First-Gen Jacob Le: Grasp The Idea, And Go

This past summer, while working as a STAR and assisting with first-year student orientations, SAU junior nursing major Jacob Le was approached by parents with a question: What was it like to be a first-generation student at St. Ambrose?

His answer? "The university supports us," he said. "You are not undervalued for who you are and for the struggles you may have endured. St. Ambrose recognizes and celebrates all of those. It's refreshing. It's very motivating to feel appreciated and recognized for our hard work, our grit, and all we have gone through to get here."

Le's parents emigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam – his dad in 1976 and his mom in the 1990s. He was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. "They went to work and did jobs they didn't like doing, but they did it because they wanted the best for me," he said. "College was not a question. My parents believe that education is a vital component to your success. By emigrating to the U.S. and hopefully getting me into college, only then would I be able to take part in exclusive opportunities and yield fruitful outcomes."

English is not his parents' first language, so Le navigated the college application, financial aid, and college experience on his own. "It honestly felt somewhat embarrassing to ask for help on things that might have seemed obvious. Sometimes, I just wished I had the same amount of support and advice my peers had."

As a First-Gen student, Le holds himself to very high standards, even though there are times he wishes he could be a little more laid back about academics. "It's really hard for me to accept the fact that I will not always have perfect exam grades, especially in nursing school, but I have to remind myself sometimes that my grades do not define me nor are they the overall determinant of what kind of nurse I will be,'' he said. 

"Education-wise, my upbringing was very strict, but I think for a good reason. It built me into the person I am today. I owe my work ethic to my parents and their motivation and drive,  because they modeled it for me every day."

In addition to academics, Le is involved in Ambrosians for Peace and Justice, Campus Ministry, and Nurses' Christian Fellowship. He is a member of the International Student Organization and an International Student Ambassador.

"This is the most fun experience I've had in college," he said about his job helping students from all walks of life succeed at St. Ambrose. And, he can relate to the pressure students can experience when they are trying to meet family expectations.

Le considered pursuing music as a major, but committed to nursing after a long discussion with his mother. He said they came to a compromise, "And she is proud of me. She is always proud of me," he said.

"First-generation students coming to St. Ambrose should keep in mind that yes, it is important to consider your family's wishes sometimes, because they are ultimately responsible for helping you get here," he said. "But at the same time, you are your own person. Craft your own story. Make this about your own experience. Take advantage of all the opportunities you have here to highlight the unique aspects about yourself and what you want to do. Consider what will benefit you today and in the long term, then, however you see fit, grasp the idea and go with it.

"Ultimately it is our journey that we take on our own and we should really consider: what is best for me? How can I make my mark on this world? How can I leave my legacy?"