For first-generation nursing students, pursuing a degree can mean navigating unfamiliar systems while working toward a deeply personal goal. At Washington State University College of Nursing, those journeys also shape how students hope to care for others.
In recognition of the November 8 First-Generation College Celebration, the college is highlighting four students whose experiences connect education with service.
BSN student Gema Marin is exploring racial disparities in maternal outcomes through her Honors College thesis. She hopes to support low-income mothers in rural communities and eventually become a nurse educator.
Doctor of Nursing Practice student Courtney Isidro expects to become the first person in her family to earn a doctorate in spring 2027. Raised in Bridgeport and now raising her children in Quincy, she hopes to serve rural communities like those she calls home.
BSN student Erika Cataag found her path to nursing through work as a certified nursing assistant and her family’s medical missions in the Philippines.
Fellow BSN student Dalilah Roman hopes to bring her bilingual skills and knowledge of agricultural communities to her nursing practice.
Together, their stories show how students’ backgrounds can inform their goals and commitment to care. The feature also connects readers with student resources and opportunities to support nursing scholarships.