Being the first in your family to go through college takes confidence and perseverance. Without a support system that knows the demanding obligations of a full schedule, this can feel overwhelming and sometimes impossible. This is why Kent State University is supporting these students and the challenges they may face while pursuing a degree.
National First-Generation College Celebration is on Nov. 8, and Kent State is hosting a weeklong celebration filled with campus-wide activities and learning opportunities to recognize students who will be the first in their family to graduate with a four-year degree.
“For many years, there has been a stigma around being first generation,” said Melanie Jones, the director of academic diversity outreach at Kent State. “If you're first in your family to go to college, sometimes you're not aware of the way to navigate resources on campus. It can be challenging to connect with peers, faculty and staff and to feel like you belong.”
In 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-generation Student Success launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration. This concept has evolved at Kent State throughout the years and has grown into a weeklong celebration. In 2021, Kent State was designated as a First-gen Forward Institution by the Center for First-generation Student Success for its commitment to improving the experiences and advancing outcomes of those who are first in their families to attend college.
The significance of being a first-gen student will be advocated to all students, faculty and staff through events coordinated by the university. Students will be sharing their experiences to raise awareness.
Sophomore exploratory student Penelope Cervantes is just one of many first-generation students who selected Kent State as their university of choice.
“As a first-generation exploratory student at Kent State, the transition to college was difficult, but I became stronger through this,” Cervantes said. “I had to push myself and be confident in my own skin. With the help of staff and resources in University College, I realized that I have a lot of support and a family here at Kent State.”
This year, the Kent State community can expect programs that are focused on awareness and the celebration of first-gen students, but also faculty and staff because of their active support, Jones said.
“We also recognize first-gen advocates, those individuals who are not first-generation but who advocate and help students make graduation happen,” Jones said.
There are many events celebrating this significant week, including a Celebration Day Panel on Nov. 8 that will feature student success stories and a social media competition called “I Am First Pride” on Nov. 8-12 that will require students to share a picture to their social media wearing a specific T-shirt to win a prize.
If you cannot participate in the celebration this year, no worries. There will be many more first-gen engagement opportunities in the future, Jones said.
“More than 40% of our students are first-gen, and so I don't see efforts slowing down,” she said. “The more that we can raise awareness about being first gen and ensure that there are resources in place to help support student success demonstrates that Flashes truly take care of Flashes.”
For more information about Kent State’s “I AM FIRST” Week of Celebration, visit www.kent.edu/i-am-first/i-am-first-week-celebration.