Autumn Razzi-Madden
Dr. Blankenship
English 2100
4/12/16
A Story Untold
Dear Dr. Blankenship and Writer’s Group,
I will be writing a research based argument on my family & I’s experiences with language, class, and education in America, how that affects me on a personal level and how our story connects to a larger matter. I will be focusing on the struggles of first generation college students, and how due to lack of resources and rising college costs, students like me are finding it harder to navigate the world of higher education than our second and third generation counterparts. The title of my paper is A Story Untold. To write this draft I gathered credible information from multiple sources and sifted through them to decide which ones to do my Reflective Annotative Bibliography on. I focused on what I knew first, my story, and the story of my parents. Speaking from experience develops powerful, descriptive language, and incredible detail. The power of a personal anecdote is unmatched. From here I branched out to speak about larger issues affecting America as a whole, based on my own experiences. I also looked at the other side of the perspective to further strengthen my argument by countering their points.
My Thesis is that there needs to be more resources to specifically aid first generation students on both the high school and college level. I support the thesis by offering a number of credible sources backing my argument, and expanding on the points made. I also offer my own experiences on this topic as a primary source. My audience in mind as I write this would be citizens of the United States, as I am trying to raise awareness on this particular topic that is often underreported and not spoken about; My audience is also fellow first generation college students, and policy makers. This makes a difference in how I approach my paper because I am writing to both encourage students like me to seek the help the deserve and to offer advice, also to show them the importance of this help and the difference it makes, and to show anyone who has the ability to make a difference, why they should care, and what can be done.
The purpose of this piece is to make a difference in the secondary and higher education systems. Too many of us slip through the cracks. Not every teacher wants to go out of their way to take initiative to help these students, it is our job to make sure they are properly trained to help these students. My biggest challenge writing this paper was narrowing down such a broad topic, and organizing the delivery of the information in a way that makes the most sense and supports my thesis. What I think has gone well is the fact that I have such a personal experience with this topic and genuinely do want to help bring this topic to light.
A Story Untold
Not all students are created equal. I realized this when I was very young, and my friend’s parents would help them with their homework; I realized this in my high school years, when I was left to complete my college applications by myself, and today as I navigate through the world of internships and GPAs with the internet as my guide. Throughout my academic career, as a first generation college student I have had to work twice as hard to get the same recognition. Having limited access to computers or printers in my youth homework and assignments were often an issue. However, I just assumed that was life, and that life wasn’t fair. While still true, if the government is fair and just as it claims to be and offers help to those who need it, it should be far easier for young people like me to get my education. There is an ongoing debate about whether or not a college education should be subsidized. While there are scholarships specifically for minority students, grants and aide for underprivileged students, and what few Native American students that are left can go for free, there is hardly a discussion on the disadvantages first generation college attendees face. There needs to be more resources to specifically aid first generation students on both the high school and college level.
Up until you enter kindergarten, your family and what you observe in the outside world is your only schooling. My mother is an intelligent woman. She has raised me to speak articulately, to be open minded, to embrace abstract thought. My mother does not have a college education. My father is an intelligent man. He taught me music theory, and street smarts, and how to approach people in ways to make sure that you get what you want. My father does not have a college education. They are both the hardest working people I know, raising their respective families, which I am both a part of. My parents split when I was very young, and went on to meet their new partners, and raise my younger brother and sisters. They are the only parents who work in their nuclear families, their sole income providing for so many people. It is not enough to go around. It seems as though it will never be enough. They have taught me to learn from their mistakes instead of my own. They have always said ‘See Autumn, if I had just stayed in school, I wouldn’t be in this situation’. Whenever I have doubts I think of them and all they have went through in order to give me a great life. Even if they feel as though they have not succeeded in their own endeavors, if I am successful then in a way, they are too. They have always supported my education utmost and foremost. I am going to be the first person in my family to graduate from college. This is incredibly important to my family but it comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility. I want to do well for my family and for myself as well. This is an incredible motivator and often leads me to excel. I want to be able to help my family financially. Education has always been the most important thing to me and therefore the number one cause of stress and anxiety in my life has with many other college students. Being a first generation student magnifies this. Education frees me from ignorance, and opens many doors that had been previously closed to my parents. My parents were fully aware of this and never let anything get in the way of my education. My parents were always in fact, a bit jealous of my education, which further fueled my need to give back to them in any way I could. I knew that getting the best grades I could would put their money to good use. It would make them proud, and make them feel like they had done something good and important with their lives.
