A first generation college student is defined as the following according to www.chapman.edu:
"A first-generation college student is defined as a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor's degree. This means that you are the first in your family to attend a four-year college/university and to attain a bachelor's degree."
So in short someone who’s parents didn’t graduate college but they did. There are hundreds upon thousands of websites with statistics and assumptions about first gen students. Websites where people assume they know all these different things not only about us but how we work and why we do things, and these people can tell you all of these things simply because our parents didn’t graduate but we did (or are going to). These websites are loaded with information and in my opinion a lot of BS, and I don’t mean a Bachelors of Science. Granted I’m sure there is some validity to some of the points on some of these websites, but I don’t believe that judging someone based on a statistic is right.
While these websites and “professionals” can tell you all these things about me as a first gen student, there’s a lot they can’t tell you. They can’t tell you why my mom didn’t graduate or that she did indeed start the journey of getting her degree. They can’t tell you that my mom left to take care of me and make sure that I had everything I could. They can’t tell you that she worked full time and missed out on multiple opportunities to give me the chance to even attend college. They can’t tell you anything about her.
Just as well they can’t tell you anything about me. In their eyes because my mom didn’t graduate, I won’t. They question how I would make it through college when I don’t have an example of how to do so. They can’t see that I am even more so prepared because my mom didn’t graduate. They can’t see that she taught me how to hold a job and how to multitask. They can’t see that because of her example I am able to take over a full time student load while working full time. The narrow mindedness in them can’t see past what is considered lacking in their eyes to see what I have gained above and beyond that.
As a first generation student I am PROUD. I am proud that I get to accomplish something so great and do so not just for myself but for my family as well. I am HUMBLED. Knowing that I am a first gen student, I am humbled by the fact that my family supports me and continually wants the best for me. I am GRATEFUL. I am grateful that I have the opportunity that I have. I value the fact that not everyone gets this chance. Lastly I am DRIVEN. I am driven to do well and to push myself. I am driven by the desire of my family for me to do well. What some see as pressure I see as fuel to my fire.
If you are a first gen student I seriously congratulate you. You should be proud, humbled, grateful and driven. Don’t ever let someone take away from you what your parents have given you, by numbering you as a statistic. You are more than a number but if you’re going to be one it might as well be FIRST.
