Home Away From Home: Navigating College as a First Gen Student
As a first generation student, attending college was a big deal for me. While I was not the first in my family to attend community college, I was the first to graduate from a four-year university. I was the pride and joy of my family, and they had high hopes for what I could achieve. I wanted to make them proud, but on the other hand I felt a great amount of pressure to meet their expectations and beyond.
Being the first person in my family to attend college was not the only challenge I faced, I was also moving six hours away from home for the first time in my life to attend UC Davis. This would be my very first time away from my family and the mere thought of not being near them made me wary. Once I settled into my new dorm room, I started to adjust to my new life away from home. However, I still had those moments of feeling like I did not belong and that I had made a huge mistake.
I had applied to other universities, but ultimately chose UC Davis. My interest in ethnographic research strongly influenced my decision since it was a pathway that I wanted to explore. I knew that schools in the UC system were research focused, which was something that caught my attention immediately. I had the choice to stay close to home and go to a local college but I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and take a leap by moving away from home. As a transfer student, I went to a community college ten minutes away from home, and now I was going to be at a university six hours away. This was something no one in my family had ever done before, and I felt so anxious to face the unknown by myself.
“I joined a variety of clubs and organizations where I found a support system through individuals who shared similar interests.”
For all the students who may be feeling this same weight on their shoulders from being first generation, I want you to know that you are not alone. I know it may sound cliche, but there is a home away from home for you. I admit that at first I felt so alone. I was going through an enormous change of environment and I missed my family more than I ever had, but I slowly got used to my new life. What helped me was building a community for myself. For me, it was the many resources that came from the community I surrounded myself with and the amazing faculty I met. For instance, the transfer center at my school was a great space where I felt welcomed and supported. I became close to the director of the center, Roxanne. I met her the first time I walked in and she introduced me to the space and all of the resources they had to offer. Later on, when I became a regular, she became a familiar face that knew me on a first name basis. As a transfer student, I felt like my time at UC Davis was limited and like I couldn’t waste any opportunities. Everyone at the center was so helpful, and I met many other students who were in the same boat as me. Knowing that others were experiencing the same feelings as me was so reassuring, and gave me confidence in my ability to succeed. I also made many friends that I have stayed in contact with to this day. These were individuals I met in my clubs, classmates that I had projects with, and co-workers. I learned that you can find friends even in the moments where you least expect to. When a professor asked everyone in my class to turn to the student next to us and discuss a prompt, I ended up making a close friend who eventually became someone I sat next to in every class, ate lunch with and went on coffee runs with.
Another way that I was able to find community was through professors who became important figures in my personal and academic life. Essentially they became my life mentors and I still keep up to date with them through email and Zoom. An important lesson that I learned is that it is good to ask for help, you do not have to be alone throughout your college journey and professors and faculty are always willing to help you if needed. My mentorship began when I connected with a first generation faculty in my department and later took a class with. She was such an amazing figure for me during my time in undergrad and I went to her for any questions I had or input I needed.
And lastly, I joined a variety of clubs and organizations where I found a support system through individuals who shared similar interests. I was able to be a part of clubs that I was passionate about while also maintaining leadership positions, despite joining in my academic career than some of the other students. I spent most of my undergrad experience with these people and created lasting memories. One of the organizations that became very special to me was Her Campus. I love writing and content creation so it was a perfect fit. I met so many amazing women who supported me and I was able to become part of a national community even after graduation. It was an amazing experience to be able to challenge myself as a student and creative.
Navigating college as a first-gen student is certainly challenging, but once you start asking questions, seeking support and building a community for yourself it can be so rewarding. My college journey may have started lonely, but along the way I grew those connections and created a memorable experience. I was able to grow into a more independent person by moving away from home to attend college and I challenged myself in ways I never thought I could. I found a home away from home and I know now that choosing UC Davis was the right choice. I was able to participate in the research I was so passionate about through the Communication department, have leadership opportunities in my clubs and meet individuals that are still a part of my life. I know now that if I have to move away in the future, I am capable of facing the challenges with confidence.
