I want to first start off by saying that this is a bittersweet moment for me. On one hand, I’m thrilled to be graduating, but on the other hand, I love being a Mariner and I’ve enjoyed my time here so much that I hate that it is coming to an end. These pass four years have been some of the best years of my life. For the past two years I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Vice-President for Student Government Association, and it has shaped me into the person that I am today. I’ve made friends and connections that will last a life time and I owe a good portion of that to SGA. My contribution to campus life, in my opinion wasn’t enough, but I believe that I have had a hand in making a difference on campus. Student Government isn’t the only way that I’m involved on campus, I also am an active member in Overboard Entertainment, I’ve helped them with executing several events over the past three years including: Homecoming, Spring Fling, and the Halloween Dance. I’m also a part of the original Blue Crew Team, and I’ve served as an Orientation Leader to help guide the new incoming …show more content…
Being a first generation, can be difficult, because you don’t have the guidance that some people need when they are first starting college. In other words, you have to stand on your own two feet because your parents or grandparents don’t have the advice and wisdom to give to you about college. Statistics also show that first generation students have a higher chance of dropping out, I know because it happened to my brother. In my case though, I found it extremely challenging at times because when I started college my parents forgot about me, meaning if I needed any type of help rather it would be financial or advice I knew not to call them. I came here alone, but I’m not leaving alone. During orientation we would tell the new freshmen that “this is your home away from home”, but for me this was my
The documentary, First Generation, follows four first generation college students who try and balance the hardships of working, sports, being part of a lower socioeconomic status and handling the challenges of learning how to apply and cover the cost of hefty college tuitions. In this paper, I will discuss barriers that some students experienced, the benefits of attainting a college education as a first generation student and some of the challenges individuals faced once they were accepted into college.
Being the first generation means setting an example and paving the way for future generations. However, this also means additional challenges like high expectations, guilt, and lack of guidance. During my secondary education, my family was not supportive or informed on the educational system and how it worked.
While first-generation college students are over half of all students in postsecondary education, exclusionary practices block their admittance into elite institutions. The outliers who receive admittance to the Ivory Tower may think they have made it—that their American Dream and long-held belief in the meritocratic ethos has finally paid off. Instead, they are confronted with educational stratification and social reproduction that was stacked against them long before they received the piece of parchment granting them access. The onerous task of navigating through unfamiliar academic and social situations often results in leaving. Can first-generation college students learn how to activate, manage, and accumulate social and cultural capital to navigate elite universities?
Everett pointed out the favorable circumstances provided by public community colleges which created access for first-generation students. She divided access into five categories: financial, geographic, programmatic, academic, and cultural/social/physical accessibility. She went on to elaborate the different ways in which these elements aided first-generation students in attending college. She concluded the article with a few challenges faced by first-generation students and the programs that were implemented to combat such challenges.
How does being the first in one’s family to graduate from college impact one’s desire to finish college? Some of the major barriers first generation college students face included Lack of Motivation and Lack of support and also Low Income finances.
First generation college students are students who comprise a distinct minority within most institutions of higher learning. These groups of students are the first generation of students in their family lineage to attend a college or university (Allwood, 1966). Due to the lack of family guidance in navigating through the college experience, first generation students face an array of obstacles upon entering the realm of higher education. These students are less likely to obtain their bachelor degree due to finance, family support and retention, all which ultimately limit their college experience. Not only do these students experience issues migrating through high school into college, they also lack the necessary resources some students need to achieve higher standards. For instance financial assistance, mentorship, and other motivating factors that can help a student grow into a professional.
“First-generation,” a term that has recently began to permeate through our discourse surrounding education. Yet, secondary education institutions have found difficulty settling on a definition that fully captures the distinct and incomparable experiences and backgrounds of students. The definitions of a first-generation college student varies from institution to institution; ranging from having no parental figures who ever attended postsecondary education, to having one or more members in the immediate family who did not obtain a bachelor degree.