My parents did not and could not further their own educational experiences so it was their personal missions to make sure that I did well and stayed in school because it was a privilege to be able to further my education. My parents’ lack of education stunted them in many ways, like pursuing careers they found themselves interested in, leading to a lower middle class life style, and much to be desired. Had they been able to continue going to school, our lives could have been very different. However my parents did not have this experience, and it has made me even more determined to further my education and excel. I want to be able to help my family, I want to say that I made it happen for myself, and knowing my family does not have the means to support me should I fail is a stark reminder.
When it comes to facing adversity, my family has had their fair share. My family is made up of white Americans, descended from Europe. We do not experience any racial discrimination living in America, but the class struggle has done grave things to my family. Our lack of means to support one another has even resulted in tragedy. The American dream depicts that you can become someone in society, and be affluent, without having to come from money. In many other countries if you are not born into money, you do not have any opportunities to make it. My parents raised me to believe that I could do whatever I wanted to. They did not restrict me in any endeavors I had and always encouraged and supported me. I have seen first hand what lack of education, opportunity, and literacy does to people. It can change everything. I will not give up; I will persevere despite how difficult college can be, especially for someone who does not come from a wealthy family. I take my studies seriously, because for me, unlike some of my fellow students, I can only rely on me and my own achievements through education to give myself and my family the lives we deserve.
First and foremost there needs to be more scholarships specifically for first generation college students; there needs to be more resources implemented, and the earlier we reach out to kids like these, the better. It takes a village to put me through school; everyone chips in, everyone helps. I do not intend to stop with just my bachelor’s degree. School has been the most important thing to my family and I; nothing trumped school. School was like church. Education was the key to enlightenment, freedom from poverty. I can’t count how many times I heard “education is a privilege” growing up. Higher education is a privilege in this country, yet it should be a right. I believe everyone should stay in school; everyone should pursue education and have the right and resources to do so. The things that college as taught me are priceless. It has taught me responsibility, accountability, time management, multitasking, professionalism, hard work, and last but not least I have learned so much from the actual subject content in my courses making me a more conversational, articulate, and well rounded individual.
In an article in The Atlantic “First generation college goers: Unprepared and Behind” 1 Liz Riggs discusses the financial, mental, emotional, and educational hardships first generation college students endure; Riggs has written many articles for the Atlantic, all of which are related to education. She states “That means that, while many schools enroll these students, few are equipped to graduate them”. Many of these students feel far behind and so they fall far behind. She claims there are not enough programs and institutions available to help these specific kinds of students. Riggs brings up the issue that most schools don’t report this specific kind of data. They report graduation rates and some of those reports include those who graduate who have received Pell grants, but they don’t usually include specific data on first generation college goers. This is difficult information to find for anyone, let alone a college senior with limited access to resources trying to find the best school for them. The graduation rates for first generation students are alarmingly low, and of those that do graduate, most are not able to do so within four years. Riggs continues to state how students often doubt themselves because they have nobody to look up to in their family to make them feel capable; many of these students opt for community colleges, or online schools. She backs up these statements with hard to find statistical data specifically on college performance and graduation rates on first generation college students.
My family’s story is one of many. I am not a rare breed. These particular student’s struggles are often overlooked. There are a few scholarships out there for first generation college students, yet they are not well advertised. I had no idea any of these scholarships existed when I was in high school, I was not even aware of them until now. College advisors should be more informed on how to help low income and first generation students. First generation status was never something that even came up in my conferences with my advisor in high school and I did not know any better to bring it up. I had no one to guide me, and one college advisor for hundreds of children. How could I expect to get a fair, thoughtful, and well-researched portfolio of my potential college experience? I remember being frantic, and not knowing where to begin. Many of my classmates opted for community colleges, but I knew that I wanted to attend a four-year school. All of my hard work was not going to be thrown away. I knew I wanted to obtain a bachelor’s degree, but due to my family’s income my options were limited. I could not afford a private institution, nor could I afford to go away to a state school. I would certainly be able to take out student loans however the burden of being riddled with debt for years after my graduation was not a thought I easily shook. I decided that CUNY was the best fit for me. While I do love attending Baruch, and it was a smart choice for me, I came here based on my lack of choices, not because I had my choice.
