First-generation college students do more than pursue a degree. They navigate new environments, define who they are in unfamiliar spaces and carry the responsibility of turning opportunity into impact.
For Austin Avalos, a 2024 graduate of YES Prep Southeast Secondary, that journey is already unfolding in real time.
Now a student at Vanderbilt University, Austin is studying biology with minors in legal studies and medicine, health and society. His goal is to work at the intersection of healthcare and policy, creating systems that better serve communities like the one that raised him.
His story is about how he is learning to grow into who he is becoming.
A Desire to Do More and Be More
Austin’s path to college began with a desire to push beyond what he once dreamed. “I wanted to achieve more than I thought possible and find fulfillment in challenging myself,” he shared.
That drive is deeply rooted in his family’s story. His parents immigrated to the United States and built a life in a place that was foreign to them, creating opportunities he now carries forward.
“My parents came to the U.S. and raised me in an unfamiliar community,” Austin said. “Now, I hope to give back not only to them but also to the community that shaped who I am.”
That sense of responsibility shapes his long-term vision. Through healthcare and policy, he hopes to make spaces that once felt unknown more accessible and more welcoming for others, especially those who come from similar backgrounds.
Learning to Lead Before Leaving
Long before arriving on a college campus, Austin was already building the skills and confidence that would carry him forward.
At YES Prep, he found opportunities that challenged him to step into leadership and explore new environments. From preparing for a semester in Washington, D.C. through the Program SEGL (School for Ethics and Global Leadership) experience to founding an environmental community service organization, he began to see what it meant to take initiative and lead with purpose.
Equally important were the people who saw his potential before he fully saw it in himself.
“Much of the YES Prep staff pushed me to keep doing what I was doing,” he shared. “Shout out to the college counselors. Shout out to Ms. Natalia Palmarini for pushing me forward with pursuing policymaking, and shout out to Ms. Tanya Guidry for being a second mother to me and believing in me when I initially didn’t see potential in myself.”
Those relationships did more than prepare him for college applications. They gave him the confidence to step into spaces where he would have to continue proving to himself that he belonged.
Starting Over and Starting from Scratch
Arriving at college brought a new kind of challenge, one that many first-generation students experience but often navigate quietly. “One of the biggest challenges I faced was finding my identity and building a reputation upon it,” Austin said.
College offered a clean slate. With that came both freedom and uncertainty. “You have the chance to start new and be who you want to be,” he shared.
But starting new also meant starting from scratch. Without a background in healthcare during high school, Austin found it difficult to break into spaces where others already had experience, especially when pursuing leadership roles or board positions.
Instead of stepping back, he chose to build forward, slowly, intentionally, and with persistence. “Over time, I built my reputation bit by bit,” he said.
That steady commitment is already paying off. Austin will soon intern at Houston Methodist, a milestone that reflects both his growth and his ability to create opportunities where none initially existed.
Growing Through Service and Community
While building his academic and professional path, Austin has remained deeply connected to service, an extension of the values that shaped his journey.
He currently volunteers as a science instructor through Vanderbilt Volunteer for Science, working with local middle school students. He also serves in multiple student organizations, including Vandy QuestBridge and Small Town and Rural Students, while contributing to the Vanderbilt Pediatric Society.
In each space, he is not only building experience but also strengthening the community around him.
As a Gates Scholarship mentor, he is helping guide students who are navigating the same path he once stepped into, continuing a cycle of support that reflects the power of mentorship in first-generation journeys.
Redefining What First-Generation Means
Austin describes being a first-generation college student as starting from a different place, but not a limited one. “While we may start our lives at different steps compared to other people, achievement and success are still possible through faith, community and willpower,” he shared.
That perspective acknowledges the gaps that exist while also affirming the strength it takes to move forward anyway. For Austin and his family, this journey about redefining what is possible for the future.
Carrying Your Roots While Becoming Someone New
As he continues to grow, Austin holds onto the lessons that have grounded him from the beginning. “Never forget your roots and how far you’ve come,” he said.
He also carries with him a phrase passed down from his parents: “Hazlo bien y no mires a quién.” Do it well, without worrying about who is watching.
That mindset reflects the balance he is learning to hold, staying connected to where he comes from, while allowing himself to evolve into who he wants to become.
“There are many stages in life, and college is a new beginning to reveal the beauty you hold and have to offer the world,” he said. “Be somebody new that you love.”
Closing the Chapter, Continuing the Story
Austin Avalos represents what this First-Generation Alumni Spotlight series has shown time and time again; first-generation students are not just navigating new spaces, they are reshaping them.
His story is built on resilience, community, purpose and the courage to keep going, even when the path is unfamiliar.
As this series comes to a close for the school year, Austin’s journey serves as a reminder that first-generation students are not defined by where they begin, but by how they grow, lead and give back along the way.