Most first generation college students are significantly older than the average, approximately 24 year of age (Pascarella et. al 2004). The surrounding low-income environments that many of these students are raised around can explain this late age. This financial pressure can also explain another category of first generation students, preparation (Chen & Carroll, 2005). These students are often less prepared to enter the college life. They have not been exposed to the necessary preparation needed to succeed on college admissions tests and furthermore don’t meet the performance requirements that universities and institutions require. Analyzing the prefaces that surround the environment of first generation college students aids in understanding current problems faced in college as well as assist in proposing solutions for this subset of
If failure ever becomes an option, reconsider your choices and work out a plan where it is not even considered. Finding groups that help first generation students will help you tenfold. Students do not have to face the learning curve alone. Tutors and professors understand that being a first generation student is difficult even if the university doesn’t have anything to help. On top of not knowing about college and dealing with a learning curve, first generation students also have a fear of becoming unrecognizable to their own families. The development of two separate identities can often make it difficult for these students to branch out and learn. The fear of becoming someone else and not knowing can lead students to living in a shell where they are not only excluding themselves from others, but also from learning and being educated. More colleges need to implement a program that helps first generation students transition to college life. Without anything being done, these students will continue to have the highest dropout
First-generation students frequently have a feeling that they don’t belong in school. The biggest challenge of this students is psychologically because of the need of support. Most of the difficulties are lack of professional mentoring. For example often they apply to only one college because of the lack of money and information f other colleges. Many students enroll and are determine to obtain good grades but at the same time are worried because of the need of support from their mother. Some experience not owning a computer or knowing how to use them and this slows down their learning process, and are afraid to ask for help. Once they identify what they are capable to do academically they began to think everything they achieve or do would be underestimated by others. They may think teachers are going to punish them for not knowing how to solve critical thinking problems. Or by their classmates they may become socially discomfort with other students, because of the loss of personality.
My purpose and goals in attending college is to make something of my life. It is a good thing. No one wants to be a nobody. But sometimes it takes time in order for one to realize this. & nbsp; Upon graduation from high school, I, like the majority of others high school graduates, had no clue what direction my life was heading or even what I wanted to become.
So what can other first generation college students do to avoid what has happened to Sarah? The answer lies in directing a passion towards learning and education in students and their families that will build self-motivation and avoid the negative predispositions of being the first in the family to attend college. While Sarah has not been attending the University of Miami for too long, her experiences thus far have given her a very good understanding of her position in this academic community, and nevertheless, gives a representation of first-year, first-generation college students. Sarah is only one person though and may not be fully representative of the population of first generation college students, but as a member of this community, Sarah’s input is essential to the ideas and views of the students in this group.
In the 21st century, if an individual decides to make a major commitment or resolution, they have the utmost support from their peers and family members. However, when a first-generation college student decides on furthering their education, the dearest people close to the student seem to disappear. Linda Banks-Santilli (2015) claims that first-generation students apply to a single college and without the help of a parent (para. 13). Although Banks-Santilli does not say so directly, she assumes that the students can not afford multiple application fees and the students are unsure on how to determine which college is a good fit, as their parents have not taken them on a college tour. I agree that first-generation students have far less help
I’m a student at Tompkins Cortland Community College this is my first semester as a college student. I plan to go to college for four years and only be at TC3 for this one semester, then transfer to a four year school. College has grown around the world more than ever and more people are attending college more than ever. I have chosen to go to college because of the rewards after graduation. Yes it is another four years of school but by getting more education and an extended degree gives me more opportunities for better jobs and more money. The career I have chosen to study is business administration. I am hoping that it takes me to a great job managing a company or possibly being an accountant.
Good evening parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and friends. I would like to thank you all for coming to this very special day. I know how proud you must be. As we have grown over the years, there are many stages we all have gone through. From learning our shapes and colors, to getting our first kiss in middle school, or how about explaining to our parents why we skipped school because the principal called home. As we remember these days, things that we've done will be with us forever. But this is only the start of our journey. The day has come where we say goodbye to the big yellow buses, assemblies, assigned seating, and attendance policies. Are you really gonna miss it? For some of us maybe not right away. But eventually we will so for us to be here it is not necessarily an achievement, but a privilege. All of us have been in school over half our lives. To graduate is one more step we've taken in our lives.