Guide to a First-Generation College Student

Photos and Writing by Ari Wyatt

I decided to focus my story around life as a first-generation college freshman. I took pictures of my sister, Alexis Wyatt, because not only does she qualify for this description, but she had to move to Idaho her senior year, making her an out-of-state student, even though she lived in Washington her whole life. We’ve shared very different experiences, and I wanted to showcase hers.

Before I began taking pictures, I asked her a few questions. After she told me about her financial struggles, her difficult coursework, and her high stress levels, I decided to follow her around for a day to learn her routine. I captured the raw emotions of her navigating her way around campus, spending hours at the library, and trying to keep calm after discovering her loan didn’t go through.