Her Campus is celebrating postsecondary education with the hashtag #WithMyBookBag. YAY! Go people who are pursuing higher education either at a vocational or academic college or university or in any such form. I would like to take time today, however, to shine the light on those who are first generation college students. Being first generation means someone who, typically without much support, applied to college(s), was accepted to said college(s), and is now the first person in their immediate family to attend postsecondary education (the definition can vary). I think the best way to report on this is giving the spotlight to those who really know the challenge of being a first generation student, so get ready to meet some first generation students here at DU!
Ovid
Where are you from?
I’m from Denver and have lived here all my life. It’s a great place, and I love everything about it. My mom is also a Colorado native, but my dad is from Mexico.
Why did you choose DU?
Besides the fact they gave me the most aid, I came for a unique major it offered. It’s called Emergent Digital Practices and it combines art, technology, media, and design. Only two schools in Colorado had a major along these lines, but DU just seemed the better of the two with its various organizations, programs, graduation rate, and overall reputation. I also wanted to remain close to home and didn’t want to be a small fish in a big pond, those were major contributors to my decision.
What have resources on campus aided you?
I’m really big into researching, so the summer before starting college I spent hours looking through DU’s site, often getting lost in the amount of links I clicked on. It’s weird, but I find it fun. I’m also really into lists, so I would go through and make lists of the resources campus had, the various things I could do on campus, what I should be doing my first year with regards to career planning, etc. I would also download any colorful cliché infographics they made specifically for incoming freshmen and PDFs of anything I felt would be helpful for the future. By the time September rolled around, I had a file folder labeled “Campus Resources” that contained all my lists and print outs, which ranged from listing resources/services the library offered to all the courses I could take within my major. Once classes started, I made use of these resources and discovered new ones by paying attention to flyers around campus and student organizations’ Facebook posts. It’s helped me make the most of my college experience.
How difficult was the college application process?
To be honest, it wasn’t difficult for me. My high school was a college prep school, so they (the teachers and counselors) knew how to direct us students. They pretty much held our hand through the process of finding and requesting recommendation letters, writing our admissions personal statement, and preparing for the ACT/SAT. They frequently offered workshops for us that provided us everything we needed for the college application process. It pretty much began in sophomore year when one of the first workshops was about a career assessment test and the program we’d be using in the future to track our GPA, recommendation letters, and register for future workshops/college visits.
What do you enjoy about DU?
As cliché as this sounds, I just love the vibe of the campus. Not only is it beautiful, but I feel like it’s pretty welcoming and open. The student body has this outgoing, can-do feel that is contagious. It offers so many extracurricular activities that anyone could find something they like, whether it’s an interest club, athletics, or an organization pursing change in the world. I also like that they offer so many resources to students, to the point that I often don’t have the time to utilize them all. DU has many places to chill, or study, whether they be outside or in. I like finding the tallest buildings, going to the top floors, then finding a study space with windows overlooking Denver and the mountains. Since DU is on a slight hill, you can see everything, it’s beautiful. Another thing that I love is that it’s so centrally located, it’s a short drive to downtown, surrounded by great local shops and restaurants, and right by the highway so it’s easy to get to the mountains or anywhere else for that matter.
What is the biggest struggle for you as a first generation student attending a private university?
By far the lack of diversity. All private colleges like to claim they’re diverse, but when you’re an expensive, private university that’s hard to do. Minorities often leave these types of colleges off their radar because they think it’s just not an option or they believe they’re not good enough. Being Hispanic, I thought this too. In fact, when I first started looking at colleges I immediately ruled out DU for its cost of attendance. Luckily, I was persuaded to apply anyway, and they ended up giving me the most aid. It’s difficult, though, because the student body is majority white and I at times feel out of place.
How do you feel about being away from home, from family?
Not necessarily. It’s not something that has ever crossed my mind. My brother is going to be going to college soon, and the reason my mom didn’t go was because she wanted to learn only what was necessary for her dream career. I haven’t needed to support my family because my parents have always been able to provide for us. So there hasn’t been a reason for the feeling of guilt to arise.
