First-Generation Student Spotlight

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What led you to Northeastern?

I have always wanted to build a career while continuing to learn, especially in healthcare. At 21, I am still exploring where I want my career to take me, and I wanted an educational experience that would allow me to pursue those ambitions while continuing to grow professionally. Northeastern offered me the opportunity to earn an American degree through an online learning experience that is quite different from the conventional idea of university education. Alongside my studies, I work with my family business, volunteer, and teach through NGOs. I value being able to bring all these experiences together while continuing my education.

What did your family understand, and not understand?

My family has always encouraged my education and ambitions. However, pursuing an American university degree online was a relatively new experience for all of us. It is quite different from the traditional college experience, and understanding how an international academic environment works while studying remotely has been an interesting journey. Over time, we have come to appreciate just how much an online education can offer, especially when you are willing to make the most of the opportunities available.

It was not a lack of support. It was simply that I was the first one doing it.

Pakhi Sinha

When did you realize you’d be navigating this without a roadmap?

When I started experiencing how different an online international education could be. Unlike a conventional university routine, you have to create a structure for yourself, manage your time independently, and actively seek opportunities to engage with your academic community. I realized quite early that flexibility also comes with responsibility. You have to be intentional about your learning experience and create an environment that allows you to grow, even when you aren’t physically on campus.

Is being first-gen something you lead with?

I think my educational journey is an important part of my story, particularly because my experience at Northeastern has challenged the conventional perception of what a university experience should look like. Pursuing an American degree while living in India and continuing to work, volunteer, and explore my interests has given me a perspective I genuinely value. Online education has allowed me to build an academic experience around my ambitions rather than put everything else on hold. I think there is something incredibly empowering about realizing that education and opportunity aren’t necessarily limited by geography.

What would you tell a first-gen student just starting out?

You don’t have to have your entire future figured out when you start. I am 21, and I am still learning, changing my mind, and discovering what I want. I would encourage students to remain open to unconventional opportunities and not limit themselves to traditional ideas of what education or success should look like. An online degree can be so much more than studying from a distance; it can be an opportunity to build, explore, and experience different worlds simultaneously. Be curious, take initiative, and make the most of the flexibility and resources available to you.