DEI Celebrates First Gen Students: MaKayla Hardesty

Posted November 15, 2020 by Carleigh Blaylock

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion celebrates First Generation Celebration Week from November 8th - November 13th, 2020! We will be highlighting & lifting up the voices of First Gen students, faculty & staff this week. We are so proud of the incredible hard work and courage it takes to be a first generation college student. We honor these students and are here to support them during their time at Emory & Henry and beyond!

MaKayla Hardesty is a Political Science & Sociology double major. MaKayla is a Bonner Scholar & a member of Delta Rho Delta sorority.

We asked her to share her story with us:

“My twin sister and I were First Generation students at two different schools so the adjustment to college was daunting to say the least. Being nearly five hours away from my family was so incredibly hard, but I always reminded myself what a privilege it is to go to college and receive such an amazing education at Emory. I chose to go to Emory because I could envision myself thriving in a smaller school setting, but I also chose Emory because of their commitment to community service. I am also a Bonner Scholar and my love for community service and people flourished during my time at Emory. I have learned so much both in the classroom and outside the classroom at Emory, always feeling so supported by the Political Science and Sociology departments. My experience at Emory was not without its ups and downs, but Emory provided me with friends for life, with my roommate since Freshman year, Rachel, as well as my sorority, Delta Rho Delta. My mom is and always will be my biggest cheerleader and without her, I wouldn’t be graduating from Emory in December. I owe everything I am and hope to be, to her.”

MaKayla Hardesty is #FirstGen!

MaKayla Hardesty Photo

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DEI Celebrates First Gen Students: MaKayla Hardesty

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