Decarlo Flagg Jr. is a sociology major with minors in psychology and criminology, law, and society. Decarlo is founder and president of BLERD (Black Nerds) and has served as a sociology ambassador.
Growing up in Danville, Illinois, I never imagined that my academic journey would involve so many different interests, opportunities, and experiences. Coming from a smaller community in Central Illinois, becoming a first-generation college student and eventually transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been an experience that continues to shape who I am today. My journey has been anything but traditional, but I have learned that there is no single path to success.
Before transferring to Illinois, I earned two associate degrees, one in Biological and Physical Sciences and another in General Studies. Today, I am majoring in sociology with minors in psychology and criminology, law, and society, while pursuing a pre-medical track with the goal of becoming a physician. With such a wide range of academic interests, people sometimes wonder how everything connects. For me, that connection lies in understanding people, their experiences, and the communities they come from.
My academic interests have increasingly led me toward medical sociology and rural healthcare. Growing up in Central Illinois has influenced my curiosity about how geography, access to healthcare, socioeconomic conditions, and social institutions shape health outcomes. I want to understand not only how medicine treats individuals but also how the environments people live in influence their health and opportunities.
Since transferring to Illinois, I have become involved in my department in ways I never initially imagined. I have served as a Sociology Ambassador, worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant, participated in departmental internships, and worked as an undergraduate research assistant under my department head, Dr. Reuben A. Buford May. I am also the founder and president of BLERD (Black Nerds), a new student organization dedicated to creating an inclusive community where students can embrace their interests, creativity, and individuality while finding a sense of belonging.
As a first-generation and transfer student, entering a major research university was a new experience. I had to learn how to navigate campus, become familiar with university resources, and find my place within a larger academic community. What once felt like an unfamiliar university has become a place where I not only belong but actively contribute. I went from learning how to navigate campus as a transfer student to representing my department as a Sociology Ambassador, assisting with teaching, and contributing to research alongside faculty.
One of the most meaningful parts of this journey is knowing that students from my hometown, my community, and members of my own family can see how far I have come. I hope my experiences demonstrate that coming from a smaller community, being a first-generation student, or transferring from another institution does not have to limit what someone can accomplish.
Being first-generation is not simply about being the first. For me, it is about creating opportunities, challenging expectations, and hopefully inspiring someone else to recognize the possibilities within their own journey.