By Angie Ramirez

Across the nation, first-generation college students are breaking barriers and forging new paths to success as they work toward their accomplishments. On the annual National First-Generation College Celebration Day held on Nov. 8, college campuses come together to honor first-generation students and spotlight the determination required to navigate higher education.  

On the week of Nov. 3-7, the Office of Transition Programs and Initiatives at the University of Arkansas organized a week of events and activities designed to celebrate, support and connect first-generation students. Throughout the week, students had opportunities to engage with one another through events such as a resource fair, employer panel and social gatherings. These events offered valuable information and career connections as well as a space where students’ experiences could be heard and celebrated. 

At the UofA, nearly one in four students are first-generation. While every student’s transition to college is different, for first-generation students, the experience often comes with a lot of uncertainty. For many, small aspects of campus life, such as finding study resources or understanding financial aid, are new to them. 

The UofA offers a variety of programs for first-generation students, including the 360 Program, the Accelerated Student Achievement Program (ASAP) and the First-Generation Mentoring Program. These programs provide academic support, advising services and opportunities to connect with faculty and peers. 

Freshman landscape architecture major Whitney Juarez said the ASAP helped her settle in her first semester. 

“I’m currently part of the ASAP program where I participated in a summer-bridge program weeks before the fall semester started,” Juarez said. “This program helped me gradually become more used to campus life, allowing the first week of classes to be less scary to navigate.” 

ASAP is a two-year program of peer mentoring, professional advising and academic support for first-generation students from eastern Arkansas communities. ASAP Scholars get awarded scholarships each year upon their enrollment and participation in student success programming. Their Summer Bridge Program takes place for a few weeks in the summer and includes workshops, classes and mentoring opportunities. Students learn about the university and connect with other students as well as faculty. Juarez said that ASAP has made her feel more accommodated in the university as a first-generation student. 

“I was able to get into contact with faculty within Fay Jones School through the university’s First-Generation Mentoring Program that gave me advice on how to navigate certain aspects of design school, which has made my first semester of design school easier to understand at times,” Juarez said. 

Sponsored by the Honors College, the First-Generation Mentoring Program helps first-generation freshmen and sophomore students to navigate life on campus by pairing them with faculty. Through these connections, students can ask questions, seek advice and get more involved on campus. 

For Jarika Phillips, a sophomore majoring in history, adjusting to college life was also a challenge. 

“Navigating how to adapt to university was challenging,” Phillips said. “Since neither of my parents knew anything about it, I was kind of on my own, which can be overwhelming, but I’ve managed.” 

While Phillips said the university has great resources and support systems, she also noted that financial barriers are an obstacle for many first-generation students.  

“The most challenging part is despite the support system there still isn’t enough support,” Phillips said. “I think many first-gen students are from lower income households and there is little to no funding to help aid them even if they have good grades and work.”

Financial stress often adds more pressure to the college experience. More accessible funding would ease that burden and allow students to focus on academics and campus involvement. 

Sophomore psychology major Natalie Dominguez shared that while academics have gone well for her, she struggles to find a sense of belonging.

“I have enjoyed my classes and learned a lot, but I still feel like I have yet to fit in,” Dominguez said. “I still haven’t made any friends or gotten involved much outside of classes, but I am hopeful that I will soon.” 

Despite the obstacles, first-generation students continue to thrive in their education and achieve their goals and dreams. Their stories are a celebration of determination and the transformative power of higher education.