I’M A FIRSTER! On November 8, 2018, institutions of higher education across the country were invited to honor and celebrate students who are the first in their families to attend college. These are students for whom neither parent nor guardian has completed a bachelor’s degree. While the transition to college can be difficult enough for those who have family members who are familiar with university navigation techniques, first generation students often have little support or knowledge about Complete with cake, buttons, and personal success stories, UNM-Gallup students, faculty, and staff celebrated First Generation Day on November 8, 2018. resources that can help them get started. a fellow classmate crushed his dreams of Arizona University and University of UNM-Gallup joined in activities on going to college. “One day, while I was in Arizona. Throughout her college experiences, November 8th by recognizing the experiences Dr. Matt found instances of identity clashes the band room, a fellow bandmate made a and presence of first-generation students, comment that changed my life. She looked at and confusion that ultimately resulted in faculty, and staff members. Being the first overall growth. “I learned that I was a me, smiled and said, ‘I don’t know why you in one’s family to attend college doesn’t are doing that. All you’re going to do is go ‘minority’ and that the successful students necessarily create barriers to success, but were often those who embraced or fit the up there, flunk out, and waste your parents’ having someone to “follow” can bridge some money.’” It wasn’t until many years later that Western standards. Many times, in my of the gaps many new college students face as they make decisions about whether college Dr. Gambill was able to believe that he could educational experience, I could feel the pull and tug as I embraced and rejected be successful in college. is the right choice for them and how they Many students lacking ideas, cultures, and politics…I just went should get started. support for higher with my mind wide open and embraced the Some first-generation students do not education find they have opportunities that came my way.” have the confidence to believe they can Expectations that do not include college are to believe in themselves be successful in college. Dr. Lewis despite external forces that often barriers that can make the possibility of Gambill, associate professor of early try to discourage them. First attending college difficult if not impossible. childhood and multicultural Following in one’s family footsteps is often generation student Michelle education, Montoya knows why she is seen as the only option. Many first-generation remembers in college, and she hopes to students consider a lack of family support as how be able to share that spark with the main reason they do not initially pursue a others who may have doubts. “As higher education option. Daniel Diaz, UNMI am the first, I hope not to be the Gallup student who realized his dream of last…I am going to college because going to college at age 55, found that family expectations did not include a college degree. I DECIDED I wasn’t going to allow myself to give up. My worst enemy is “Both of my parents were very hard working, and they were continuously. Family was very myself, and I will not let my other half win.” important. Continued dedication to family In diverse communities such as those was imperative to honor and self-esteem. served by UNM-Gallup, first generation However, this meant that securing a job students may find it difficult to combine and maintaining employment was really the educational goals and cultural ideologies. only way to do this. So, college was only a Dr. Aretha Matt is an assistant dream.” professor of English and Some students like Scott Gutierrez have graduate of Northern to depend more on internal encouragement 52
December 2018
