First-Generation College Students: Challenges and Solutions

I feel as if though the best way to adapt to the harsh reality of a personal problem is being vocal about it, which can later help someone realize that it may not have been much of a personal problem after all. One issue facing college students around the world is the fact that many of them derive from households and families lacking any college alumni; therefore, making them first-generation college students. The difficulties that come along with attaching this moniker to students include tedious things such as spending countless, mind-bending hours spent on Google searching what school best suits one’s needs, or needing to delve a little deeper into websites regarding what differentiates an independent student from a dependent one. Minor
I heard about issues like this before I went to college but I didn’t believe it; nowadays, there are moments where I’m sitting in class and end up asking myself, “Should I even be here?” A solution to this problem would be if schools were to implement first generation counseling centers on their campus which consist solely of former first generation students turned faculty members. If this were the case, students would have someone they can feel comfortable seeking advice from due to it being someone who’s been in the same rough spot. I reached out to a friend of mine, a fellow first out of his immediate family, to see how he feels about the subject. I asked what he thought the hardest part of the college process was and whether or not he would’ve sought out a first-generation center had it been accessible for him; he responded with, “The hardest part has to be figuring all this stuff out alone. Kids with college educated parents genuinely don’t understand how lucky they are to have someone in their household even be remotely close to remembering how to fill all these papers out. There’s no doubt that a hub for first-gen students would be extremely helpful. if it existed you’d likely see me there every single day.” With that being said, the inclusion of a unique station such as this one to provide new students with assistance, guidance and moral support will only help raise their self-esteem; as well as shine a bright light on why there are still endless opportunities to succeed without a family member’s awareness of the