Erin Lancaster, a Class of 2025 senior, has advice for first-generation college students like herself: “Surround yourself with people who believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself; you do belong.”
It’s a credo the David C. Frederick Honors College student has followed throughout her time at the University by cultivating relationships with her peers.
Lancaster, a psychology major in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, learned the value of giving back early on. In high school, she benefited from TRIO Upward Bound, a federally supported college preparatory program targeting students whose parents did not attend college, and she returned as a summer mentor after completing her first year at the University.
She also served as a peer mentor for Pitt’s TRIO Student Support Services, another federal initiative dedicated to supporting first-generation and low-income students, and a student ambassador for the Global Hub, a student lounge and international learning resource center.
“Being a part of TRIO and the Global Hub has provided me with opportunities to share the experiences I’ve had at Pitt with other students,” said Lancaster.
By Nichole Faina, photography by Tom Altany