First-gen Centre student finds path through mentorship and community

Shelby Coffey, class of 2026, first stepped onto Centre’s campus as a student carrying both excitement and uncertainty. As a first-generation college student, she was unsure of what her college journey would look like. But her curiosity and a drive to make the most of every opportunity led her to Centre.

Coffey says she chose Centre because of its close-knit community and the opportunities it offered to grow both personally and professionally.

“I wanted to be in a community that wants me to explore and gives me those avenues to explore,” Coffey said. “Centre has absolutely done that for me.”

Still, her first few weeks on campus were filled with uncertainty. Like many first-gen students, Coffey was learning to navigate a world that felt completely new — one where she didn’t always know what questions to ask or how to find her footing.

“Everything felt so big,” she said. “I didn’t really know how college worked or what I was supposed to be doing. I was trying to figure it all out while also figuring out who I wanted to be.”

Through the First-Generation Office and the Grissom Scholars Program, Coffey found the mentorship and encouragement she needed to feel at home at Centre. The connections she built helped her move from uncertain to confident.

“It feels a lot less scary now,” she says. “Having people who understand what it’s like to be the first person in your family to attend college makes all the difference.”

With a supportive, understanding community lifting her up, Coffey began to consider her academic path. Initially, she was drawn to computer science, a practical field with a clear career trajectory. But a conversation with English professor John Kinkade challenged her to rethink what truly inspired her.

“Professor Kinkade was the first person who really made me see that studying what you love is just as important as studying what feels practical,” she said. “He encouraged me to explore English, and once I did, it just clicked. I felt like I’d found the place where my voice fit.”

This spark inspired her to major in both English and Politics and ignited a passion to help others rediscover the joy of learning.

One way she pays it forward is as a First-Year Mentor. She’s led a group of first-year students during orientation week and in navigating their first semester, encouraging them to embrace every opportunity.

“Sometimes you have to open yourself up when it feels uncomfortable,” she says. “There’s value in just being in the room.”

Stepping outside of her comfort zone became a thread running through Coffey’s time at Centre. It shaped not only the advice she gave to others but also her approach to her own growth. Her time at Centre has been about more than just mastering a subject — she’s learned how to learn, think critically and become a better version of herself.

She carried that perspective into her internship this past summer, during which she taught GED classes in a correctional facility. The experience challenged her perspective and strengthened her belief in the transformative power of education.

“A lot of my students hadn’t had positive experiences with school,” she said. “Watching them light up when something finally clicked reminded me why I want to teach. Learning should make you feel capable.”

After graduation, Coffey plans to continue teaching and gain classroom experience before eventually pursuing graduate school. She’s also exploring opportunities to teach abroad through programs like the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.

No matter where she ends up, she’s confident that the path she’s on is the right one.

“I’ve learned that it’s okay not to have everything figured out,” she said. “The important part is staying curious and open to where life takes you.”