Growing up in a small, rural town east of Kalamazoo, Mich., I always felt known in school. From a very young age, I knew that I wanted to go to college and continue my learning journey. However, I had no clue where to start when it came to applying for colleges. As a first-generation college student, I wanted to go somewhere that I could feel welcomed and supported as I headed into uncharted waters.
I credit my choice of Hope College to my mom who randomly suggested that I might like it. The summer before my senior year of high school, I toured Hope. Even though I live less than an hour away from campus, this was my first time in Holland. Almost immediately, I fell in love with the campus and city, even though I accidentally drove the wrong way on a one-way street. (Sorry, Mom!) In a way, Hope chose me that day. I had not yet decided on a career path but felt called to apply to Hope.
As the valedictorian of my high school, I was very passionate about being challenged in school; it was something I had been yearning for. In addition, I graduated from a class of 40 students, so I was terrified at the thought of going to a large state school. So really, Hope checked all my boxes: not too far from home, small, academically challenging and, most importantly, it felt like home.
Long story short, Hope was the only school I toured and the only school I applied to. When people ask me why I didn’t have a safety school, I don’t have a clear answer! I suppose I just knew that I belonged at Hope College. As a first-generation student, this was a huge deal for me! Not only did I feel excited for the fall of 2022, but my parents could also breathe easier knowing that I would be at Hope.
As a freshman, I struggled. Although I dual-enrolled during high school at a local community college, Hope was an entirely new world for me. The course difficulty and workload hit me hard. I had no idea how to manage my time or truly study. Over the first weekend of the semester, I drove home and cried to my parents, telling them I couldn’t do it.
I’ll never be able to thank my parents enough for not only validating my feelings but also giving me the tough love I needed. They told me that all I had to do was finish my first semester, and then we would figure out if I needed to transfer. Needless to say, it all worked out. I am now in my fifth semester and have just one more left. When I was a freshman, I never would have imagined that I would give anything to slow time down, like I wish it would do now.
Therefore, I have a few tips that I think every supporter of a first-generation student should know!
First and foremost, listen. Being able to vent about the good, bad and ugly helped me so much. I didn’t need answers or solutions from my parents, I just needed to know that they were there to support me while I figured it out. Secondly, take an interest in your student’s courses! Try to learn a little bit about which classes your student is taking, what they like and dislike about them, and how you can best support their academic journeys within each class. Lastly, show your students that you see how hard they are working. A little bit of validation and praise goes such a long way in motivating a student to keep up the good work or pushing them to improve.
Even though my parents and family do not always know the ins and outs of higher education, their love and support always allow me to push through any struggles I may have. Without a doubt, I owe all of my success at Hope College to them!