Bucknell University president John Bravman discusses his experiences as a first-generation college student and offers words of inspiration to those considering college. Bravman became the 17th president of Bucknell University on July 1, 2010. Prior to joining Bucknell John spent 35 years at Stanford University, where he led their undergraduate program as the vice provost for undergraduate education for 11 years. Born in 1957, he grew up in New York City and on Long Island. He completed his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree in materials science and engineering at Stanford. He has published more than 160 peer-reviewed articles and taught primarily in the fields of materials structure and analysis, thin-film mechanical phenomena, microelectronic reliability and high-temperature superconductivity. A tenured professor of electrical engineering, he recently patented two coatings that may make coronary stents safer for heart-disease patients. More: http://www.bucknell.edu/x6061.xml Bucknell's Take the Opportunity series is inspired by the Center for Student Opportunity's "I'm First" project, an online community offering support, advice and encouragement to students who will be the first in their family to reach this goal. www.imfirst.org