First-generation student Melissa Escutia and SAU Coordinator of Student Opportunities and Engagement Fritz Dieudonne celebrate first-gen students with “Bee First!” swag in the Beehive.
By: June Swingle, BuzzStaff Writer
For Melissa, a sophomore in business management, starting secondary education was quite a bit of an adjustment.“Freshman year I was definitely all over the place–I was not accustomed to writing such lengthy papers and I felt like I had to sound professional 24/7 in my papers and everything of that sort.”
The St. Ambrose University First-Generation Initiative held a celebration for National First-Generation day on Monday, in the Beehive. First generation students had the opportunity to pick up some “Bee First!” swag and enjoy the music with a specially curated First-Gen beverage.
“A First-Generation student is defined as a student whose parents or guardian have not earned a bachelor’s degree,” says Fritz Dieudonné, the Coordinator of Student Opportunity and Engagement. “This day is meant to bring awareness and to celebrate the strength, and persistence of first-generation students.
“It’s important to give our students examples of people who faced similar challenges, but yet found a way to succeed. As a university community, it is extremely important to highlight and celebrate the grit and exceptionalism of our first-gen students. Their spirit adds so much to our community.”
For these students, the journey to secondary education looks a bit different. Unlike many college students, they do not have the same support of parents with degrees to rely on for advice. Melissa says, “I do have a support system, but it’s a different support system. Whereas my peers, they have family members who had education that they can rely on and get advice from on who to reach out to or what classes to take. And for me everything is new, so I think that was one of my biggest struggles was trying to find what to do.”
But despite their different experience, they still found a way to thrive in the college setting. For Melissa, it means networking and making connections, “Since joining college I’ve met a lot of amazing friends and peers that have helped give me advice and have definitely led me to where I am right now.
“Like right now I am working for Fritz and I really enjoy it so any relationship I’ve developed on campus has really helped push me to learn more and join more committees and everything of that sort.”
Things have been similar for Gabriella Gonzalez, a transfer student in criminal justice: “I have passed all my classes with very good grades! I have made so many new friends from cheer and I have made a lot of good memories as well! I am much happier at SAU than I was being away from home!”
With new experiences, however, there is always a challenge. Melissa says, “I definitely didn’t learn how to study properly until joining college… Definitely learn how to study properly before coming to college especially with trying to cram before an exam, that’s a no-go.”
For Gabriella, it was also a bit of a cultural shock, especially at the university she attended before transferring to SAU: “I faced many challenges while away at school, especially because I am shy. I did not make friends very easily. I made like three friends the whole time I was there. My classes that I took had like 40 people in them because it was a big school and so the professors were not very one-on-one with us. Even during office hours it would be you and three other kids needing help.”
Even though First Generation students come from a slightly different experience, they still find a way to thrive and create a better future for themselves. One piece of advice that Melissa wanted to give was, “Whenever it seems difficult, always look at the bright side and don’t give up.”
