Running head: VOICE PROJECT

Johnson1

Voice Project
Camille Johnson
SAA 7610
25 November 2013
Dr. Patitu
Wright State University

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September 16, 2013
First-Generation College Students
Week One:
What are First-Generation College Students?
For week one Voice Project, I wanted to explore what are firstgeneration college students. I decided to read an article about first
generation students on the Professional College Board website.

What are

first-generation college students? First-generation college students are

defined as students whose parents(s) or legal guardian(s) have not
completed a bachelors degree at a four year college or institution of higher
education.

First-generation college students can come from families with

low- incomes or from middle or higher-incomes families without a college

degree. Researchers have proven the majority of first-generation college
students come from the low-income economic class. Researchers have also
proven 48 percent of Latino and Hispanic and 45 percent of Black or African
American are first-generation college students.
Reading this article helped me gain an enhanced perception of firstgeneration college students.

I agree with the Professional College Board

website that first-generation college students are defined as students who do

not have little or no family collegiate history. Reading this website I learned
that first-generation college students come from all different types of

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economic classes, however, the majority of first-generation students come
from the low-income economic class.

One thing that I enhanced while

reading this website is the wealth of programs and scholarships provided to

help first-generation college students succeed academically.

September 23, 2013

First-Generation College Students
Week Two:
Who We Are: First- Generation College Students Speak Out
During week two, I discovered a video clip on YouTube, Who We Are:
First-Generation College Students, that provided a more personal insights of
first-generation college students. Who We Are: First-Generation College
Students presented nine first-generation college students that attend a
variety of universities. These students come from several of backgrounds
where college was not their first preference. The majority of the students
mention that college was not their first preference because the cost, they
were unprepared for college, and no one in their family ever attended a fouryear

university.

Milenny,

student

at

Wheaton

College

in

Norton,

Massachusetts, acknowledges that the background she grew up in was

negative, her public high school did not prepare her for college, and gaining
a higher education was out of the norm. Another student that stood out to

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me while watching this video is Stephanie, a student at Brooklyn College in
Brooklyn, New York. Stephanie shared a story that she grew up in poverty
and was determined to attend college to create a better life for herself and
her family. Stephanie expresses she had to work two jobs throughout her
college career in order to pay for her tuition.

This video Who We Are: First-

Generation College Students provided a personal insight of first-generation

college students. I learned that even though these students are the first in
their families to attend college and feel unprepared, they are determined to
obtain a higher level of education. The majority of the students stated that
they deserve to obtain a level of higher education and want to create a
better life for themselves and their families.
September 30, 2013
First-Generation College Students
Week Three:
Strategies for working with First-Generation College Students
This week I wanted to explore an assortment of strategies used to help
first-generation college students. The Professional College Board website
discusses five strategies that will encourage first-generation college students
to start their college career.
1. Reach Out Early/Involve the Family

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Utilizing this strategy will help identify first-generation students as early
as possible. This will educate students and their families about college and
what high school courses will prepare them for college.
2. Extend The Scope Of Guidance
Extending the scope of guidance will help cover the fundamentals of
assessments, college, and careers. First-generation college students may
never have been encouraged to assess their talents and weaknesses with a
view toward higher education. They are also likely to have minimal
knowledge

of

what

education

requirements

are

needed

for

certain

professions.
3. Give Special Help With College Search, Selection, And College
Applications
A. When discussing college options to first-generation students,
take the time to describe the different type of universities such
as liberal arts, historically black college and universities (HBCUs),
and community colleges.
B. Some first-generation students may not know how to fill out
college applications, and having this information will decrease
the stress and anxiety about college.
C. Some first generation college students come from families with
low income. Educating first-generation college students about

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college application fee waivers will encourage them to apply to
college.
4. Work With Other Organizations
Develop relationships with community groups and outreach organizations
that provide academic help that will encourage first-generations college
students to attend college.
5. Explain What College Will Be Like
Talk to first-generation college students about what college will be like.
Express the support systems on campus and that the tuition and fees they
pay give them access to these services at no additional cost.

October 7, 2013
First-Generation College Students
Week Four:
Challenges First-Generation College Students Face
While doing this Voice Project, I stumbled across the different
challenges first-generation college students face. During this week, I came
across an article Unique Concerns of First-Generation College Students by

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Bridget Kulla. This article discusses three challenges first-generation college
students face. The first challenge is first-generation college students are not
academically prepared for college. Researchers have proven that the
majority of first-generation college student graduate from low deficiency high
schools. These high schools have low state test scores, low graduation rates,
and a lack of funding for prep college courses. The lack of academic skills
often is quoted as the reason for the lower graduation rates of first
generation college students. The next challenge first-generation college
students face is culture shock. The college cultural shock includes adjusting
to the courses workload, adapting to a new environment, finding new friends,
and learning how to use time management skills. Family and friends who
have not experienced college may have a difficulty understanding what firstgeneration students encounter and this can cause a lack of knowledgeable
support networks.
The last challenge is baggage. The greater part of first-generation
college students deal with baggage from their family and friends from home.
This article deliberated that first-generation students are sometimes viewed
suspiciously by peers who are not in college or accused of acting superior,
straining

longstanding

friendships.

