In my previous posts, i talked about the struggles first-generation college students and the resources available to them. A challenge for first-geners is the lack of parental support academically. Parents of first-geners are not able to help with financial aid process and admission process. I had a hard time getting around things in my first year. It was worse as an immigrant; i started my college education a few months after getting into the country.
In the absence of that parental support, peer support goes a long way to help. Faculty and advisors are great resources as i mentioned in my last post, but a peer is less formal. It gives room for more conversation and helps with knowing how to maneuver things from a student’s perspective. Peer support can be study groups, clubs or student organizations. These peer support can help us first-geners feel connected to a community.
In my first year in college, choosing classes was based on the advice of my academic advisor and peers. I was part of a club and the topic for one of our meetings was the choice of classes. Students in their sophomore and junior years gave advices on which classes to take or which professors to sign up for based on their personal experiences. This helped me a lot especially since i was undecided and could choose any classes i wanted. They became my informal rate my professor website.
From my freshman to senior year, my academic advisors have always used students as a reference in choosing classes; especially my core classes. When i was looking for classes to make up for my 72-hours credit outside of my major, i chose some of my classes because of the statement “I heard a lot students like this class or professor so the class fills up very fast” from my advisor. Because of these factors, i loved all my classes and did well in them.
Even though parents of first-generation college students do not have the needed knowledge to help their children, they can still help in their little way. Motivating and checking up on their children can be effective to help first-geners. My mom is a great inspiration in my college journey. Although she has no idea of how college works, it never stopped her from checking up on me every week to ask me how I was doing and how my classes are going.
Since my first year in college, my mother has been involved in finding out how i am faring in college and how each process, whether financial aid or academic progress, works. This has helped with my younger siblings. She is able to help my younger siblings with any college-related questions when i am not available.
Peers can be mentors for students, especially first generation students with little or no support from families. Families can also stay involved in the college journey of their children; they can be a good resource for other children yet to go to college. Do you know other ways peers or families can help first-geners? Please drop a comment and let’s get interactive.
PROUDLY FIRST-GEN 