Charlotte Shields-Rossi | staff writer

Duquesne nursing major Leah Wetcheo entered her freshman year as the first person in her family to attend college. As a first generation student, Wetcheo struggled during the application process but was determined to go to college.

“Since none of [my family] really went to college, I’m really trying to set the bar [and] get myself up there,” Wetcheo said.

She decided to go to college because she wanted a higher paying job to be able to live comfortably, as well as the opportunity to get the “college experience.”

Wetcheo is not the only Duquesne student who had to overcome college-related struggles.

Everyone’s story is different. The Duke asked students to share anecdotes about their journey from high school to arriving on The Bluff.

Freshman nursing major Kamryn Troy’s parents attended college. Although this made the application process easier, as an out-of-state student from Maryland, she faced challenges throughout her first semester.

“It was really hard to find comfort here for a little bit just never being from here, not knowing anyone, but it has gotten easier as time goes on,” Troy said. “Even when things get hard, just give it time, because there will be moments when you have really bad days and moments you have good days, but don’t give up.”

Kennedy Cerrone is a sophomore studying communications. Her junior year of high school she joined the school newspaper, and during that time she knew she wanted to study communications.

“I wanted to speak to people and get their stories,” Cerrone said.

The entire college process seemed to come easy to Cerrone. She already realized what she wanted to study, and she knew she wanted to come to Duquesne after her first tour of the campus.

“The first time I came here, I just felt really comfortable here and kind of at home in a sense. So the first time I visited, I told my mom that this was the place that I wanted to come to,” she said.

But Cerrone’s college journey hasn’t come without struggle.

“You always see people with big groups and everything, and then you’re like, oh, I didn’t find my group yet, and you feel like you don’t fit in,” she said.

Cerrone said that she is lucky to have a support system to help her navigate the issues she faces in college. Her sister was particularly helpful during her freshman year.

“She would always call me and stuff, and she was kind of just very stern in a way. So she was like ‘wait it out, do your thing, get out there, keep saying yes to people, hangout with people, don’t hide in your dorm,’” she said.

For some students, like Cerrone, picking a major comes easy, but for others, it does not. For Alaina Beeler, it was a difficult task.

Beeler is a Pittsburgh native and was drawn to Duquesne because of the number of programs and activities the campus has to offer.

Beeler entered Duquesne as a pharmacy major, switched to undeclared liberal arts and then landed on a major in psychology.

“I’m actually a lot happier with the path I’m taking right now,” they said.

Beeler was not prepared for the course load of a psychology major, and switching majors helped them adjust to student life better.

“My first semester, I just felt super overwhelmed and was not used to all the hard work, and when I switched I felt like it was more subtle, and it was easier,” Beeler said.

Many students begin their journey at Duquesne during the fall semester, but some students start during the spring, which can bring unique challenges.

David Asque started this semester as a freshman studying criminal justice. Being a Pittsburgh local, Asque heard about Duquesne through friends and family.

This is his first semester at the university.

“Finding friends and getting used to everything, it’s a big spot so you got to figure out your way around,” he said.

Asque has learned from the challenges he has faced.

“You have to be patient, and it’s going to take a long time to get where you want to be,” he said.