Family

members

may

view

first-

generation students as being selfish for attending college, instead of working

and contributing financially to the family. Reflecting on this article brings
attentiveness that first-generation college students needs a support system
that will encourage them throughout their college career. Having a support

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system will help decrease the emotions of feeling inferior, and isolation from
family and friends who try to discourage their aspiration of achieving a
college degree.

October 14, 2013

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First-Generation College Students
Week Five:
First-Generation College Students Scholarships
During this week I wanted to discover the different type of scholarships
offered to first-generation college students. Researchers have proven that
the majority of first-generation college students face a lack of money that
prevents them from attending college. Listed below is an assortment of
private and corporate scholarships that are offered to first-generation college
students.
The Hertz Foundation
The Hertz Foundation offers numerous scholarships for first-generation
college students pursuing a degree in physical sciences. Applicants must be
a citizen of the United States, have excellent academic marks in high school,
and a first generation college student. Students are awarded scholarships in
the amounts of $500 to $5,000 for the cost of tuition and student expenses.
College Parents of America
The College Parents of America operates a number of scholarship and
grant programs that encourage first-generation college students to apply.
Students must be a citizen of United States, show academic excellence in
high school, and attend a participating college or university. Applicants must

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complete their FAFSA and receive notification from the government that
financial need is adequate in order to merit a scholarship.
Coca Cola First Generation
The Coca Cola First Generation is a well-known program for firstgeneration college students. Approximately $3 million is awarded annually to
high school seniors who have been accepted to an accredited college
institution. The Coca Cola First Generation scholarship program was designed
specifically to assist low income and minorities achieve a college education.
This foundations philosophy is that no high school graduate should be
denied the opportunity to attend a school of higher education. To receive this
scholarship the applicants have to be a first-generation minority college
student and have been accepted to a four-year university.

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October 21, 2013

First-Generation College Students
Week Six:
Field Trip: Student Support Services at Central State University
During week six, I wanted to become more detailed with discovering first
generation college students. I decided to visit the Student Support Services
Department at Central State University to become more aware of services
that are offered for first-generation college students.

The Student Support

Services at Central State University is a grant department that provides an

environment of support and encouragement from entry to exit as students
matriculate through Central State University toward graduation. The Student
Support Services do have an eligibility criterion for this program. The
students have to meet one of the criteria:
1. Be a first-generation college student.
2. Have family income that falls within a qualifying range.
3. Have a physical or learning disability that impedes your
academic success.
During my visit, I learned about the different services that are provided to
first-generation college students. Some of the services are:

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1. Academic advising that provides services to help students pick out
their classes and stay on track with their college track.
2. Cultural Enrichment that provides students the opportunity

to

participate in activities that they may not have done before such as
skiing, sky diving, rafting, opera, ballet, theater, and etc..
3. Career Exploration that provides students a wealth of information
about any career. Also, the Career Exploration provides the students
the opportunity to interact with Central State University Alumni and
other professionals as they share their professional/career insight.
4. Tutoring, Peer Mentoring, and Study Groups.
5. For participating in the Student Support Services, annually scholarships
and grants are provided for first-generation college students. For
example, first year students in the program receive $500.00, second
year $550.00, third $1,000.00, and fourth year $1,050.00

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October 28, 2013

First-Generation College Students
Week Seven:
Interact With First-Generation College Students

For the duration of week six, I completed a visit at Central State University to
have a better understanding of the opportunities Student Support Services
provides for first-generation college students. During my visit, I discovered
that Central State University offers the TRIO program for first-generation
college students. The TRIO program is a federally funded program providing
academic advising, tutoring services, financial literacy, and graduation and
transfer workshops. I decided to make an appointment with the director of
the TRIO program to complete an observation with the students in the
program. In order to complete this observation, I decided to attend an
academic tutoring event. The participants in the program are required to
attend this tutoring event in order to keep their scholarship.

During my

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observation, I noticed that there were more males than females that
attended this event.

The majority of the students received tutor services in

Math and English. I observed a lot of the students were overwhelmed by the
college workload of the Math and English. A female student in the TRIO
program stated her high school did not educate her on how to write a MLA
format paper.

I also observed that a large number of participants

acknowledged that their families or high schools did not academically

prepare them for college. Once I completed my observation, I decided to
interact with the participants of the program. I asked all of the participants
why they decided to attend college. The majority of the students expressed
they decided to attend college to make a difference in their lives as well as
their families.

