Students can come to a general consensus that transitioning from high school to college can be a frightening and difficult task, from the challenging course material to finding your place in a new environment.
But adopting new study habits may be the least of some students' worries. Transitioning can be especially difficult for first-generation students who may feel an excessive amount of pressure from family members and peers, while juggling their newfound responsibilities and financial burdens.
As a first-generation student, I understand. If you're a first-generation student as well, communicating with your parents can prove to be exhausting.
Though they're always there to comfort and encourage you, they can still have trouble understanding that you don’t have all of the answers. In moments like those, it's important to remember that college is a learning experience for the whole family.
Longwood University first-generation freshmen Katherine Johnson said, "I am fortunate enough to go to college and my parents weren't, they expect me to take college very seriously and succeed."
With little guidance however, she said it can be difficult for first-generation students to excel.
"Being thrown into the college atmosphere and not having anyone to guide me through the experience was truly terrifying," said Johnson.
As the population of first-generation students and their families has grown, some media outlets work to provide guidance to those stepping into new territory, like the network, I'm First! With student loan reminders to exclusive tutoring programs, first-generation students do benefit from these acknowledgments all over the country.
Being the first of your generation to receive higher education can be intimidating and overwhelming. Pressure from your family can also contribute to feeling overwhelmed. At times, it can feel like you're drowning in responsibilities with no one to turn to.
This is why it's important for colleges to provide resources that accommodate to first-generation students' needs, like Longwood's one credit freshman seminar course.
Though the course wasn't tailored for first-generation students, Johnson said, "(It) helped me get through the first few weeks of college ... I also am very grateful for my peer mentor. I often had questions about college and she was able to answer those and help things go more smoothly."
At the same time, programs pertaining specifically to students whose parents never attended college would be beneficial as well, allowing students to be more informed.
Until those programs are implemented in every college, however, it's important for first-generation students to ask questions and obtain help from others who are more experienced. Receiving help and support from others is essential to future college success, especially when dealing with feelings of inadequacy.
In times of hardship, it can be tempting to give up, but we must remember the importance of higher education. We must remember to remain optimistic and prove we're capable of flourishing in college to our families and ourselves.
After all, we're special. We're the first of our generation.
