"A.D." is a member of the Johns Hopkins University graduating class of 2020. In this interview, A.D. describes growing up in a big family in South Central Los Angeles. He shares his experience attending the public school system in the area, his interest in public speaking and cross country running, and his decision to attend Johns Hopkins. He discusses his academic experience as a pure math major with an applied math minor. A.D. also shares his experience living far from family and experiencing loss while at school.

"J.M." is a member of the Johns Hopkins University graduating class of 2019 who majored in environmental engineering and minored in classics. In this interview, they describe growing up in New York City with their parents and academic opportunities they had growing up which prepared them for college. J.M. goes on to talk about their transition to life on campus and in Baltimore, various jobs they've held as a student, and places they've lived. They also share their interest in environmental engineering and friendships they've made with classmates. J.M. advises other students to stay connected to their roots, get involved on campus, and broaden their horizons. This oral history is part of the First-generation Students oral histories series.