What do you want other first generation students to know?
To those about to begin the process, it’s essential that you reach out and ask for help. I didn’t want to at first, but I know that if I hadn’t I would’ve gotten lost very quickly. Everyone needs a support system and someone to go to that can point you to the right resources/direction. That can be anyone, a school counselor, a mentor, or a family member. If you have no one that can help, the second best place is the library. People often underestimate everything a library can offer, it’s a lot more than just checking out books. If all else fails, Google really is your best friend. Look up Fastweb, HerCampus, any college blog and subscribe to their email list. They send invaluable information that really helps. For those already in college, ask your RA (resident assistant), the campus student life center, or an academic counselor about the resources on campus. The bottom line, you have to ask/initiate the search, because people aren’t mind readers.
Randy Ho
Where are you from?
I was raised in Denver, Colorado. However, I was born in Santa Ana, California.
Why did you choose DU?
I chose DU because the programs were flexible enough to accomplish multiple degrees, that align with my future goals.
What have resources on campus aided you?
I have used Center Multicultural Excellence multiple times, for mentoring and overall aid in student life.
How difficult was the college application process?
The most difficult part of the college process was applying. Having no previous understanding of other schools and programs, I felt rushed and under a lot of pressure meet the same standards as my peers. I made up the difference by taking advantages of the resources around me. During high school, I found a mentor and college coaches within the high school that helped highlight my best qualities to set me apart from my peers and increase my self-confidence. However, I wished the resources were more prominent in terms of awareness. Being that, I searched everywhere until I meet someone I could trust and be completely vulnerable with.
What do you enjoy about DU?
I enjoy DU for the personalization of the programs, I feel like I can get more done and gain a variety of skills that I couldn’t at other schools. I am loving spending time meeting new people around campus. Also, I enjoy participating in a variety of clubs with a diversity of people.
What is the biggest struggle for you as a first generation student attending a private university?
My biggest struggle being a first gen student, I feel isolated from some of the student population. Being that some values are significantly different, and views are extremely polarized without acknowledgment of the opposition. Also, there’s a large stigma that if you don’t come from a family with money that you don’t understand or have the same experiences. However, that is a pressure set upon by not allowing healthy conflict conversations to happen on campus.
How do you feel about being away from home, from family?
I am not upset about being about to go to college because I understand that my parents work hard to support the family themselves. Although it is hard not to physically support them, I know that it is okay to support them from afar for the time being. In the long run, it is more beneficial to my family overall for me to attend college because later on I will be able to support the family as a whole, doing the best that I can.
What do you want other first generation students to know?
I want other first gen students to know that they are not alone. Even if there are moments where they feel like they are isolated and lonely. It is okay to ask for help or even someone to listen. Too often there are students who drop out without even trying to find the help because it is not obvious. Take the risk, and remember if it stresses you out to the point of unhappiness, you don’t have to do it or at least do it alone.
Marie Spence
Where are you from?
I grew up in Colorado, in a small town called Lafayette. My grandparents were born and raised in Mexico, and came here before my mom was born. My grandparents on my dad’s side are from Pennsylvania, and moved to Colorado when he was in high school (which is when my parents met awwww).
Why did you choose DU?
I chose DU for two major reasons: financial aid and location. DU was my only instate school, and when push came to shove, I decided that it wasn’t going to be realistic for me to move away from my family. Additionally, this was my most affordable school, and meant that I wouldn’t have to put a burden on my family to attend. Though these were my two main reasons, I also chose DU for its focus on community service and social justice.
What have resources on campus aided you?