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November 4, 2013
First-Generation College Students
Week Eight:
First-Generation College Student Story
Doing my research on first-generation college students, I discovered
the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
organization. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities is
an organization that influences American students in public higher education
through advocacy, leadership, and service.

The AASCU has a YouTube

Channel called First Generation Voices. This channel shares personal life
stories on being a first-generation college student.

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One story that captured my attention was a student at Central
Michigan University named Angela Hernandez.

Since a little girl, Angela

always remembers that she wanted to receive a higher education. She

shared that her parents did not have the funds to attend college and went
straight into the workforce after high school. However, growing up, Angelas
parents forces the importance of education throughout her life. She
expressed that being a first-generation college student was difficult because
she could not turn to her family for help. However, being the first to attend
college gave her a reason to work even harder for her degree. Before
attending Central Michigan, Angela received a writing scholarship that helps
first-generation college students cover their tuition at their university. She
articulated that being a first-generation

college student means that she

going to work harder and put more effort into school; she not only doing this
for herself but for her family as well. Angela believes that working toward a
degree proves to her and others that it is possible to overcome obstacle and
challenges as a first-generation college student.

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November 11, 2013

First-Generation College Students
Week Nine:
Interview a First-Generation College Student
My task for week nine is to personally find and interview a firstgeneration college student. I decided to interview Derry Glenn. Mr. Glenn is
a 23 year-old junior at University of Dayton, majoring in Biology from Dayton,

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Ohio. During the interview I asked Mr. Glenn questions about his life
background, aspirations, and experience on of being a first-generation
college student. I started off the interview by asking Mr. Glenn to give me a
description of his lifes background. Mr. Glenn expressed that he was the
oldest out of six children, two girls and four boys. His father was murdered
when he was thirteen years-old, leaving his mother to provide for him and
his siblings. At a young age Mr. Glenn became the man of the household,
causing him to grow-up rapidly. He expressed that his mother did not
graduate from high school, causing her to not have the best income which
led him and his family to live in poverty. He stated that growing up gangs,
drugs, and violence were more important to his peers than education.
However despite his circumstances he faced growing up, he promised
himself to always help alleviate problems in his community, while making a
significant difference.
The next question I asked Mr. Glenn was his perspective of
education. He expressed that education is the key to becoming successful in
todays society. Mr. Glenn took education very seriously because he knew
earning a higher education degree would help him become successful and
this would be the key to provide for his mother and siblings. He shared that
he graduated at the top of his high school class and continued his academic
accomplishment at University of Dayton where he has the highest grade
point average of the junior class. His grade point average was a total of 3.95.
I asked Mr. Glenn to share his experience of being a first-generation college

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student. He started off by saying being the first-generation college student is
hard. When applying to college he was clueless. However, he found
resources and programs that helped him complete his FASA and college
applications. He stated that his first year at University of Dayton was difficult
because his high school did not academically prepare him for college.
However, he managed to succeed through his first year of college by utilizing
the resources at University of Dayton and receiving an overall grade point
average of 4.0.
One question I asked that stood out to me was what kept you
motivated as a first-generation college student. Mr. Glenn expressed his
family and his University of Dayton family. He stated that he was not only
doing this to provide a better life for him but for his mother and siblings. He
mentioned at times he want to quit school but remember that he is a role
model for his siblings and he cannot let his family down. Mr. Glenn stated
that when he is down he is grateful for his University of Dayton family. That
he has peoples around him that understand and empathize what he is going
through. He stated that University of Dayton is the best decision he ever
made and is grateful for the relationships he developed at University of
Dayton. Mr. Glenn mentions he never regretted being the first in his family to
attend college and is very grateful that God has chosen him to carry this task
of being the change his family wants to see.

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November 18, 2013

Week Ten: First-Generation College Students
Reflection on Voice Project
As I sat and reflected on this Voice Project, I wanted to expanse a better understanding of
first-generation college students. In order to increase a better understating, I desired to discover
what first-generation college students are. Throughout this nine week Voice Project process, I
established the definition of a first-generation college student, the various challenges and
obstacles the student faces, and multiple strategies for encouraging students to attend college. I
also discovered the different types of scholarships and programs offered for first-generation
college students and experienced a personally interaction with first-generation college students.
What are first-generation college students? According to an article on Professional
College Board, first-generation college students are defined as students whose parents(s) or legal
guardian(s) have not completed a bachelors degree at a four year college or institution of higher
education. First-generation college students can come from families with low- incomes or from
middle or higher-incomes families without a college degree. Researchers have proven the
majority of first-generation college students come from the low-income economic class.
Researchers have also proven 48 percent of Latino and Hispanic and 45 percent of Black or
African American are first-generation college students.

