At the beginning of each school year, College Possible Texas welcomes new and returning AmeriCorps coaches ready to guide students through one of the most transformative times in their lives. This year, we sat down with Melinda, Lisa, and Kenneth, three returning coaches who have lived the challenges of being first-generation students themselves. Their reflections revealed a powerful truth: when students believe in themselves and find a sense of community, they unlock the confidence to thrive.
For many first-generation students, the first hurdle is simply believing they belong in higher education. Melinda, a College Possible alumna and lead access coach, remembered one student who doubted she belonged at her dream school. “When she got her acceptance letter to Loyola University in Chicago, she immediately questioned if she deserved it. I reminded her that she worked hard for this and earned it. Watching her step into that confidence was incredible.”
Lisa, a college success coach, understands that feeling all too well: “I had those same feelings going into college—thinking I wasn’t supposed to be there, that everyone else was smarter. But in the end, we all graduate together.” These moments illustrate how coaches who share lived experiences with the students they serve are uniquely positioned to help young people rewrite the story they tell themselves about belonging in higher education.
Learning to speak up and seek support is a crucial lesson that can take time to fully learn and embrace. Melinda described how so many students see their peers accessing resources but don’t know where to begin: “Our job is to guide students toward those resources and help them learn to speak up for themselves.” Another coach, Kenneth, echoed this from his own college experience. “When you’re first-gen, you believe you have to do it all on your own, so you suffer in silence. Organizations like College Possible Texas show students they don’t have to—that support is out there.” Because College Possible coaches are close in age and background to the students they serve, their encouragement often resonates more deeply than advice from others.
Confidence also grows through connection. Kenneth reflected on his own time in high school when his hometown community came together for his family during hardship, and how it shaped his approach as a coach. “These were my teachers and principals, and I never expected them to show up for us in such personal ways. That experience inspired me to be there for students who need support—not just academically, but personally.” Today, he reminds students that the goal is not to depend on coaches forever, but to build skills that empower them as they graduate and embark on their careers. “Our goal is to equip students with enough skills that they can thrive on their own.”
Melinda sees community-building as essential, too, and this year she hopes to create stronger peer-to-peer connections at her school. “I value community. My goal is to build a strong College Possible community so students know they’re not in this alone. They can lean on each other for encouragement and support,” she says. Lisa has already witnessed the power of that nurturing environment. “One student came in unsure [of herself], but by the end of the year, she was joining organizations, applying for internships, and planning her future. Watching that confidence build has been so rewarding.”
When students see themselves in their coaches, they’re more willing to open up, take risks, and build the confidence to keep going. And because coaches create networks of belonging, students learn that success is not about doing it all alone, but about leaning into a community that wants to see them thrive.
As Melinda, Lisa, and Kenneth remind us, confidence and community are the heart of student success. When students believe in themselves and experience consistent support, they not only flourish academically but also start to see a broader world of opportunity. At College Possible Texas, that is the work coaches do every day: walking alongside students as they discover their voice, strengthen their confidence, and build communities that will carry them far beyond the classroom.
