College can be a daunting four years, and the challenges posed can seem even greater for nontraditional students, as well as first generation college students. Fortunately, students at NC State have access to a program that can help. TRIO is a federally funded student support group that aims to help low income, first generation and minority students obtain higher education. TRIO was created from a combination of three different programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services.
Jasmine James, a third-year studying psychology, spoke about the group.
“TRIO is a Student Support Services program that offers resources like mentor training, academic coaching, social activities [and] things like that,” James said. “Anything you think you might possibly need, TRIO is there to help you and guide you throughout your career path.”
Mauricio Carrillo, a fifth-year studying business administration and international studies, started as a member of Upward Bound before attending NC State.
“Upward Bound was a program that I got involved with in high school where [someone] helped me with the application process for applying to State, and when it came to figuring out housing or meal options, she guided me through that even though she didn’t have a lot of expertise in that,” Carrillo said. “She still was willing to help me with any part of the process I needed and wanted to have help with.”
Shivani Surati, a third-year studying science, technology and society, spoke about her experiences in TRIO.
“What really got me into TRIO was [when] I went to an info session, and they talked about how it was for first-gen college students, which is what I am,” Surati said. “And they talked about how there are other students here that are first-gen, and they kind of feel left out or afraid to ask questions. And I was like, ‘I definitely feel like that.’ So that’s why I got involved with TRIO.”
One aspect that makes TRIO unique is the sense of the community the group shares.
“What makes TRIO unique are the people, because all the people that I’ve met in TRIO, whether they were my specific advisor or not, are incredibly warm, kind and helped me become more motivated for what I want to accomplish,” Carrillo said. “Everyone is invested in your well-being, not just professionally and academically, but also personally.”
The group also offers peer-to-peer mentorship as well as staff support.
“I would say the staff [is what makes TRIO unique] because the support they give, from what I’ve seen, is unmatched in some areas on campus and also the different resources that they offer, like the last dollar scholarship,” James said. “It’s a scholarship that covers the last couple of expenses if your scholarship is a little short. They help cover whatever you have left, and I would have never known about it if it wasn’t for TRIO.”
TRIO also offers students a chance to become ambassadors within the program. Surati mentioned that the major motivation to become an ambassador is to give back.
“As I got more and more involved, I learned that the ambassador program helps plan out the events,” Surati said. “And I was like, ‘I want to give back to TRIO’ because it was just such a huge helping hand my freshman year. I come from a really small town, and coming into State, it was just a huge cultural shock, to have just a community of people who I could talk to or just ask questions, it was just a lot to me. I just want to be able to do that for someone.”
Ultimately, TRIO tries to offer students a better college experience.
“It’s a home away from home, literally because I’m in there always,” James said. “They’re my family, and I hope more people learn about TRIO and what it is.”
More information about TRIO can be found on their website.
