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Indiana University School of Nursing

School of Nursing School of Nursing School of Nursing

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        • Graduate students learn hands-on health advocacy skills through legislative fellowship
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        • December 2024 BSN graduate features
        • Celebrating Faculty and Student Excellence: Harm Prevention Partners Program Impact
        • Faculty Feature: Dr. Heather Hardin
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        • IU School of Nursing addresses state's nursing shortage with largest beginning class ever
        • Faculty Feature: Dr. Greg Carter
        • Celebrating Clinical Nurse Specialists!
        • Senior nursing students Serin Kang and Tomi Abegunde are ready for the start of the fall semester
        • Dr. Yvonne Lu's community-based research aims to increase health literacy about Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia among African Americans
        • IU student nurses experience healthcare in Kenya
        • Faculty Feature: Dr. Elizabeth Holtel
        • Dr. Jane von Gaudecker receives $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to address epilepsy treatment gap in western Kenya
        • Catalyst for change in The Kingdom of Eswatini
        • Fagan and Howle named Jonas Scholars
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        • Charlotte Carlley
        • IU School of Nursing Faculty Promotions
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        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
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        • Faculty Research: Dr. Jane von Gaudecker
        • Faculty Research: Dr. Jamie Rausch
        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
        • Faculty Research: Dr. Jennifer Brower
        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Volunteers!
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        • Hispanic Heritage Month Comes to a Close
        • Faculty Driving Change: Linda Romines and Sheila Wright
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First-Generation Student: Chyna Gates

Friday, November 08, 2024

Graphic including photo of Chyna Gates, a quote from the article, and the IU School of Nursing logo

This week, Indiana University is celebrating students, faculty, and staff who are the first in their families to pursue and complete a higher education degree in the U.S. In fact, November 8 is First-Generation Day, which honors the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The act established federal financial aid programs to support higher education and made other vital investments in colleges and universities for first-generation college students.

Chyna Gates, a soon-to-be IU School of Nursing December 2024 BSN graduate, will be the first in her family to complete a four-year bachelor's degree. This makes her one of the 15,298 first-generation college students currently pursuing their degrees and breaking generational barriers at Indiana University.

As a first-generation college student, what inspired you to earn a four-year college degree?

More than anything, I craved stability and hoped to set an example for my younger loved ones.

What led you to choose nursing and pursue your Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the IU School of Nursing?

Nursing felt like a natural choice for me once I realized how passionate I was about helping others. I have also always been curious about how our bodies work. Pursuing my BSN seemed like the best route to a career that allows me to honor those parts of myself. I chose the IU School of Nursing as my home because I felt that it would offer the best education and learning opportunities.

As a soon-to-be December 2024 grad, what advice do you have for other first-generation students at the IU School of Nursing?

My best advice for first-generation students at the IU School of Nursing is to please give yourself grace. You are paving the way for those after you, and roads weren't built overnight. I am so proud of you for just being here.

  • Vital Signs Newsroom
    • 2025
    • 2024
      • December 2024 BSN graduate features
      • Celebrating Faculty and Student Excellence: Harm Prevention Partners Program Impact
      • Faculty Feature: Dr. Heather Hardin
      • Alumni Feature: Dawn Sites
      • Student Feature: Heather Ward
      • Donor Feature: Susan Buhr
      • Student Feature: Grace Heitzmann
      • Dr. Miyeon Jung
      • First-Generation Student: Chyna Gates
      • Resilience Redefined
      • Making Tomorrow Possible
      • Faculty Research: Dr. Kristin Levoy
      • Student Feature: Dayton Livingston
      • Alumni Feature: Savannah Langbehn
      • Donor Feature: Dr. Rose Mays
      • Bryan White and Marian Gilhooly lead in developing cultural competencies for the nursing curriculum
      • IU School of Nursing addresses state's nursing shortage with largest beginning class ever
      • Faculty Feature: Dr. Greg Carter
      • Celebrating Clinical Nurse Specialists!
      • Senior nursing students Serin Kang and Tomi Abegunde are ready for the start of the fall semester
      • Dr. Yvonne Lu's community-based research aims to increase health literacy about Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia among African Americans
      • IU student nurses experience healthcare in Kenya
      • Faculty Feature: Dr. Elizabeth Holtel
      • Dr. Jane von Gaudecker receives $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to address epilepsy treatment gap in western Kenya
      • Catalyst for change in The Kingdom of Eswatini
      • Fagan and Howle named Jonas Scholars
      • Jennifer Fuentes
      • Charlotte Carlley
      • IU School of Nursing Faculty Promotions
      • Dr. Jamie Rausch awarded August Tomusk Research Fund grant
      • Top 100: Gillienne Boyd
      • Elite 50: Stephanie Zidek
      • Top 100: Megan Szymanski
      • Top 100: Abby Henderson
      • Top 100: Emma Bucher
      • Kay Farmer
      • Kiki Suttle
      • Elham Algashgari
      • U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Nursing Rankings 2024
      • Top 100: Valliei Chandrakumar
      • Faculty Feature: Dr. Cindy Hill
      • Top 100: Tatum Murawski
      • Faculty Feature: Britney Arce
      • Faculty Feature: Dr. Melanie Gall
      • National Mentoring Month: Drs. Pei-Shiun Chang and Yvonne Lu
      • $15.5 million NIH award funds development of national network to include nursing home residents in clinical trials
      • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
      • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
      • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
      • Student Feature: Ella Colclesser
      • Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Faculty Research: Dr. Jane von Gaudecker
      • Faculty Research: Dr. Jamie Rausch
      • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
      • Faculty Research: Dr. Jennifer Brower
      • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Volunteers!
      • Graduate student: Sarah Kenny
      • Hispanic Heritage Month Comes to a Close
      • Faculty Driving Change: Linda Romines and Sheila Wright
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