Sándor Kovács
Professor, Department of Mathematics
How did your experience as a first-generation college student, and now faculty member, inspire/impact your teaching, research, and connection to students?
My family could not provide me with information on what it means to be a university student, so I had to figure it out myself. It is a huge change going from high school to university. In the end, I viewed my experience as something that gave me an edge. I learned to solve problems and figure out answers as I needed them and this gave me strength and self-confidence.
What insights would you share with current and future first-gen students?
When I was in college, since my family could not provide guidance, I took it for granted that I was on my own and I had to figure out everything without asking for help. It did not occur to me that I could ask faculty, staff members, or more advanced students for guidance. So, this is what I would tell current and future first-gen students: You are not alone and there are many people who will be happy to help you. Just ask. No one expects you to have all the answers. The University is a community of learners. We help each other whenever we can.