First-gen UC undergrad beating the odds, finding her voice

Many non-traditional students find a home at the University of Cincinnati, and Emily O’Bryant is no exception. A student who comes from a history of displaced housing as a ward of the court, O’Bryant is a first-generation student pursuing her bachelor's degree in communications through UC's College of Arts and Sciences.

“I am an independent student. My birth mom had me at 14 and I ended up in multiple homes throughout my childhood,” says O’Bryant. “Neither of my parents made it out of the eighth grade. I went through a few different types of care when I was younger all over the place, but as an adult I wanted to be better and do better.”

Only 26% of first-generation students complete at least a bachelor’s degree, according to data from the Pew Research Center. In addition to the usual struggles associated with adjusting to college culture, there are myriad additional barriers that first generation can students face, including lack of support from family and peers, college preparedness, racial disparity and financial stability.

“I think all professors have been really helpful with that for me. I have difficulty understanding math, I failed statistics the first time. I took a year and a half off, and I took that time to teach myself everything,” she says. “UC worked with me to find a program that would cater to my strengths and allow me to thrive.”

O’Bryant gives credit to communication professor Molly Mayer for her success so far in the program. In Mayer’s business communications class, students give a personal narrative speech to the class. Mayer was appreciative of O’Bryant’s speech on her experience in displaced care, which motivated O’Bryant to discuss her experiences more.

“The assignment teaches students how to share personal information in a professional setting,” says Mayer. “Emily told a very impactful story about how she learned to talk about having grown up in displaced circumstances in a professional setting. She also talked about how to be a role model to foster youth and learning from them to own and talk about her youth as a displaced child.”

O’Bryant shares that she spent the beginning of her college experience being ashamed of telling people where she came from. She volunteered with young foster girls through Interface Hospitality Network and other organizations, where they can open up to her about their experiences. Not only does she find passion in helping the girls, but she says the girls have helped her speak up and not be ashamed of her own experiences.

“I have family on the West Virginia, Ohio border,” says O’Bryant. “None of the women in my direct family can drive, and it is a really severe level of poverty. Some of my relatives don’t have electricity. Going to college is looked down on, it is not something people in my family are proud of me for.”

Through all O’Bryant has been through, she finds perseverance through the opportunities that the A&S communication program has given her on the path to her degree. Not only has she gained an education she never thought she would have the opportunity to gain, but she found her voice to speak about her experiences along the way.

Featured image at top: UC's Arts & Sciences Hall on the Uptown West campus.