In honor of First-Generation College Student Celebration Month, UA Little Rock is profiling some of its outstanding first-generation students.

Jeramy Ashton is a first-generation student from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is currently a second-year law student working towards his Juris Doctor degree.

What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student?

When I reflect on my experience as a first-generation student, I am reminded of armies of warriors who bore my burdens, answered my questions, and challenged my intellectual endurance.

How did your family react when you told them you wanted to earn a college degree?

After my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, her first words were, “Stay in school, do not come home.”

What has been the most rewarding aspect for you so far?

My first-generation experience is rich with gracious hands willing to tend to my desire to do better, to be better. Although I struggle in comparing myself to the paths of my peers, I am reminded, I went from barely getting by at a Title I high school to breaking barriers and presenting scholarly research across the state, all because one professor saw something in me.

What made you choose the Bowen School of Law?

William H. Bowen School of Law invited me to pursue my passion for health and human rights, an institution that truly values the voice and talents of their students. I came to law school with an opaque vision and minute understanding of what the future held. With the help of an outstanding support system and a fantastic faculty, I have achieved goals and overcome difficult obstacles.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

Upon graduation, I plan to work in the public sector with a goal of improving societal well-being.

Do you have any advice for future first-generation students?

To future first-generation students, come to know and love who you are, and never forget what you are. Give yourself grace and congratulate yourself on where you are at this moment.