From Doubt to Determination: Supporting First-Gen Students to Believe, Apply, and Achieve

Fear can be overwhelming. It creeps in quietly, often masked as self-doubt, and can quickly become paralyzing if left unchallenged. It stops us from stepping into opportunities that could change our lives; whether it’s applying for a competitive internship, submitting that first research proposal, or stepping up to lead a campus organization.

Recently, during a classroom discussion, several of my students admitted that they had chosen not to apply for internships. Not because they weren’t interested, but because they didn’t believe they were “good enough.” They assumed someone more qualified would get the role, so why even bother? But here’s the truth: first-generation students have already defied the odds. They’ve navigated complex systems, broken generational barriers, and claimed space in academic settings that weren’t built with them in mind. Fear, while real, is just one more hurdle to clear.

From the Zipline to the Classroom: A Personal Reflection

Not long ago, I visited Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and decided to finally check off an item on my adventure bucket list: ziplining. I imagined a short ride or two through the trees, but to my surprise, the course had seven different lines, each more intense than the last. On the first line, I screamed, I trembled, and I prayed aloud. But by the third line, I began to ease into it. I let go a little. I looked around and admired the views. Just as I was getting comfortable, we arrived at the fifth line, where a towering ladder led to the highest, most intimidating zipline yet. My fear returned instantly. But I climbed, I launched, and I soared.

When I finished the course, I felt proud, not because I was fearless, but because I didn’t let fear stop me. I couldn’t help but compare that experience to the emotional rollercoaster so many of our first-generation students ride every day. Often, it takes several attempts to build confidence, and just when they feel ready, a higher ladder appears with new challenges, bigger goals, more self-doubt. But when they push through, they grow stronger.

 From Fear to Forward Motion: How Professionals Can Help Students Turn Doubt into Determination

As educators, mentors, and advocates, we have the opportunity and responsibility to help first-generation students face their fears and recognize their power. Below are actionable strategies to help students turn doubt into determination:

1. Don’t Count Yourself Out Before They Do

Encourage students to stop self-rejecting. Too often, they eliminate themselves from opportunities before they've even applied. Help them reframe their thinking: “Let them tell you no. And even if they do, try again.” Share stories of persistence and normalize rejection as part of the growth journey.

2. Ask the Transformative Question: “Why Not You?”

Challenge the belief that they are undeserving. Ask them, “Who deserves this opportunity more than you?” Then, help them list their strengths and experiences. Reflecting on their journey often reveals just how qualified they really are.

3. Promote Failing Forward

Shift the narrative around failure. Failing doesn’t mean you're not capable. It means you're learning. Provide a safe space for students to reflect on their setbacks, draw lessons, and create new goals. Frame every failure as a stepping stone, not a wall.

4. Celebrate Small Wins

Every milestone matters. Completing a draft, making an appointment with a mentor, attending office hours; these are all victories. Recognize and celebrate them, publicly if possible, to boost confidence and model progress over perfection.

5. Create “Safe-to-Try” Zones

Establish environments in your programs, classrooms, or offices where students can experiment without fear of judgment. Let students practice elevator pitches, mock interviews, or presentations in a space where they receive constructive, encouraging feedback.

 6. Model Vulnerability and Courage

Share your own moments of doubt and how you overcame them. Students often see professionals as confident and infallible. When you reveal your fears and failures, you give them permission to be human and brave.

7. Connect Them with Community

Isolation feeds fear. Introduce students to mentors, alumni, peer groups, and networks of other first-generation students. When they see others who have walked their path and succeeded, it becomes easier to imagine themselves doing the same.

8. Visualize the Ladder and What’s Beyond It

Just like the ladder I had to climb during my zipline adventure, students will face new challenges as they grow. Help them visualize those moments as part of the journey, not barriers, but bridges. What seems impossible today might become tomorrow’s proudest achievement.

Final Thought: Determination Grows with Every Step

Supporting first-generation students is not just about helping them overcome fear, it’s about helping them realize they belong here, they are capable, and they are worthy. Like ziplining, the scariest leap often leads to the most breathtaking view. Let’s keep pushing them toward that view. Let’s help them believe, apply, and achieve, again and again.