LUBBOCK, Texas– Kaystn Gonzalez walked across the stage on Friday afternoon with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Gender Studies, feeling relief and excitement as the first in her family to graduate from college.

When she was first accepted into Texas Tech University, her excitement was quickly replaced with worry due to financial concerns.

“I was accepted to Tech in January of 2021,” Gonzalez said. “And when I told my dad, he was literally the happiest person ever, and I saw a lot of worry in his eyes, like how he would be able to help me or anything like that. After that, I started working three jobs in order to support myself better and help take all the weight from his shoulders.”

Gonzalez faced numerous struggles and hardships on her journey to graduation. She shared with affiliate KLBK that she is not only the first in her family to graduate, but she also worked three jobs while attending school to fund her bachelor’s degree. Often, she would finish her overnight shift at three in the morning, only to start another job at six in the morning.

“Most of the time, I would go to work super early, so I’d be there at 6:00 a.m., leave at noon, go to class, and then go to my second job after that. And sometimes I get to my second job around 3:00 p.m. and don’t get off until 9:00 p.m.,” she said.

Gonzalez stated that her father has been her biggest supporter on her journey to becoming a first-generation graduate.

She said, “He’s listened to countless phone calls and me crying, happy tears, sad tears, everything in between. And he’s just really been my backbone throughout all my schooling.”

Even though she walked the stage and received her well-earned bachelor’s degree, Gonzalez told KLBK that her journey is not over. In the fall, she will enter graduate school to pursue three majors on her path to becoming a counselor.

“I start grad school in the fall. I plan to major in couple marriage and family counseling, human development and family sciences, and educational psychology.”