Family College Trailblazer
Growing up, my parents both worked at Cal State University, Sacramento (CSUS), even though they never earned their college degrees here in the United States. They decided to work for the CSU because they wanted their children to have educational opportunities they did not have. I knew early on that as the firstborn child of my family, I would lead the way for my sisters by being the first to attend college. I grew up on the CSUS campus, studying in the library after class in high school.
When it came time to decide where I would go to school, I chose to go to the University of San Francisco (USF) as my parents wanted me to attend a private school. That's where I really experienced what being a first-generation college student was like. Because USF back then was a Predominantly-White Institution (PWI), I not only had to navigate a lack of diversity (which I had grown used to from my high school experience), but also an unspoken identity of being the first in my family to attend college.
What it Meant to Be First-Gen
As I think back on it now, I never thought about what being the first meant or how the challenges I faced were attributed to that identity. I never knew about going to the tutoring center for support when I failed organic chemistry; nor did I know about the resources or financial literacy workshops from the Financial Aid office that could have helped me understand my package and the difference between the kinds of loans and grants. It wasn't until I got an on-campus job as a front desk assistant for student government that I discovered what it meant to be involved and how that could connect you to different resources, programs, and opportunities.
Getting Involved
It wasn't until my second semester of my first year that I truly felt like I was able to truly navigate for myself based on what I had learned about college. Getting involved allowed me to learn about a living and learning community I eventually became a part of; I ran for student government to represent my college; I became an RA, an Orientation Leader, and even a writer for the campus newspaper. All in all, getting involved as a student leader helped uncover the hidden curriculum that I was unknowingly unaware of because I was a First Gen student because it exposed me to the resources that were available and to the opportunities that ultimately helped define my college experience and more importantly my passion for working in higher education.
Advice to First-Gen Students
I would say that there is no question too big or too small. If you have a question about your college experience, a resource you need, a situation you're in, more than likely there is an on-campus office dedicated for that. It never hurts to ask an on-campus person about it. The least you'll get is a no but the most you'll get could ultimately positively impact your experience and your success at college. Another thing I would share is that college professionals are here for one thing, and that's for your success. Regardless of the many roles we play, the one uniting role we have is to ensure you are successful in graduating!