In recognition of First-Gen Day, the TCU News team is featuring a multi-part series to celebrate first-gen members of the Horned Frog community.
Though they did not attend college themselves, the parents of TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. were determined their son would.
“It was their dream that I would, so from a very early age, they made it pretty clear to me that was the goal,” he recalls.
His older sister — already in college — assisted where his parents could not. “She helped me to navigate and understand the process. I also had an excellent high school guidance counselor and that was a huge help, too.”
Inspired by “many great teachers” at his experimental public high school in Cleveland, the future chancellor gravitated toward the field of education and went on to earn three degrees: a bachelor’s from Mount Union College, a master’s from Bowling Green State University and a doctorate in higher education administration from Indiana University.
After working in administrative posts at Indiana University, Boschini served as associate provost at Butler University and then vice president for student affairs at Illinois State University before taking the reins as its president. In 2003 he was named TCU’s 10th chancellor, bringing a special brand of student-focused leadership.
Below, as part of TCU’s multi-part series celebrating first-gen members of the Horned Frog community, Chancellor Boschini answers questions about his first-gen college experience:
What are some of the strengths you believe you possess as a first-generation college student?
Chancellor: I never really thought about it like that, but I’d say that I didn’t take anything for granted in the college process — either applying or attending — so maybe that was a good thing. I also firmly believed that I would live a better life if I could attend.
What was your biggest challenge as a first-generation student and how did you overcome it?
Chancellor: Probably cost, so I applied for lots of scholarships. I got a Pell grant (I’m not sure if they were called that then) and I worked every summer, every Christmas and every semester on campus. I was lucky to get a job during my freshman year in the Alumni Office at my undergraduate college; the people in that office were like a family and really took care of me in more ways than I probably even realized at the time. I also was an RA and that helped earn money. And I was an officer in my fraternity, earning free room and board for the semesters I held office.
What did graduating from college mean to you and your support system?
Chancellor: It was a big deal — to me and my family.
What advice would you give to other first-generation college students?
Chancellor: Just keep going. Keep plowing ahead and don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Also, don’t be too proud to work in any job you can find. You always learn something you’ll use for the rest of your life in any job you ever have — even if you never want that job again. And sometimes that’s probably the best motivation you need.
How does being a first-gen student affect your work as Chancellor today?
Chancellor: I hope it makes me a little more aware of some of the hurdles it takes for all students to get into college — especially nowadays when everything seems more complicated. I hope it also makes me more grateful for anything I have and more of a glass-half-full guy.
What do you love most about being a Horned Frog?
Chancellor: Oh that’s easy: the students — both undergrad and grad. We work with the best people in the world at TCU.