Advice from First-Generation College Students

Helene Nguyen: The advice that I would give to a first-generation college student is just to look around. Even if you try college and you don't like it, just try it.

Ciera Cathey: Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort bubble that's what good things happen.

Jessica Leichter: It's not always comfortable, it's not always easy. I mean just going to college is breaking out of the comfort zone, but you can't just do it on your own.

Kris Bailey: Don't be afraid to ask for any kind of help. If you're struggling like financially, you're struggling with grades, there's tons of resources, use them you know, don't be afraid to get the help that you need.

Chuck Allen: They have to do more than what's expected, they have to do more than, more homework and more reading than the teachers currently give them. I mean, they have to be prepared and to do that you have to put it on yourself. They need to have a vision of where they want to be.

Angelica Villanueva: You're gonna question yourself, am I good at this, but there's gonna be so many more days that you're gonna say yeah, it was worth it and those days you know, surpass with the bad days.

Martin Segovia: It's not as tough as you think it is. It really isn't, it's definitely possible and you can leave home. Leaving is a big jump but if you focus on it, it's definitely possible.

Chuck Allen: I would say to the professors who know they have first-generation students to intentionally reach out to them, because it's already intimidating for a student to be on a college campus with a professor who has years of experience in front of them and even when they need help sometimes we don't feel like we can approach them. I think it's important for them to know who those first-generation students are and to intentionally go to them and say if you need help, come to me.

Angelica Villanueva: My advice to other teachers or professors that have first-generation students is that they need to see each student as an individual. Each student is there and each student is different, they have different needs, so I always try to think of my son when I have a student in front of me. So if we individualize and say okay, this is my son, how would I want somebody to treat my son.

Martin Segovia: Befriend them in a sense but you find out what makes them tick, you know, where are you coming from? Find a little bit about, you know, their background, their culture, and maybe try to help them somehow a little more.

Dr. Dina Bennett, Assistant Director, Kansas State University McNair Scholars Program: I think it's really important that first generation college students come to the University campus and get connected through mentors, whether it be a peer mentor or a faculty mentor. They can help the student to become more comfortable with navigating their surroundings and they're just the social support. 

Dr. Steven Dandaneau, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies, Kansas State University: I got to reach out and find some people who've been through the experience because that kind of first-hand knowledge is almost impossible to acquire in any other way.

Dr. Amanda Morales: Being as immersed and connected on campus as you possibly can increases your opportunities for success exponentially. The research says that if you are plugged in and well connected on campus through mentorship programs or campus jobs, that your odds of success increase significantly because you're immersed in the environment.

Dr. Pat Bosco, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, Kansas State University: It's critically important that we give students permission to ask for help.

Dean Debbie Mercer, Kansas State University College of Education: We're dealing with a large number of students that are in the exact same place, so there's no question that's silly, there's no question that is not relevant, and there's no question that doesn't have a legitimate answer that can be found.

Dr. Pat Bosco: I think we have to be there in an accessible, responsive way - that could be that faculty advisor, it could be that faculty member, it could be a religious minister, or rabbi or priest in our community. It could be an employer on-campus employer.

Dean Debbie Mercer: Authentic voice is one of the most powerful teaching tools that we have and being able to support and nurture first-generation students that will go out and then support and nurture high school students, middle school students, even elementary students and plant that seed, I know you can do this and and I did and let me tell you about my walk. That makes that impact so powerful. 

Dr. Steve Dandaneau: The nation and the world needs these folks to be successful because they have perspective and strengths that they bring to the university experience and that they will bring to professions and to their careers and lives which are really in demand these days. We need them to bring their critical thinking for the great problems we face. We need them to persevere so they can acquire enough power to make a difference in our society where it's needed.

Dr. Amanda Morales: Even though it's big and it may seem big, there is a place for them here. Everyone can find their place here, and if I can do it, anybody to do it. I truly believe that.

Various voices: My name is Helene Nguyen. Lisa Mead. Kris Bailey. Jessica Leichter. Ciera Cathey. Martin Segovia. Hello my name is Chuck Allen. I'm Angelica Villanueva. I'm Amanda Morales. Dr. Dina Bennett. Dr. Steven Dandaneau. Dr. Pat Bosco. Dr. Debbie Mercer.

Martin Segovia: Athletic director and associate principal at Garden City High School.

Chuck Allen: I'm the founder and director of the Urban Scholastic Center.

Angelica Villanueva: Physical earth science teacher here at Dodge City High School.

Dr. Amanda Morales: Assistant professor and diversity coordinator for the College of Education.

Dr. Dina Bennett: I'm the assistant director of the McNair Scholars Program at K-State.

Dr. Steve Dandaneau: I'm the vice provost for undergraduate studies.

Dr. Pat Bosco: Vice president Dean at Kansas State University. 

Dr. Debbie Mercer: And I serve as dean of the College of Education.

Various voices: And I am a first-generation college student.