Pioneering Success: 19-Year-Old Trailblazer Becomes First in Family to Graduate College
Elisabeth Long has a lot to celebrate this year. At just 19, this first-generation college student from the small town of Black Springs has become the first person in her family to graduate from college.
Long is graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science, a minor in history, a 4.0 GPA, and a goal to become a lawyer.
At the Dec. 16 commencement ceremony, Long鈥檚 mother, Pamela, siblings, best friend, and mentors will all join her at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to celebrate this incredible milestone.
鈥淚 am very excited for graduation,鈥� Long said. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e worked very hard for it, and it鈥檚 been a long time coming.鈥�
After finishing high school at 15, Long started college at National Park College and then transferred to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as an online student in the spring 2022 semester.
鈥淚 think what鈥檚 most memorable for me is how, as an online student, I have felt so included by my teachers and other students,鈥� Long said. 鈥淭he online atmosphere is really great.鈥�
Along the way, she鈥檚 gained valuable experience working at Legacy Law Group in Hot Springs. Long interned there during the spring semester and now works part-time at the law firm. It鈥檚 proven to be helpful as Long has already taken the LSAT and is planning to attend 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 William H. Bowen School of Law in the fall.
She鈥檚 thankful to her advisor, Dr. Joe Giammo, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs, for helping her navigate college.
鈥淚 am a first-generation college student, and I had a lot of questions since I didn鈥檛 always know what I was doing,鈥� Long said. 鈥淗e was always very supportive, and I鈥檝e been really lucky to have him.鈥�
As for graduating at 19, Long doesn鈥檛 find the experience to be unusual because 鈥渟o many of my friends are education- and goal-oriented. I think of myself as just like them.鈥