In Their Own Words: First-Generation Perspectives
Written by Judith Gomez Vera
What is the mindset of a first-generation student? In what way does being the first member of one’s family to attend college influence a student’s upbringing and studies in the long run? As a person who was raised by immigrant parents, I heard so much about the importance of education. Constant sayings were told to me about my education – sayings like, “Échale ganas porque esto lo estamos haciendo para ustedes,” or “Lo único que queremos de ustedes es que se enfoquen en su educación,” which translate to, “Give it your best because we are doing this for you,” and “The only thing we want from you is to focus on your education.” It’s safe to say this experience goes for most children of immigrant parents.
Not only have those constant phrases that I live with day by day, repeating in the back of my head, shaped me as an individual. They have also driven me to become someone with motives and goals. I take any opportunity that comes along the way and take it full-on with passion and appreciation. Yes, being raised by parents who left everything to give me everything is a blessing that I’ll forever be thankful for, but the mindset built into first-generation students is something that should be spoken about.
College is vastly different from high school. The pressure and stress are on you 24/7, and no one is responsible for your education other than yourself. Coming into my first year of college, I already had the mindset of going to every lecture, taking notes, rewriting the notes, and passing the exams and courses with an A. I soon realized that I didn’t really prioritize my social wellbeing. I would always be in the library or in my dorm room. Even on the weekends when I would go home, I found myself canceling plans to study and do homework. During the times I would go out, the only thing that would be running through my brain was the need to study and to do something beneficial. What I felt was guilt. I exhausted myself every day, repeating the same schedule. Although I had attained this mindset for the right reasons, to make my parents proud and to avoid the feeling of letting them down in the end, it wasn’t beneficial.
But why did I drive myself so hard? Well, studies show that most first-generation college students tend to come from low-income families with a median income of $50,041 compared to a household that has a bachelor’s degree education level, which earns more than double of what low-income households earn annually. Along with this number, first-generation students also suffer from more student loans, borrowing at a rate of 66% compared to continuing-generation students who acquire loans at a rate of 56%. Looking at these comparisons and knowing the consequences when children of immigrants drop out, it’s a heavy responsibility to carry. The last thing a student wants to do is waste money, especially when their parents have worked so hard in order to give them the chance to continue on with their education.
I know I’m not the only student on campus who can relate to this, which is why I want to bring awareness to this way of thinking. Yes, college is an opportunity that shouldn’t be taken for granted, but it’s important to find balance between academics and having time to enjoy the college experience. I emphasize the importance of being involved: for example, joining clubs, which is where you will find great connections or, what I found helpful, which was attending campus events. You don’t have to necessarily have fun only on campus; there are more resources and activities that one can do off campus. For example, going on walks at parks or going to little store trips with your friends or by yourself to relieve stress.
Overall, the most important thing I want for first-generation students or any student attending college is to not feel ashamed of taking breaks from schoolwork but to find balance and an outlet to make the college experience feel less stressful.