Teen mom to restoration ecologist: First-generation Montana Tech student determined to reach dream

Most high schoolers have to worry about Friday night football games, getting good grades, and picking a college. But Lily Gordon’s teen years looked a lot different, as she dropped out of high school and worked hard to make ends meet and keep her and her infant son housed and fed.

At age 15 Gordon was shuffled between foster care and her mom’s custody, in between Butte and Oregon, her home state. After becoming pregnant, she had to live on her own without parental support, taking on full responsibility for herself and her child, while she was a child herself.

“I always wanted to go to college,” Gordon said. “But life happened early for me.”

For years, she worked in restaurants and as a dental assistant. Her colleagues there encouraged her to go to college.

“They told me I could be more than an assistant,” she said. “They encouraged me to go to dental school, so when I first started at Montana Tech, that was my plan.”

Gordon applied to Montana Technological University the day after she took the HiSET exam- the high school equivalency diploma test. Once she was inside the classroom, she found her path diverged from dentistry.

“The more ecological classes I took, the more I realized that’s what I wanted to do,” Gordon said. “I like being outside, I love water, animals, plants—all of it.”

A guest lecture about fungi sealed the deal.

“I listened to a talk on mycorrhizae—the fungi that connect trees underground—and I thought, this is the kind of stuff I like,” she said with a smile. “I love mushrooms. I love the woods.”

Now a junior in the biological sciences- organismal track, Gordon envisions a career as a restoration ecologist, working in the field to help heal damaged ecosystems. She plans to earn an additional certificate in ecological restoration. Gordon is already gaining experience through an internship with Ripple: The Center for Education and Ecosystem Studies, and hopes to work with a local environmental consulting firm in the spring. She’s also conducted hantavirus research with Dr. Amy Kuenzi and works in the microbiology lab on campus, preparing materials for classes.

Gordon works evenings at the M&M Café to help pay for school. She and her husband have two additional children in their family.

“I’d say the hardest part of college has been not being able to work as much,” she said. “It’s been a financial strain, and my husband’s the main breadwinner. I’ve gotten scholarships that help, but I use them for daycare or groceries, not just tuition or student debt.”

The TRIO Student Support Services STEM program has assisted Gordon on her journey. It is a federally funded program designed to serve first-generation, income eligible, and students with disabilities. The program provides opportunities in academic development, financial literacy, career awareness, and other college requirements. TRIO Student Support Services STEM serves to motivate students towards the successful completion of their post-secondary education. It’s led by Director Carissa Johnson.

“TRIO has been amazing,” she said. “I meet with Carissa once a month—she’s like an unpaid therapist. She reassures me that I’m doing great and that I’m not making a giant mistake.”

That encouragement has helped her through challenging moments, including the time she had to withdraw from calculus.

“I was having a crisis because I was failing,” she said. “Carissa made me feel like it was okay—that I made a smart decision instead of letting it destroy my GPA.”

Despite the long days—classes, work, homework, and parenting—Gordon says her children keep her motivated.

“My kids love that I’m in school while they’re in school,” she said. “They’re my biggest cheerleaders, along with my husband.”

As a first-generation student and mother of three, Gordon knows her path is different—but she hopes her story will show others that success doesn’t have a timeline.

“I’d love to be an advocate for other teen moms,” she said. “I want girls to know that their world isn’t over just because things didn’t go as planned. It might take longer, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen.”

The Institute of Educational Opportunities will be hosting a series of events celebrating first-generation college students, staff, and faculty on November 5 through 7, as part of a National First-Generation College Student Day on November 8. Please join us in the celebration by participating in any or all of the events below:

• 1st Generation College Student Celebration Day Resource Fair 
  Wednesday, November 5 | 11:00 am-1:00 pm | Copper Lounge 
  Campus and community partners will table to provide information and resources to support all students. We are looking for departments interested in tabling during the Resource Fair! If you would like to table, please indicate your interest here.
• 1st Generation Speaker Panel
  Thursday, November 6 | 3:30 pm-5:00 pm | Library Auditorium
  Join us to hear the experiences and stories of our campus and community members who were first-generation college trailblazers themselves and learn where their journey has taken them.
• Auction/Bingo Night! 
  Friday, November 7 | 6:30 pm-8:00 pm | Knights of Columbus
  Join us as the fun continues with bingo and an auction of great items from Fairmont Hot Springs, Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures, Montana Whitewater, Griz Athletics, and more!