at Vanderbilt, almost two years later. Being FGLI at Vanderbilt means I tread with empowered caution. A low murmur of uncertainty always plays in the background, especially when the student accounts bill drops. In conversations with non-FGLI peers, I can be caught off-guard by the lives they’ve led and the way they perceive their time at Vanderbilt. Despite the challenges, my time here at Vandy as an FGLI student has shaped my career trajectory immensely. I desire to pursue a career in higher education administration with the intent to improve the lives of other FGLI students so that they feel empowered themselves and never feel that they are alone in their struggles and achievements.

The Vanderbilt QuestBridge Chapter has been such a positive influence for me on campus. The ability to be a board member starting my first semester here truly allowed me to find a community that understands where I’m coming from and to actively have a hand in shaping that community. Working with FirstVU later in the year also widened the sphere of people I can turn to when I need guidance or even I just want to blow off steam with a group of peers who empathize with what I’m going through.

P.S. I’m double-majoring in Cognitive Studies and Educational Studies and am from Naples, FL!