What does it mean to be a First Generation College Student in an Ivey League University?
According to a recent story in the New York Times (. ) being a First Generation Student can evoke seemingly contradictory yet reconcilable feelings. Though no claim can be made on the universality of First Generation Students' college experience, a survey done with a group of First Generation Students revealed some interesting findings.
For some, the experience is both exhilarating and intimidating. For others, it can evoke feeling proud and privileged. Seeing themselves as privileged is a new experience for First Generation Students. This that challenges the held identity membership in an underprivileged group. . until now have grown can is for associated with feeling responsible in while others expressed feeling responsible and privileged about being at an Ivey league institution. As one student put it, being a FGC student was both a "blessing and a curse". Clearly, the students interviewed possessed huge resilience, determination, and commitment to stay the course and make it through Commencement Day. For them, crossing the finishing fine was never in doubt, regardless of the obstacles.
ought to answers the question, "What does it mean to be a First Generation College Student?" Findings from a survey with a group of First Generation College students attending Ivey League Institutions revealed some interesting data. that their responses cluster around a handful of themes. Some taljked about feeling proud and a sense of privilege, while others expressed feeling responsible and privileged about being at an Ivey league institution. As one student put it, being a FGC student was both a "blessing and a curse". Clearly, the students interviewed possessed huge resilience, determination, and commitment to stay the course and make it through Commencement Day. For them, crossing the finishing fine was never in doubt, regardless of the obstacles.
The experience of being first in their families and among the few holding "First Generation College Student Status" while attending a prestigious institution of higher education can be intimidating and rewarding at the same time. These FGC students are breaking barriers and stereotypes in significant ways. Privilege is being challenges as their numbers increases in Ivey League campuses. Privilege that until now, was held by an elite group with access to the prestigious institutions of higher education. These First Generation Students are not only crossing the borders in pursuit of higher education but challenging the status quo of the privileged class.