Written by Charisma Prince
National First Generation Day is when we celebrate all those strong enough to be the first in their families to take flight and go to college. Joshua Austin ’25 is one of the many outstanding students at Albertus Magnus College who has excelled despite the obstacles he has faced. Despite only being a junior, he has interned at the Orange Police Department and served as a Resident Assistant for three years.
Joshua, originally from Oxford, Massachusetts, is majoring in CyberSecurity and Criminal Justice, intending to work in law enforcement in any capacity to help serve and protect the community. He believes that being a first-generation college student simply means that he has access to different opportunities that his family did not. He credits his motivation and drive to complete his degree to his family and the sacrifices they have made for him.
When Joshua was applying to college, he said he did not know what to expect; he only had what his high school teachers had said about college– and he believed them. Luckily, Joshua had his grandfather to help him through the application process because he had seen family friends go to college and saw how successful they were. Adjusting to college life was the hardest thing for him because not only was he doing something his parents had not done, but he was moving away from his family to a different state.
His inspiration to go to college? His desire to be successful. In high school, he had a general idea that he wanted to work in law enforcement, and he wanted the flexibility to work either federally or locally. Joshua also believed that college would offer him time to experience life and contemplate what he wanted to do before entering the real world.
His advice to people thinking about attending college would be that the education you receive is invaluable. He believes that Albertus has a strong community because professors go beyond their call to give you opportunities that will help you excel outside of the classroom. He says to “Make the best decision for yourself and do your research, but remember that your years in college will build you into a better person.”