First Generation Student

The obstacles faced by first-generation families are often steeped in poverty (First-Generation College Students: How Co-Curricular Involvement Can Assist with Success). Although first-generation students often cross all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic status, and gender lines, the path to college-completion is fraught with

Many Latino students, are considered first generation students. Due to being first generation students. Many of these students will encounter some obstacles compared to their other classmates. Many of these students have difficulty learning because the education system is not being built in a way where all students will understand. For many of these students, Spanish is their first language. Many starting school already feel a sense of outsider due to them not having the same learning method as their classmates, or having difficulty understanding certain words due to being bilingual.

“First-generation” is a commonly known term, yet most people do not actually know the extent of being a student who is the first in their family to go to college. The majority of the general population assumes that in order to be considered first generation, a students’ parents must never have attended college before. However, this is not always the case. The University of Florida defines first-generation as students whose parents never earned a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, a student can be considered first generation if their parents have an associate’s degree. Regardless of the definition, a first-generation student’s major issue is staying enrolled in college.

First generation college students are students whose parents have not attained a bachelor's degree from a college. An article written by Kavitha Cardoza says, “Nearly one-third of students entering two- or four-year colleges in the United States each year are first-generation[10].” Being the first in your family to go to college is an achievement in itself but it also has a variety of different obstacles. Parents of these students mostly won’t be of any help as they did not attend college. They will have to get everything on their own and advocate for themselves a lot more as well.

Obtaining a degree remains one of the most important pathways to economic and social class in the United States (U.S.), regardless of rising tuition costs and the value of having a higher education coming in to question. Of the 20.6 million students enrolled in a college or university, first-generation college students represents about one-third (The Institute for Higher Education Policy, 2012). These group of individuals are more likely to encounter academic, financial, professional, cultural, and emotional difficulties (Sanez, Hurtado, Barrera, Wolf, and Yeung, 2007).

First generation college students are those who are seeking to be the first in their family to earn a degree, according to UCLA. First- generation students can come from low, middle, or high income families without a history of going to college. Families of first generation students can either be supportive of the students plan for a high education or make them feel family pressure to enter the workforce right after high school like they did. First generation students often do not know their options regarding higher education and have fears about going to college and it’s cost. Currently, 42% of UC undergraduates are first generation.

An obstacle that frequently occurs in a first generation college student’s journey is the lack of resources and knowledge towards the college process. Being the first one in the family to go to college also means being the first one to fill out necessary applications, paperwork, schedules, and other things that come with college; therefore, the first generation lacks the proper guidance from their parents or other

Over many years college has been known as a main path to success, yet many students find themselves being first-generation college student and face many challenges that come with it, despite the efforts colleges make to remove this stigma. “Thirty percent of higher ed students today are the first in their family to attend college, while 24 percent-4.5 million- are both first generation and low income” (Opidee, 2015, P.1). These percentages are very high, with 30% of students attending college being the first in their family many students and their families don’t know what they’re getting themselves into when they get to school. Students find that being a first-generation college students affects them even before they start college.

For me being the first generation in my family to attend college is a great honor. The reason I say that is because of the struggle my parents had to endure, in order for them and me to have a better life.My father finish middle school but my mother on the other hand never set foot in a school. She never learned how to read fluently or even write. My mother's unfortunate childhood made me value education even more. As a first generation college student you get to open new doors.I truly Believing that education is the key to becoming a better person and also student. Being able to be successful in college and also graduating from a nursing program will give me the satisfaction to say that my parents struggles didn't go unnoticed. Having

The decision of a first generation student to pursue higher education comes with the price past the inherent financial cost, of leaving their families behind. Many of these kids may feel like they are abandoning their parents or siblings, although, sometimes they feel like they are being abandond as well. They are leaving everything they know behind to pursue something that they have either dreamed of, or pushed towards their entire life. There are a few conflicting feelings that they may have, first generation students desire

There are many challenges that first generation students face in pursuit of a college degree:

The article “Motivating Firs-Generation Students For Academic Success and College Completion” by Tanjula Petty describes the additional challenges first generation students have to overcome while attending college. A well-heeled diversity and world of opportunities are a few of the positive outcomes of attending college. According to Tanjula Petty (2014), “Yet, the most cited and widely used definition for first- generation students is someone whose parents has not completed a college degree”. Students whose parents did not acquire a college degree, have a lack of support at home. Their family members are not equipped to provide information required for college difficulties students may have. They lack knowledge and resources that students that students with college-educated parents have. The article states that these students are less psychologically prepared for college. Many low-income families do not understand the benefits of graduating from college. First generation students spend more time working and less time studying unlike their classmates. (Petty 2014) Coming from low-income families, many of these students have to divide their time between college and working. Leading students to prioritize money before school. Many work full time while going to school. Working more hours than studying can potentially harm students ' success.

Being a first generation college student is a heavy load to carry due to the constant reminder of having to be a good role model for my siblings. Children of immigrants are often highly expected to excel in their academics and to be involved in extracurricular activities. His/her parent immigrated to the “Land of The Free” in order to receive a better life and to give their children a place to call home. They work from one to two jobs a week just so that we can dig through the pantry, and raid the refrigerator. We sometimes take our parents for granted unknowingly, and constantly fill our heads with a question that we all seem to ask. “How do I please my parents?”, “What do I have to do to make them happy?”. As students we should all be voicing “College!”. Yes, maybe our folks’s dreams have faded away, however that should be our motivation to aim higher; to achieve our American Dream. Throughout our years of education, our very own relatives and teachers have emphasized on the importance of receiving a higher education. I have come to realize that I should not be asking myself “How do I please my parents?”. Instead, “How do I please myself?”, “What will my lifetime goals be?”, “Will it leave my parents hard work in vain?”. Obtaining a higher education will not impact their lives, but will affect yours drastically. My American Dream has always been to become an immigration lawyer that deals with international relations or to become a professor teaching my true passion for

What makes me unique from others is that I am first-generation going to college in the United States. When I tell my friends that I speak Russian, they assume that we are Russian and never ask where my family truly originates from. My family is originally from Uzbekistan, but our blood is infested with other nationalities. Growing up, my house was always filled with music, specifically Rock ‘N’ Roll. My dad and I formed a special bond when it came to Classic Rock, and started collecting vinyl’s. My whole dad’s side of the family are musicians and are in some type of band. The gift must have passed on to me; starting at the age of 5, the piano was my best friend. Slowly I picked up the violin, then joined multiple choirs. Overtime, whenever

Being the first to do or achieve anything considered positive is usually welcomed with respect and honor. The first man to walk on the Moon, the first to summit Everest, even the first animal to orbit outer space, they all have their names sealed in history. Even in less ambitious intents, the case is also similar: we crown the first ranked student of a graduating class, the first to cross the 100 meters line, and more. It is therefore only intuitive to suspect a similar reaction from the parents whose child decides for the first time in the history of their family to pursue a college degree. However, that is sadly not the case. While many people have the preconception that parents of first-generation college students (FGCS) are a positive motivator in the student’s persistence through college, parents of first-generation students are instead, in many cases, not understanding nor supportive of the student’s decision to attend college.