Based on research from ‘Insider Ed’ 2 First generation students are less likely to ask for help. Many of these students are ashamed of their first generation status. These students don’t feel that they belong in their communities or in their colleges. It can be a confusing time. These students need a lot of help from inside their educational institutions to make up for the lack of help they get outside. Things like test and application fee waivers for low-income students, and getting the students’ families involved early on in the process can make a world of difference for these students. According to University Business, 24 percent of college students are both first generation and low income.3 This number is too large to have been relatively ignored for so long. University Business created a list of ways to help first generation students that should be largely implemented in high schools and colleges. Admissions counselors should establish a regular presence in high schools. Having these opportunities and acclimating the students to this environment gives them access to rich information and makes them more comfortable asking questions. What I think would be the most important out of these suggestions is that there be more recruiting messages targeted directly to first generation students. Had I seen this in college I would have jumped at the opportunity. With the right mentors, and the right guidance, first generation students could go from online school to reaching far beyond their scope. Eliminating information barriers is key for these students, because for many of them it is not just the monetary resources they are lacking. Due to their lack of parental guidance in this field, many of these students are left to navigate the world of financial aid, scholarships, and applications all on their own. Some colleges are even encouraged to set up ‘living and learning communities’ for first generation students. Going above and beyond, there needs to be more information targeted toward first generation low income students for study abroad programs. Studying abroad is not just a vacation with some schooling, it is truly and eye opening experience. Travel broadens the mind, and attending school or even working in another country for an extended period of time looks great on a resume and is an impressive story to tell to employers. Study abroad to these students is an out of reach luxury. I was not aware of all the scholarships there are for study abroad for students like myself. I will be taking advantage of these opportunities next summer.
In the Washington Post article ‘Guilt is one of the biggest struggles first generation students face’ 4 Banks-Santilli discusses the difficulties many first generation college students experience that are overlooked. Banks-Santilli is an educator, and frequently writes pieces on educational reform. She talks about how many first generation college students come from low income families, and often feel guilt leaving their families behind to pursue their education. “And while their families often view them as their “savior,” “delegate,” or a way out of poverty and less desirable living conditions, many first-generation students struggle with what has been described as “breakaway guilt.” These students are often people that their families depend on. They feel pressure to succeed for their family. She also brings up that students feel that being a first generation student is something to be ashamed of. Banks-Santilli states “They are the ones most likely to work at the mall during the summer rather than in a professional internship. They can’t afford to work for free, and their parents do not have professional networks.” First generation students cannot afford to fail, and they cannot afford to work for free. Gaining the necessary experience through internships and ‘paying your dues’ to get work in their field is a dire situation for many of these students.
First generation college students have the ability to do as well or better than their counterparts. With limited access to resources and the rising costs of college it is becoming more and more difficult for these students to have their fair shot at a proper education. I fight every day to break this mold. I fight to make sure that I do not perpetuate the trend of first generation students. I will not add to the climbing number of drop outs. Reforming parts of the college process specifically for these students begins in the colleges themselves, but trickles down into the high schools through visits, recruitments, scholarships, and other ways to get these students aware, and involved.
Works Cited
Riggs, Liz. “First-Generation College-Goers: Unprepared and Behind.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 31 Dec. 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
Smith, Ashley A. “Who Are First-generation Students and How Do They Fare?” Who Are First-generation Students and How Do They Fare? Inside Higher Ed, 10 Nov. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
Opidee, Ioanna. “Supporting First-gen College Students.” University Business Magazine. N.p., Mar. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
Banks-Santilli, Linda. “Guilt Is One of the Biggest Struggles First-generation College Students Face.” The Washington Post. N.p., 3 June 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.