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The National First Gen College Celebration takes place every year on November 8th. The 2022 Syracuse University celebration was sponsored by the Kessler Scholars Program, HEOP, TRIO SSS, New Student and Family Programs, and SU Libraries. This podcast series was part of a larger campus effort to celebrate first gen students at SU.
First Generation College Celebration 2022: First Gen Voices at Syracuse University
The National First Gen College Celebration takes place every year on November 8th. This year's Syracuse University celebration is sponsored by the Kessler Scholars Program, HEOP, TRIO SSS, New Student and Family Programs, and SU Libraries. One of the ways we�re celebrating First Gen Day is by gathering first generation college students from across Syracuse University to hear their perspectives and learn from their experiences.
Craig Tucker, the director of the Office of Supportive Services, introduces this podcast by providing some background on the First Generation College Celebration as well information regarding programs on campus that serve first gen students (Kessler Scholars Program, HEOP, and TRIO SSS). This podcast then features a discussion between undergraduate students Anthony Hernandez (Kessler Scholars Program), Genesis Alvarez (HEOP), Mauricio Luna (TRIO SSS), Samantha Vajellos (HEOP/SSS student community member), and Raul Rosique, Jr (Navy student veteran). Also at the table is HEOP Academic Counselor Amy Friers, who is also a proud first gen graduate.
This podcast was produced and edited by Amy Horan Messersmith, associate director of the Office of Supportive Services (HEOP/SSS). Transcript available upon request. A special thank you to Nicholas Piato (The SENSES Project Audio Lab Program Coordinator) for lending his sound editing expertise.
00:09
Craig Tucker:
Hi, this is Craig Tucker, Director of the Office of supportive services at Syracuse University. The Office of supportive services houses two opportunity programs the Arthur O� Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program and TRiO Student Support Services. On November 8 2017, the Council for opportunity in education and the Center for first generation student success, launched the first ever first generation college celebration. November 8th was chosen because it was the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Since 2017, colleges and universities across the country hold events to celebrate those who are first in their families to pursue a four year degree.
Syracuse University's national first gen college celebration is sponsored by the Kessler Scholars Program HEOP, TRIO, SSS, new student family programs and SU libraries. One of the ways we're celebrating first gen days by gathering first generation college students from across Syracuse University to hear their perspectives and learn from their experiences. Anthony Hernandez is part of the Kessler Scholars Program. The Kessler Scholars Program is a cohort based program that provides an exceptional group of Syracuse University students who are the first in their families to go to college with four years of support. The program is distinct in that it provides comprehensive support through wraparound multi tiered services to ensure student success from the moment they enroll to after graduation. The program is a part of a national collaborative of 16 institutions who are rethinking how to support first generation college students as they navigate higher education. Students who join the Kessler Scholars Program are a part of this powerful network of first generation leaders connected across multi institutions throughout their undergraduate college experience and beyond. Genesis Alvarez is a computer science major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. She's part of the Arthur O� Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program, otherwise known as HEOP. HEOP was established by the New York State Legislature in 1969, to provide access to independent colleges and universities for underrepresented students from New York State. The goal is to improve the retention and graduation of eligible students by assisting with academic finances, career development, and much more. Mauricio Luna is a policy studies major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He is part of Student Support Services otherwise known as SSS. SSS is a federally funded TRIO program that supports first generation college students. The program offers mentoring, tutoring and counseling to improve skills and increase the rate of enrollment and degree completion. Samantha Vallejos is a political science major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs who came to Syracuse University from Colorado.
Samantha is a non program student who finds community with HEOP and SSS students and staff and holds a leadership position in one of the HEOP/SSS student organizations. And finally, Raul Rosique Jr. is a first generation college student as well as a student veteran at Syracuse. Raul completed five years in the Navy before transferring to SU's exercise science program in the pre physical therapy track. Anthony, Genesis, Mauricio, Samantha and Raul are joined by HEOP academic counselor Amy Friers, who is also a proud first generation college graduate. Together they covered a range of topics regarding the first gen college experience. Take a listen.
03:55
Amy Friers:
My name is Amy Friers. I'm one of the counselors in the Office of Supportive Services which houses both HEOP, the Arthur O� Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program, and SSS, which is Student Support Services which is a Federal TRIO Program. And we're here today to talk about being a first generation college student. So round the table we have a number of students and I'll start to my right.
04:18
Mauricio:
Hi, I'm Mauricio. I'm a junior and I'm a Policy Studies major in the Maxwell School.
04:23
Raul:
Hello, I am a Raul Rosique. I go by Rudy, I'm a senior. My major is Health and Exercise Science on the pre physical therapy track.
04:31
Genesis: Um, hello, I'm Genesis Alvarez. I'm a Computer Science major in the Engineering school and I�m a junior.
4:37
Samantha: I'm Samantha Vallejos. I'm a sophomore right now and I am a Political Science and pre-law.
04:43
Anthony: Hello, my name is Anthony Hernandez and I'm a Computer Engineering major. First question we have uh share story about an experience that made you aware that you are a first generation college student.
