Points Experiences

During this event, students got to hear from Dr. Jeanette Cruz, a faclitator for the First Generation Celebration Committee and fellow Global Learning student Melanie Rodriguez. Using Anthony Jack's narrative piece as the basis for conversation, the Dr. Cruz and co. delved into the numerous disadvantages first-generation college students face. Among those were financial burdens taken on by low-income, first time students and their limited accessibility to academic resources prior to entering higher education. As a first-generation student myself, I felt I could relate to much of the struggles voiced by Dr. Cruz and Anthony Jack in his article. Although we were provided a space to celebrate and take pride in our accomplishments despite the overwhelming circumstances we face, it was a daunting reminder of one of society's most pressing issues: the overall accessibility of higher education for marginalized populations. While not explicitly stated, this event serves as a definite call-to-action for equal educational opportunity across all institutions in the U.S.