Tag: college life

College at last; Jane is excited to start the life before the real world and be the first to get into college as well as graduate from college. It is all excitement till the semester starts and things start to get tough. She has so many questions but she cannot ask her parents because they have no idea of the college life.

Jane is not the only person in this boat, there are hundreds of first-generation college student who struggle to figure things out. First of all, a first-generation college student is a student who is the first to gain admission and graduate from college. The parents never went to college and is the first child in the family to go to college. Here are the 5 stress horrors first-generation college students face.

1. The main reason for going to college: Most students go to college with an agenda in mind; to be a medical doctor, journalist or politician. For most first-generation college students, that decision is not always easy. With parents having a degree, the decision can be easy as some students would want to follow the footsteps of their parents. But some first-geners go to college to honor their parents and be the first to go to college. I know how that feels because i felt that pressure in my first year of college.
2. No parents to rely on: From elementary to high school, relying on parents for resources and assignments is a normal routine. But college is a different ballgame when parents have no experience. The idea of being away from home and coupled with not being able to depend on them is hell. Our parents are the first people we think of when issues pop up.
3. The Stigma/Low self-esteem: One sure thing is to be able to survive, you have to ask questions. Some students become ashamed of always asking questions when others seem to have it all together. Some choose to be invisible and as a result do poorly academically. Some may possibly drop out of college due to self-doubt and low self-esteem. They feel they cannot make it through college on their own and do not want to be asking for help at all times.
4. Financial constraints: One task of being a first-generation college student is to rely on oneself and pay for things. Parents cannot always be there and the need to get money for pay for books, gas and grocery becomes an issue. Then there is the need to work to support oneself. Working and schooling can be a disastrous recipe. Working can be a distraction and a hassle. In my first year of college, i was a full-time student and worked at the same time. It was stressful figuring out school stuff without my parents’ help and work to help with things i need without asking my parents.
5. Lack of knowledge of existing resources: Most first-geners do not know how to go about their first year in college. Because they are the first to go to college, they have no older siblings or parents to guide them on how college life works. Also, they are not aware of the resources available to them to serve as a guide. Thus, they face anxiety and stress in the first or first two years.

It can be a hassle as a first-generation college student, but every problem has a solution. Being was stressful till i found a way to get over it and thus be an expert for my younger siblings. Share your story if you are a first-generation college student or know someone who is a first-gener.