First Gen Friday is a monthly first-person narrative written by other first generation college students who are now fellow faculty, staff, and students at Ohio State Marion. The goal of the stories is to provide advice to other first generation college students and create a sense of belonging among the campus community.This months First Gen Fridays features two students' personal stories, Bryce Moodispaugh and Shaylynn Morris-Montgomery both peer coaches on campus and both from Cardington, Ohio.
Bryce Moodispaugh is a biology major with a specialization in life sciences
I grew up in a tiny village called Cardington, Ohio, about 45 minutes north of Columbus, where one traffic light marks our main intersection. My family had been residing in the village for generations and it felt like you never met a stranger. Growing up in a small town shaped my perspective in ways I did not fully appreciate until I stepped onto a widely diverse college campus. In my hometown, where everyone knew each other and community events were the norm, I learned the value of connection and support. The familiarity of small-town life fostered a sense of belonging, but it also cultivated a curiosity about life outside of the small place I called home.
My college application process was anything but typical. I applied to just one school and made my decision the moment I received my acceptance letter. I did not know what the next steps were or even what FAFSA meant, and my parents were not familiar with the extent of it either. Having me at a young age presented challenges, but I admire how my parents navigated those obstacles. My dad, despite everything, achieved his goal of becoming an LPN. I have a fuzzy memory of my dad coming home from night school, the soft sound of his keys jingling as he unlocked the front door of the house. Even after a long day at work, he managed to juggle his studies and his duty of being a dad, often exhausted but still finding the energy to help around the house and even watch TV shows with me while he enjoyed his reheated plate of dinner. Those moments were a testament to his determination and love, blending the responsibilities of fatherhood with his ambition to better our lives through his education.
Now, I am a third-year student majoring in biology with a focus on life science education, working as a peer coach, and aspiring to teach high school science. I never envisioned myself as a teacher; I thought I would follow my family into the medical field. While I may not be following my dad’s path directly, I like to think I carry a bit of his determination and ambition within me.
While the idea of college was daunting, the values instilled in me during those formative years served as my compass, guiding me through the exciting and sometimes overwhelming journey of higher education. I found that my small-town upbringing and my father’s testimony gave me a unique lens through which to navigate the complexities of a larger environment. I approached new friendships with openness and a genuine desire to understand diverse backgrounds, drawing from the empathy I developed in my hometown. My advice to students is to stay true to yourself and build a support network on campus with individuals who mirror the traits that you hope to develop. I am forever thankful that my support system at home and on campus encourages and pushes me to succeed every day!
Shaylynn Morris-Montgomery is an early childhood education major
I am from Cardington Ohio and have lived in Morrow County for as long as I can remember. This town is super small, which means that everyone knows everyone. The best thing about it is that you always feel like you have the most substantial support system. The supportive environment and tight community bond in this town played a big part in molding me into who I am today by allowing me to provide acceptance and open arms for anyone who may need it. My parents have not always lived in Morrow County, but I can confidently say that I am glad they picked where we are to settle down and call it home.
Both of my parents attended Kaplan University receiving their associates degree. My mom in accounting, and my dad in drafting and engineering. These are career fields that I myself could not imagine pursuing and based off my interest and skill set I personally chose to pursue elementary education. Although I did not pursue a career that relates with my parents, I am forever grateful for the diverse insights that they provided me. My mom was valedictorian of her college class and with that, she taught me how to be resilient in my own studies.
I graduated from Cardington-Lincoln High School in 2022 and later that fall enrolled into Liberty University's online program for health sciences. I really didn’t know what I was doing, but at least I knew what I wanted to be, or so I thought. I learned from that experience that I am someone who thrives and advances my education based on human interaction, unlike my mom who had to grow up and undergo life very independently. That first semester was one of the hardest times of my life due to the fact that I was alone and had no one to help me navigate my way through the degree I was aiming towards at the time. My mom and dad both work incredibly hard throughout the day to provide my family with the things that are essential. There eventually came a time when I had just given up and thrown in the towel on my education, and myself as well. I decided it was best for me to withdraw from the school, which left me clueless and doubtful about what was next. That's when I was introduced to Ohio State Marion and the things it had to offer me. During that time doing school online, I also discovered that I was not a medical person and was positive that I could ever be one. I had been assisting my mom babysit during all of this, so I was around children all day and I developed a love for them. I would get so many compliments from the parents about all of the things their child had to say about me, and it filled my heart knowing I was making some kind of difference in someone’s life. I decided then that I wanted to do this for as long as I could.
I'm now in my second year at The Ohio State University at Marion studying early childhood education and employed as a peer coach, where I can help students who struggle just like I did. The close-knit community that I grew up in taught me the value of strong relationships and looking out for one another. Everyone at Ohio State Marion is genuinely welcoming here and provides a wonderful environment to be in every day. Growing up where I did really allows this place to feel a little more like home.
The best advice I can give to you is remember your WHY. Your why in life will act as a compass and guide you through the obstacles you face in your life by reminding you of what is driving you. Another thing to take away is even though you have certain goals now, new insights and experiences could shift your goals, so don’t be fearful to change your mind about who you want to be because it is your future after all. The choices you make in life will lead you to your why if you keep pursuing your dream, don’t ever give up, and embrace the future your heart desires. When you go through adversity in your life, take note that in order to get out of the obstacle, you must go through it first.