It’s not easy being a first generation college student
I always knew I wanted to go to college, but the closer it got the scarier it became
As a high school senior at the third best school in New Jersey, everything was centered around college. The academics are rigorous in order to prepare the students for college, and the environment is tight knit in an effort to make everyone comfortable while doing so. From your first day as a freshman up until the last day of your senior year, you are constantly surrounded by the idea. But for me all of it was overwhelming. My parents didn’t go to college, so I didn’t know where to begin.
Friends went on with conversations about all of their campus visits and everyone wore apparel from their favorite schools. While in the midst of it all, it felt as if I had been slapped in the face.
I wasn’t able to visit the schools that my parents went to in hopes of becoming a legacy. I wasn’t able to hear about their experiences in hopes of going through the process in a similar way. It seemed like I was alone in the midst of a storm- the closer it came, the stronger the fear grew. The fear didn’t only surround the process of getting accepted into college, but also the reality of finding a way to pay for it.
That moment when your hard work pays off
Coming from a family with a poor economic standing, the financial aspect of college appeared to be a new world. What was a FAFSA? How do I apply for grants and scholarships? What about work-study? It was an extremely frustrating and extensive process. However, even though it was difficult to overcome, it slowly became manageable. It was like a puzzle: everything appeared jumbled at first but with hard work it all came together.
It seems like as a first generation college student, I take on a different perspective regarding college than some of my friends. I am more likely to put it in 110 per cent during all hours of the day because for me, it is a true privilege to be walking along this campus, and I don’t want to take a single second for granted. I am ready to take on the challenge of balancing schoolwork on top of a job because I want to do everything in my power to make sure that I am able to finish this journey. I want to be able to walk across the stage in four years with pride written all over my own face, as well as my family’s, knowing that I was the first one able to complete what everyone else could only have dreamed of.
In addition to the constant effort put into work in and out of the classroom, a strong sense of independence is also brought with me based on my field of experience. While growing up in a household with parents who were constantly working in order to put food on the table, you quickly learn how to take care of yourself. While others may have had the opportunity to do various extra-curricular activities, I spent my time learning how to attend to myself. Now, it is all paying off. While my peers are struggling to figure out how to do their laundry, and juggling newly discovered responsibilities, I am able to take that time and put it into my schoolwork. Learning the skills to become independent at a young age has allowed me to be able to excel in an area that I hadn’t before. To grow up in a household with parents who are not in possession of a college degree doesn’t put me at a disadvantage as most people may view it- it gives me an even stronger competitive edge.
Even though I feel like I’m climbing up to the top of the ladder regarding work ethic and domestic responsibilities, the social aspect of college has not been an easy ride. I didn’t come into college with any advice from my parents or older brother about the general dos and don’ts. No one was able to give me pointers about how to make new friends, or to warn me about how difficult it would be to take a class in the form of a lecture hall. The hardest part about it all is that my immediate family can’t always act as my safety net anymore. When I have a bad day, sure I can give my dad a call, but he doesn’t always know how to respond. He can no longer tell me which decision is the right one because neither one of us have enough experience to decide. My parents are living out their college experience through me, and at times, it is an emotional rollercoaster.
Yet not everyone realizes what first generation college students go through, leading to a stigma. People think that they should treat you differently. They think that because you come from a different background that you are weak, fragile, or that you should be coddled. But guess what? Myself, alongside my fellow first generation college students, have worked harder than most will believe not only to graduate from high school, but also to be thriving in college despite the blood, sweat, and tears that went into it all.
Smile because you made it this far
We are breaking out of our shells by walking along campuses across the world, stepping onto territory that is uncharted by those closest to us. We are exploring this new world on our own. If you think that it doesn’t take courage and power to conquer such a task, so be it. Just know that the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that it took to simply get our foot in the door proves that we truly deserve to be here just as much as anyone else.