First Generation College Student

The majority of the students I work with are considered first generation college students because their parents have not completed a college degree.  Sounds simple enough however, what I find I have in common with the students is that many of the pitfalls some make, are the same ones I made when I first started at ASU, and continue to make.  I try to impart as much wisdom as possible, but as the saying goes, "those who give the best advice seldom keep it for themselves." 

So what is it about 1st generations?  Well to start off, most of us learned too late what college was really all about, in fact I was seventeen the first time I heard about ASU or Phoenix College (PC).  The sole driving satisfaction my mother expressed to me about my life is that I avoid, drugs, gangs, tattoos, and I manage to graduate high school.  Other than that I had her blessing to do with my life what I wanted to do.  College only became an option because my sister asked me what I planned on doing after I graduated from high school.  Although PC was a mere two miles from my house, I had never stepped foot onto the campus until my first day of school in August.  The first time I heard of a syllabus, a transcript, the different levels of degrees, actually having to study for class, and reading before class began at PC.  I skated through high school, knowing nothing other than my life at Alhambra High School.  I find the students I work with in much the same boat.  This last week while I was recruiting at prominent high school in South Phoenix for the ACE Program I asked how many students knew where their nearest community college was, one student answered, University of Phoenix is around the corner from my house.  Aghast that they believed U of P was a community college, I realized they had absolutely no idea what a community college was.  Astounded for second, yet I travel back in time to when I was an early college student and realize, I had no idea either.  I would like to make the clarification that the population of students I work with are not "troubled" students, or in bad company.  They are genuine, hard working high school students, but like me completely ignorant to life outside of high school.

First lets explore briefly my nephew who would be a second generation student.  He is seven years old and starts sentences with "Mom, when I go to college...", he has been to multiple college events, has a tax sheltered college fund, and is learning the words to the ASU fight song.  There is no doubt in my mind that my sister (his mother) will attend his first day of college, as she attended his first day at kindergarten.  Although we can't guarantee that when the times comes he'll want to go to college, the expectation and knowledge of college life will be present in his life.

In a contrast, I remember college being superfluous because I had no idea how important it was, nor even what I was doing there, I merely kept my mouth shut and copied what other students did to register for class, speak to teachers, even to complete assignments.  Or I would ask my sister "what do I do now?"  Other times I remember feeling too embarrassed to ask how, dumb at times, and completely scared that I didn't look like a real college students.  I felt as though I was doing it wrong, and I never really believed I could or would be successful.  I find it completely horrid that I did not learn at a young age what college was or how immensely important it is.  Was it my parents fault, was it my teachers, my my high schools, community colleges?  We can play the blame game all day but does it matter, because in the end the ones who carry the ultimate burden are the students.  I see that same fear in many of the students in the program now, which is why I have worked hard to connect with them and push them to achieve what I myself still have a hard time achieving.  As if one at-risk factor wasn't enough, many of use have others to contend with.