For first-generation college students, a sense of belonging and knowledge about valuable resources are key to their success, and the College of Life Sciences provides an opportunity to gain both at the First Generation Luncheon. On Monday, November 17, over 130 life sciences students gathered in the Wilkinson Center where they met student and faculty mentors from each department in the college and explored numerous available resources.
The event culminated with a keynote address by Todd Jarvis, a BYU alum and first-generation college student himself, who shared his academic journey to becoming a lawyer and the lessons he learned along the way.
Advisors Make All the Difference
After receiving a prompting to pursue law school, Jarvis decided to transfer to BYU to complete his undergrad even though he knew he didn’t have the grades to be accepted. Once his rejection letter came in the mail, he discovered that BYU had admissions counselors, and he began working with one. “It was then that it clicked for me that I didn’t have to do this myself,” he shared. “There were people I could reach out to to guide me and help me get there.” After getting into BYU, Jarvis declared a political science major. He then sought out advice from a law school admissions advisor who gave him pivotal insight about the benefits of a science degree that changed his trajectory. “I wouldn’t have known about how having a science degree could set me apart for getting into law school and open career paths,” he shared. Following that discussion, he changed his major to bioinformatics. Jarvis was deeply impacted by the advisors he worked closely with and credits them for helping him navigate and thrive in college.
Many students resonated with his message. Luki Benavente (CELL ’26) felt like Jarvis’ words were just for her, as a life sciences student planning on attending law school. “Sometimes you have questions that you didn’t even know that you had, and Jarvis answered those,” she said. “It’s great to know that getting a STEM degree will help me with law school.”
At the event, students were also introduced to Carol Copling, the designated first-generation student advisor in the College of Life Sciences who’s eager to connect with them and help them reach their goals.
The Secret to Success is Networking
Jarvis discovered that connecting with peers and professors helped him to get involved and have opportunities that he never would’ve otherwise. “The greatest opportunities come from people you don’t know that well,” he explained. “Stretch yourself and get a little uncomfortable.” By reaching out to a group of students who were excelling in one of his classes, he was able to join in on a project that ended up leading to a scholarly publication. “People all around you are very willing to help you, and they want to see you succeed,” Jarvis said. He went on to explain that there is power in volunteering and developing relationships. These connections can lead to life-changing opportunities in school and in a career.
It was eye-opening for many students when they were given the opportunity to chat and get to know faculty and other more experienced first-generation students during the luncheon. “It’s really cool to see how many other students are also first-generation students and that they have similar experiences to me,” Katie Airmet (EXSC ’26) said with a smile. The camaraderie fostered at the event helped students know that they aren’t alone and that they shouldn’t be afraid to reach out to faculty and staff for help and guidance.
For students interested in learning more about available resources for first-generation college students, click here.