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Completing this project, I learned several of strategies used to encourage first-generation
college students to start their college career. The first approach is involving the students family.
Utilizing this strategy will help identify first-generation students as early as possible. This will
educate students and their families about college and what high school courses will prepare them
for college. The second strategy is extending the scope of guidance that will help cover the
fundamentals of assessments, college, and careers. First-generation college students may never
been encouraged to assess their talents and weaknesses with a view toward higher education and
education requirements needed for certain professions. The third approach is giving special help
with college search, selection, and college applications. First-generation college students may
encounter a difficult time filling out college applications or unaware of the different types of
colleges such as liberal arts, historically black college and universities (HBCUs), and community
colleges. The fourth strategy is working with community groups and outreach organizations that
provide academic help that will encourage first-generations college students to attend college.
The final approach is explaining the reality of college to first-generation college students, and
explicate the support systems on campus and that the tuition and fees they pay give them access
to these services at no additional cost.
However, according to an article Unique Concerns of First-Generation College
Students by Bridget Kulla, there are several of challenges and obstacles first-generation college
students will face throughout their college career. The first challenge is first-generation college
students are not academically prepared for college. It has been proven that the majority of firstgeneration college students graduate from low deficiency high schools. These high schools have
low state test scores, low graduation rates, and a lack of funding for prep college courses. The
lack of academic skills often is quoted as the reason for the lower graduation rates of first

Johnson 22
generation college students. The next challenge first-generation college students face is culture
shock. The college cultural shock includes adjusting to the courses workload, adapting to a new
environment, finding new friends, and learning how to use time management skills. Family and
friends who have not experienced college may have a difficulty understanding what firstgeneration students encounter and this can cause a lack of knowledgeable support networks. The
last challenge is baggage. The greater part of first-generation college students deal with baggage
from their family and friends from home. This article deliberated that first-generation students
are sometimes viewed suspiciously by peers who are not in college or accused of acting superior,
straining longstanding friendships. Family members may view first-generation students as being
selfish for attending college, instead of working and contributing financially to the family.
Conversely, researches have proven, first-generation college student that receive grants
and scholarships are less likely to experience challenges throughout their college career. I
discovered three organizations that offer scholarships to first-generation college students. The
Hertz Foundation offers numerous of scholarships for first-generation college students pursuing a
degree in physical sciences. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States, have excellent
academic marks in high school, and a first generation college student. Students are awarded
scholarships in the amounts of $500 to $5,000 for the cost of tuition and student expenses. The
College Parents of America operates a number of scholarship and grant programs that encourage
first-generation college students to apply. Students must be a citizen of United States, show
academic excellence in high school, and attend a participating college or university. Applicants
must complete their FAFSA and receive notification from the government that financial need is
adequate in order to merit a scholarship. The Coca Cola First Generation is a well-known
program for first-generation college students. The Coca Cola First Generation scholarship

Johnson 23
program was designed specifically to assist low income and minorities achieve a college
education. This foundations philosophy is that no high school graduate should be denied the
opportunity to attend a school of higher education. To receive this scholarship the applicants
have to be a first-generation minority college student and have been accepted to a four-year
university.
One of my goals was to complete personal interactions with first-generation college
students. I was given an opportunity during week seven and nine to observe and interview firstgeneration college students. For the duration of week seven, I visited the TRIO program at
Central State University. The TRIO program is a federally funded program providing academic
advising, tutoring services, financial literacy, and graduation and transfer workshops. Throughout
my observation, I noticed that there were more males than females receiving tutoring in Math
and English. I asked the participants why they decided to attend college. The majority of the
students expressed they selected to attend college to make a change in their lives as well as their
families. On the other hand, for the duration of week nine, I had the honor to interview junior
class scholar Derry Glenn. Mr. Glenn is a 23 year-old junior at University of Dayton, majoring
in Biology from Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Glenn expressed he is the oldest out of six children and was
raised in a single parent home, due to the death of his father. He stated education is significant in
todays society and wanted to obtain a degree to provide a better life for himself and his family.
For the duration of this ten week voice project process, I was educated on so much
information involving first-generation college students. I learned that first-generation college
students are defined as students whose parents(s) or legal guardian(s) have not completed a
bachelors degree at a four year college or institution of higher education. I learned the different
types of the strategies used to encourage first-generation college students to start their college

Johnson 24
career and the challenges and obstacles they face at a college or university. One thing that
captured my attention while doing this project is the determination first-generation college
students have toward completing a level of higher education. First-generation college students
are sometimes labeled as misfortune student. However, it was expressed multiple times
throughout this voice project, despite their circumstances they face; these students are being
trailblazers for not only themselves but to make a difference in their families lives. They believe
working toward a higher level degree proves to themselves and others that it is possible to
overcome obstacle and challenges as a first-generation college student.