Kendra Gauge

(Spring 2022 Purple & White Article)

            Asaivien McWilliams came to Iowa Wesleyan University in the Fall of 2020, having been recruited to play football with the goal of becoming a therapist and helping his family to have a better quality of life. McWilliams is the middle child of three brothers. Even though neither of his parents nor his older brother went to college, McWilliams noted, “I always wanted to go to college regardless of whether I’d receive a sports scholarship.” He had considered colleges near his home in Richmond, Virginia, but opted for Iowa Wesleyan because “it’s farther [from home]. I can stay focused and it’ll teach me how to become independent. You really have to learn to do things on your own. No one is going to beg you to get up and go to class or practice. All of that is on you. It’s all about dedication and being willing to do it.”

Since coming to Iowa Wesleyan, McWilliams has worked to spread his positivity across campus, particularly with his team. “Everyday in practice when the coach tells me to break down the huddle, I always say to stay positive,” stated McWilliams. “My life motto is to stay positive. I don’t like to think about the negative or bad things.” McWilliams notes that a lot of his positivity comes from the support of his mother. “My mom was always there for me and made sure I was at every practice. She was my number one supporter, in and out of school. I try to stay positive and maintain good grades because of her. She deserves it.”

Outside of football, McWilliams is a member of the Behavioral Science Club and enjoys participating in the many activities the club hosts. He is also excited to inspire others to go to college and get involved, noting that his little brother had never considered college in his younger years but is now preparing to go to college in the fall. “There are big opportunities for first gen students, including showing others that they can do it regardless of if their parents or family went to college. You can really set an example for someone behind you.”

In January 2020, Allison Craff ’23 came to Iowa Wesleyan as a nontraditional, first generation college student. Despite coming to Iowa Wesleyan with the intention of majoring in educational studies, Craff found a passion for psychology. During her freshman year, Craff notes that she kept to herself until one of her professors, Nathan Hough, encouraged her to explore her interests by starting an Art Club. Craff noted that “having that support from professors, it lifts up someone so much that they can start making those steps on their own. It’s really touching just how much progress and change I have made.”

Craff noted that getting started in college was particularly challenging due to her being a first generation student coming out of the foster care system. “School was never prioritized,” she noted. “It was just kind of like ‘either you go or you don’t.’” With the lack of direction towards higher education, Craff struggled to find support and knowledge to get started, specifically noting how difficult the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) was. Craff specifically recalls having a social worker within the foster care system helping her fill out her FAFSA. “I don’t think I could have done it without her.”

Despite the challenges, Craff stated, “The biggest thing that has made an impact on me has been the community that’s on campus. Going from doing nothing and isolating myself to being a Teaching Assistant (TA), being a tutor, a member in three clubs, and an Resident Advisor (RA), you get connected to so many students and faculty members as well. The fact that I can have the opportunity to build these connections and relationships with these people is fantastic… Education, in general, has given me so many opportunities that I would’ve never had if I had not chosen to go beyond what was expected.” Craff holds officer positions in IW Hands, a service-focused club of which she is the secretary, and Art Club, which Craff relaunched and is currently serving as President. Additionally, she has spent significant time volunteering with the International team on campus, particularly during breaks when most other students leave campus.

After graduating, Craff plans to continue her schooling with the longterm goal of completing her doctorate. “I think the biggest thing to remember is that our minds are a lot more powerful than we think. If we set a goal, we can reach it. It’s just a matter of actually taking the steps and effort to achieve it. It’s not impossible to get your degree here just because you’re first gen. You can go to college.”