The Struggle of First Generation College Students

Topic

The Struggle of First Generation College Students

Intro

There are college students and then there are first-generation college students. Everybody has always heard that in order to be successful in life one must go to college and get your degree. However, it is a lot easier said than done. It is already difficult to be a college student but it is even more difficult when one is a first-generation college student. Some of the reasons why first-generation college students have it more difficult include: not knowing how to apply, not knowing anything about the college life, not having anybody to guide them or give them advice about what to expect in college, etc.

Research

According to an article on The New York Times named, “Are You First Gen? Depends on Who’s Asking, Rochelle Sharp states that out of all the college students in the United States 30% of those students are the first generation. Of that 30 percent, 24% of them are both low income and first generation. One might say that 30% is not that big of a percentage. However, if you move this to a smaller scale, for instance, Cal State LA’s first generation percentage. The Cal State LA’s Admissions and Recruitment page state that the number doubles to 60%! It is clear to see how this ties into being personal with me due to the fact that I am a student at Cal State LA but more on that later.

Not only do these first-generation college students struggle in guidance, they also struggle with not being able to pay for their tuition and expenses. This results in most of these first-generation students to have to work full-time and be a full-time student. According to an on theatlantic.com, 40 percent of college students work at least 30 hours per week and go to school full time. As you can see this may not give enough time for students to study complete assignments and so on. Sadly this results in most students either dropping out or taking longer to graduate.

References

DeRuy, Emily. "At Universities, More Students Are Working Full-Time." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 28 Oct. 2015. Web.

Sharpe, Rochelle. "Are You First Gen? Depends on Who’s Asking." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Nov. 2017. Web.

"Why Cal State LA?" California State University, Los Angeles. N.p., n.d. Web.

Personal

This relates to me on a personal level because I for one am I first-generation college student. I am currently going through the so-called path of success blindly and without guidance. I am the oldest of four and the first out of my family to attend a university. Going back to talking about Cal State LA’s 60% of its undergraduate students being first generation makes the transition to the University somewhat smoother due to the fact that almost everybody I know is going through the same struggle as me, which is working full time, going to school full time, and doing everything without guidance. Another reason this has hit me on a personal level is that I have close friends who have dropped out of college because they couldn’t afford it or just because they’re so lost on how to be a college student. As outrageous as it sounds it is really possible without the right guidance.

Those Affected

Ramon Reyes

Being a first-generation college student is such a challenge. You are really on your own with no idea who to ask or where to go to for help. You seem lost and like you don't belong but knowing that you are doing it all for them is what pushes you to do good in school and achieve that goal to receive that degree. But not only have to deal with school, having money is also a must in college. Trying to balance a full-time job and school really takes a toll on someone both physically and mentally. Not having any free time or barely enough time to study can cause so much stress upon you. There's always something you need to worry about and deadlines you need to meet so the struggle of being a first-generation college student and working a full-time job is one of the biggest struggles there is.

Manuel Carillo

As I use myself as an example of a full-time student who has a full-time job really takes a toll on me and many others who are doing the same all around. In my perspective, more people need the money so all the time and energy will go to work and not school and that’s how I am from time to time. It’s extremely difficult just because both need all the attention from me but neither gets my full attention. 

Erick Camacho

Being a first-generation college student is the most exciting, yet difficult position to be in. The process of applying for aid and for school was new to me. The number of responsibilities I have is draining mentally and physically. My mother nor father attended college or university after high school. I did not have anyone to guide me; Unluckily, I had to learn through mistakes. Time management is a personal aspect that will make or break a college student. Obviously, there are twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. Sleep is one component of daily life, people take for granted. As students transition from freshman to sophomores and so on, the workload gets tough and time-consuming. Currently, I dedicate twenty hours of homework and studying a week. Unfortunately, I see my sleep pattern to become unbalanced constantly. Weekdays I sleep around three to six hours a night. It is difficult to stay awake throughout the day and go to work the next day. Sometimes, I find myself thirty minutes to an hour late to work on weekdays. Most of the time, I try to squeeze in a nap after class and work; I get too comfortable and oversleep. Constantly, my body feels drained and I am exhausted.Creating a schedule has been very helpful to me, but it does not get rid of the responsibilities I have or bills I must pay, it helps manage them.