Title:‘A citizen of the world’

A first-generation college student from Brownsville, Texas, Mariajose “MJ” Morales (SFS’26) didn’t want her college choice to take any educational opportunities away from her siblings. But Georgetown’s financial aid offer made attending her top choice a reality.

As one of many Hoyas who benefit from a current use scholarship, Morales seizes every opportunity to give back: she is an editor of The Voice, works with the Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program, and helps children of refugee families learn English through the DC Schools Project tutoring program.

She also takes part in the Georgetown Scholars Program (GSP), a community of first- generation or low-income college students who receive mentoring and programmatic support from the university.

“I met many first generation individuals that very first week and felt their support immediately,” she says. “My GSP community cultivated automatically. Together we took a class called Mastering the Hidden Curriculum, which was so special. We talked to professors who were also first generation students. And it felt like a family. 

“My favorite thing about Georgetown is how I am encouraged to be a citizen of the world,” continues Morales. “Every day that I’m at Georgetown, I expand my understanding of the world, of different communities, of different kinds of people.”