Celebrating Our First-Gen Graduates: Triumph Over Adversity

We are thrilled to congratulate our first-generation students who graduated college this year. This achievement is a testament to their resilience, determination, and hard work.

First-gen students often face significant challenges on their journey to a degree. As most come from lower-income families, they are more likely to encounter financial hurdles. Over 40% of these students leave college without obtaining a degree, and nearly 65% juggle work while attending school. Those who do earn their degree often face a wage gap, earning 30% less than their peers whose parents hold a bachelor’s degree.

At Budo Accelerator, we recognize these challenges and are committed to providing support through our programs. We offer essential skills sought by today’s organizations and create a path for students to build social capital and connect with mentors, getting exposure to new ideas, cultures, and opportunities. According to Opportunity Insights, the largest predictor of economic mobility is the creation of friendships across socio-economic classes—a unique and powerful feature of our programs.

One of our graduates shared their experience:

“I am so thankful to have started and ended my in-person college experience with Budo Accelerator. Through Budo Accelerator’s program, I gained numerous leadership skills. Budo Accelerator instilled tenacity, trust, self-respect, confidence, and so much more in me.

But the most important and impactful aspect is the people I met through Budo Accelerator and the welcoming community. The mentors I met provide guidance not only in martial arts but also in life. The friendships I formed through the program are invaluable and long-lasting. I will be forever grateful as this program introduced me to wonderful people and prepared me to face the future ahead.”

Congratulations to all our graduates! Your success is an inspiration, and we are excited to see what you achieve next.