Being a part of an LLC was a really nice way to build a community where I could learn and explore college in a safe space. I also volunteered with CCESL as soon as I got to campus, and this not only provided me the opportunity to get involved (which made me feel really empowered and like I could do the things I wanted to do), but also helped me build community on campus through the CCESL office. However, I would have to say that being a part of the Pioneer Pathways Program was an invaluable experience that created the foundation for a successful college experience for me. This program was the week before orientation, where I was able to learn about the ins and outs of college while being with other students who didn’t know about college either. It was through this program that I met my partner of now a year and a half, and my best friend (who was also my first friend here at school), as well as many other life-long friendships. This program not only taught me about valuable tools and skills for navigating college, but also taught me about the importance of self-advocacy. I feel very fortunate to have had a lot of support here at DU, and I know that currently the university is working on a first-gen day for during orientation week so that students can start to get some of that same support. What I think is really important is not just dumping skills on first-gen students, but providing them with a framework so that they can learn how to adapt to college. For instance, time management skills are really important, but I think it’s more important to talk to students about why time management is important, and the mindset they should bring to it (i.e. instead of saying: write down each component of your schedule so that you do what you need to do, bring it to a more conceptual level to say: keeping track of your schedule is important because…, here are some ways you can do that). Even reminding students that it’s important not to over schedule and prioritizing self-care is important.
How difficult was the college application process?
I did not have trouble with the college application process, because I went to a college-prep charter school where they guided us through the process. They took time out of class, showed us exactly what we needed to do, and met one on one with us to make sure we were on track. This was amazingly helpful for me. I wish there had been a little more focusing on applying to schools that were a holistic match, rather than just name recognition, or liking one specific component, but I still am happy for the large amount of guidance I received during the process.
What do you enjoy about DU?
My favorite part of DU is the community focus and all the opportunities to get involved. It has allowed me to make a lot of connections with both students and staff (who are very accessible). I also have really enjoyed the opportunity to get involved in things that are relevant to my long-term goals, and developing skills that will translate into the other fields and positions in which I will be entering.
What is the biggest struggle for you as a first generation student attending a private university?
I think one of the biggest things here is obviously cost. Being first-generation means that my parents weren’t able to plan for or anticipate college in the same way that parents are who have attended a 4-year university. Although my parents always wanted me to have an education, I didn’t have a college fund coming into college and I’m the oldest of four, so my parents can’t just drop large amount of money on me for tuition, without those repercussions affecting other members of my family. I think that’s the other big thing for me: family. Although this is also a cultural difference, the families of first-generation students don’t always understand what their student is getting into. They don’t always understand what kind of commitment being a student is, and want the student to be involved in their family the same way they were in high school. I think it’s hard for myself, and other first-generation students to communicate with their families the demands of college, and can often feel like a tug of war, rather than harmonizing. This being said, I also think it’s difficult for parents, because there’s a lot of uncertainty and anxiety associated with their students going to college. When first-generation students earn their degree, their whole family earns the degree, and I think supporting the families of students is just as important as supporting the students themselves.
How do you feel about being away from home, from family?
I talked a lot about family in the last one, but I’ll expand on the concept of guilt. It’s often difficult to feel like I deserve the degree I’m working towards, when so much of my ability to earn it has come from my family. Though I’m confident my sibling will go on to earn degrees of their own, it becomes most difficult in regards to my parents, because it was only through them that I will be able to get a degree, and so it’s hard to justify why they don’t also get it. This can be difficult at times, but in the end, I know that I am earning a degree for my entire family. Although not all their names will be printed on it, it will be theirs just as much as it is mine.
What do you want other first generation students to know?
For students who are applying, I would tell them to follow their hearts. I myself got a lot of conflicting information throughout the process, but I think at the end of the day that by doing what makes your heart happy, you can’t really go wrong. You have to work hard to make sure the logistics are there, but don’t compromise on the things that are most important to you. For students in college, I would say that it’s your campus. Just because this campus was not handed down to you by your parents, does not mean that it is not yours. You worked hard to be where you are, and you deserve to make the most of it. Try things even though they’re scary, and find ways to get involved. I think the most important thing about college is that it is what you make it, so you have to work to make it great.