My name is Krystal Hicks, 38, and I’m a University of New Hampshire 2007 graduate and former TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) participant.
To say I was lucky to find the SSS program my senior year at Dover High is a massive understatement. As a first-gen, low-income student who was pursuing the University of New Hampshire’s journalism program, I only knew two things: one, I needed to get in and out as quickly as possible (for my loans’ sake), and two, I needed all the help I could get to survive the vast unknown that was college life. Neither would have been possible without the TRIO SSS program, specifically my advisors, Randy Schroeder, and Craig Werth, at UNH’s Center for Academic Resources (CFAR).
As a broke commuter, I struggled to “fit in” with the rest of the student body during my first year. I didn’t have the same chance to build community or hear about possible opportunities on campus since I didn’t have the time (or resources) to spend in the dining halls or dorms. (I even strategically scheduled my classes for Monday-Thursday so I could work double shifts at my restaurant job Friday-Sunday.) Don’t get me wrong, the stipends I received as a TRIO SSS student were helpful (and the ultimate incentive at first, if I’m being honest), but the guidance I received from my CFAR advisors was what saved me – in every sense.
When my lung spontaneously collapsed sophomore year, when my dad died unexpectedly junior year, and when my roommate/childhood best friend passed in a car accident senior year. Randy and Craig helped me navigate how to ask for help and advocate for what I needed from professors so I wouldn’t fall behind. I was determined not to miss a term, and Randy and Craig were honestly the cheerleaders I didn’t know I needed. Whether it was emotional support, time management skills, or studying tips, they provided the navigation I required that my parent(s) couldn’t help with. There is no way I would have graduated (let alone on time and with honors) without this program’s assistance. Randy and Craig also made connections for me around campus, helping me find journalism-related work-study jobs and opportunities I never would have known about. This experience helped me build a network of additional supporters/mentors and a more competitive portfolio, ultimately landing my desired internship at the Eagle Tribune in my last semester.
Fast forward 16 years, I now have a master’s degree, a house I bought myself, a non-profit I co-founded that supports women and girls locally, and a career counseling practice I’m proud of. I still seek ways to support first-generation students and even taught summer courses for the UNH Upward Bound program in 2021 and 2022. Giving back to the NEOA programs that helped me get here is always something I prioritize. In 2019, the Council for Opportunity in Education invited me to travel to D.C. for its Policy Seminar with one of my forever cheerleaders, Randy, where we advocated for more TRIO funding directly with New Hampshire’s Members of Congress.
I can’t even begin to explain the impact this program and the people who make up this program had on the trajectory of my life and career, especially when life put my ability to cope to the test. They indeed held me down, and I’m forever grateful.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and continued dedication to supporting first-generation, low-income students.