Carlos Lemus

“My parents literally dropped everything in Mexico and moved here to give me and my siblings a better life, so I have just always wanted to go to college and succeed, not only for me, but for them.”

Carlos Lemus tells about how his parents didn’t finish school, but they always instilled in him that grades are important and to do well.

Initially Carlos planned to go to a different university and pursue a degree in healthcare, but after taking an aptitude test, he decided an engineering degree fit him best. After his current roommate convinced him to tour the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, he decided he really liked the campus and that UAFS was for him.

Carlos credits Student Support Services for really helping him, and says his SSS advisor kept him on track. “The calculus tutor in the Academic Success Center was the reason I passed Calculus II,” Carlos said.

He shares his best advice for other first generation students: “Be prepared financially, make sure to explore and research degree options,” and lastly, he says “be committed, show up, and stick with it.”

This is Carlos Lemus, and he is #First2Go.