The behind the scenes meaning of a student being ‘first-gen’ is much more than what people realize. I find this topic very interesting because people who are first-generation will always have a unique story to tell. First-generation students often feel as if they don’t have the ‘light’ in front of them which serves as a guide for many of them in figuring out what to do with both their educational and personal decisions. They often feel lost when it comes to figuring things out such as college and scholarship applications, FAFSA, moving out for college, etc. The reason why I correlate these things is because I, myself, identify as a first-generation Latino college student and I’ve had to experience this recently.
My parents migrated from Mexico for a better life filled with endless opportunities than what they had during their lives. Similar to other families, they sacrificed many things and worked tirelessly for everything they have. This is something that I continuously remember whenever things in college, or life for that matter, get challenging. It serves as a motive for me to push myself and work hard so that I will be able to repay them for everything they’ve done for my siblings and me.
It really isn’t a joke when people say that high school goes by within a blink of an eye. On the day of my high school graduation, I recall sitting there during our commencement speech as I reflected on all the hard work I had endured. I recall the voices of my teachers saying things like ‘Make sure to keep a good GPA for upcoming college applications’ or ‘Make sure you apply for scholarships to help pay for school.’ I also recalled the additional support I had to seek when applying and filling out these applications.
When filling these important documents out, I felt lost, and at the time I didn’t know how to manage that because I didn’t have the luxury of having a family member who went through this experience. So, what did I do? I took the initiative to meet with my career counselor various times to ensure I was on the right track when doing these documents. Discussing things like tuition, room and board, grants and loans was always a blur because I’ve never had any previous knowledge about this. It is without a doubt that if it wasn’t for my career counselor and their support, I don’t think I would’ve been able to manage the burden of tackling these things.
After summer ended, the date of having to move into college came closer. It almost felt like I was in a dream because I’d seen people and heard stories about them moving into college, but I couldn’t realize that it would finally be my turn. I remember that saying ‘See you soon’ to my family was a bittersweet moment. Even though most of my emotions were just nerves about ‘being on my own’ and living away for the academic year, there was a part of me that was still excited and curious about the opportunities that came with the college experience.
Did you know that The Postsecondary National Policy Institute mentions a study that only 44% of undergraduate students are first-generation Latinos? This came as a surprise to me because, from a bigger picture, I’m a part of this 44% and it’s exciting to see that this percentage is increasing as the years go by. Recognizing this fact is something that inspires me to pursue a higher education. Seeing that Latino students are excelling in academia is absolutely astonishing because a lot of these students are in the same shoes as I am where they too want to become a success story for their families and themselves. The Center for First Generation Student Success offers very insightful facts about the percentages of first-generation students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Reflecting back on everything I’ve done this past academic year, I’ve made great memories. I maintained a high GPA while being a part-time student at the University of Washington-Bothell/ Cascadia College library attended events hosted by the Outdoor Wellness Program and LSU, and established lifelong friends in just a couple of months, and even got close with my roommates. During the initial months of this year, I was studying in different locations to see which one was my favorite and with that being said, my top location will have to be the library because this is where I made a couple of my initial friendships. I’ve learned and grown so much in just a few months and it’s certainly hard to believe that summer is nearing. All of these memories and experiences are ones that I will cherish and remember forever.
If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, Remezcla does a splendid job of shining the light on the stories of a few Latinx students.
Additional Resources for First-Generation Students: