Illustration By Carla Labto
By Carla Gutierrez
A Perspective
First generation students may need a little extra help now and then.
We are worth it. What we give back is enormous.
First-generation students are pioneers and very important members of our society. Data is preliminary but indicates that each first-generation college student brings at least 2-3 family members into higher education. First-gen students also elevate household income and can lead families into a new level of success in the United States.
Uriel Perez, a UCSD graduate with a major in International Relations, was a great investment. He was a first-generation student who is now a first-rate scholar. At 18 he moved from Oaxaca to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of higher education. Now he is pursuing his Master’s.
“They told me (in Oaxaca) I could learn English at college, and I said, ‘Let’s try it,’” he said. “(But) it was a culture shock. Their topics of conversation were very different (than what I was used to talking about).”
Languages barriers only intensified the frustration, he said.
“I didn’t know how to express myself to my classmates,” he said. “At first I didn’t like it, but over time I learned.”
Perez said he was grateful for the support he received at Southwestern College.
“I gathered information from teachers and counselors,” he said. “I went to office (hours) and they explained everything to me. Little by little I asked questions and began to understand.”
Classmates from college families can also be invaluable teachers, he said.
“It’s good to meet up with first-generation friends,” he said, “but it’s also good to be friends with people whose families have gone through (higher education) so that you can learn from those experiences.”
Alexa Macias, a dental hygiene student, is a first-generation student. She said her journey could be lonely.
“In high school I didn’t know about classes and what to take,” she said. “I tried on my own, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t know about counselors.”
Southwestern’s lack of counselors and long appointment wait times can frustrate eager students especially first-generation students who do not have family or a network to help them.
“From the moment you enter college, you have to plan for the future,” she said. “I didn’t know that. I did not know how to create a plan. You have to ask questions and know who to ask. I learned to (confer) with counselors, professors and people with experience.”
Older siblings have the hardest time breaking through as pioneering first-generation students, but they can become invaluable teachers and mentors for their younger brothers and sisters.
Law enforcement major Cesareo Chavez was drawn into his major by his older brother.
“My brother told me about the program, which prompted me to enroll,” he said. “The counselors are there to help you. They helped me transfer to a university.”
First-generation students appreciate efforts to provide information and guidance. Chavez said information published by Southwestern was very helpful.
“I receive emails about job fairs and transfers, which I was happy to received,” he said. “The school is encouraging.”
Southwestern College deserves props for its dedication to supporting first-generation students through its First-Year Experience (FYE) program which provides specialized support and resources to help recent high school graduates transition into college. It provides students with enrollment and help with registration. SWC also has a New Student and Re-Entry Guide on its website, facilitating the step-by-step registration process for students beginning their higher education enrollment.
Progressives and conservatives alike ought to be enthusiastic supporters of first-generation students. They are good for the economy, good for communities and good for the nation.
When a first-generation student crosses the finish line, they open the door for many more to follow.
They may need a little extra help at the beginning but they are worth it.