04:53
Genesis: I think that this question is interesting because like it says what made you aware that you were first gen student because you would think, you know, coming here you're like, �Oh yeah, I'm a first gen student.� But for me personally, I didn't really realize that I was a first gen student or like the caveats that come with it until I was a sophomore. And unfortunately, I had to take a leave of absence. And when I took my leave of absence, that's when I realized, like, I guess like, the pieces in the puzzle started fitting because I'm an engineering student, all my friends are engineers. But when I was a freshman, they were coming in with like, calc 2 knowledge already. Calc 3, differential equations, stuff like that. Like they were coming in with prior knowledge about everything. And I was coming in with like, I hadn't taken pre-calculus, which is a requirement for the engineering school. So it was it was such a difficult experience, like at that moment when I was a sophomore to realize that the disadvantages I met because I'm a first gen student. And I don't know why it took me so long to realize that either.
05:51
Raul:
No I think you're completely right, like a think until you're an institution like Syracuse where they put the label on you. Yeah. And then it puts in your mind, like, �Wow, I am a first generation student.� I think you sort of seen the cues that make you that like, some of the classes since I've been here, like, while I'm at a disadvantage, just sort of vocabulary standpoint, like if your parents are educated, they speak in a higher vernacular, just generally. And so you pick up as a kid, these high vocabulary words, you pick them up, and then you start speaking like that, it just feels natural to you. But if you weren�t growing up in that environment, that does not come naturally to you. And I think people who grew up in a household full of education, they don't understand the difference.
06:31
Genesis: No, they do not.
06:33
Anthony: And like one things about that, especially so I'm from Brooklyn, New York City, and obviously being from the city and lost a lot of slang a lot of different words used. And so you come to university, I live here, I dorm here. And I pick up that vocabulary. And like, I suppose speaking as an academic. I go back home, and it's weird, because now I don't really fit in at home as much because now I'm kind of different. And I have a different
vocabulary. So oftentimes, I have to switch between vocabularies, like speak as if I'm was home, more casual, more, more slang, like, then when I come here, speaking to professors, instructors, my colleagues and what not, my peers has to be a bit different, a bit more academic vocabulary. And so that's a lot different. And I was gonna comment on like, what you said earlier about the gap, there's a big gap in terms of education because I feel like when, when I first came here, being in calc, I�m an engineering student as well, there is a big gap, there are people who here who said told me oh I took calc 1 already or I already took calc already, I already know all this. Like, they're just breezing through it like nothing. Now I'm here like, I have to go to AEW, which is an extra program you can do for just, we learn what you learn in class and go over it in more depth. But I've got AEW, you have to go to recitation. I have to go to office hours and put a lot work a lot harder than my other peers, because there is that gap. And then when I go home, or I can't really go to family because they have no idea what limits are. They don't know what the rate of change is. They can't they can't answer these questions. Because they don't know they haven't had been that they haven't done that they haven't gone to college. So I feel like it is definitely you have in college that if you haven't been you probably won't know. And so I don't have anywhere else to turn to except for what's on campus, what's available to me. And so I think that's one thing I really makes you see makes you feel the impact. Oh, yeah, I'm the first generation because I don't have uncle, dad, or mom or grandpa I can go to who oh, ya know, those who are professors who are in the industry to ask these questions, because there's not because no one has gone through it. Yeah, I'm the first one. And so if I have kids, my kid would turn to me and I thank God, I'm coming so I can answer these questions, hopefully, in questions.
08:45
Mauricio: Kind of going into what Anthony said a thing that made me realize that it was like a first gen student, and I'm sure it probably happened with people here too, was kind of filling out like the Common Application or FAFSA, like registration, like things like these, it's like, it's tough to navigate it, like, fill it out. Because usually you like ask your parents or ask a family member, like, �Hey, can you help me fill this form out or fill this out?� but it was also like, the first time for my parents, like seeing these forms are like, learning about registration or move-in days or stuff like that. So it was kind of like, it was confusing for me to kind of fill out these forms. And then it was I also noticed that it was like something that was confusing to my parents. And so it was also like their first time seeing this too. So that for me kind of like made me realize I was like a first gen student.
09:30
Samantha: Yeah, I was gonna say like, my awareness comes through like a lot of little things building up from when I applied to when I got accepted to when I like declared that I was coming here and everything. And my story and like my struggles don't come from a lack of support from my family, just like limited support. Like they did what they could, but it's just like a big step for everyone involved.
09:50
Anthony: I think it's really important to highlight that it's not lack. It's limited because yeah, it's not like they can�t or won't but it�s because they they just can't because they literally haven't gone to college
09:59
Raul: They don't know how.
Anthony: Exactly.
Raul: And I want to turn back to your point that you have to, it sounds like you�re two people when you go back home. Yeah, almost like it makes you think you probably won�t tell your friends out loud this it's like man, like you guys are capable of a better, we all grew up the same. Yeah, I'm doing it. You guys could do it. And yeah, we just have to work twice or three times a hard. And we had to go to tutoring, while your friends don�t have to go to tutoring. Yeah. And it just, it will take more time. But it's possible. It's still America it�s still possible.
10:24
Samantha: I feel like also being like a first gen student I kind of I don�t want to say like an obsession, but I built this like idea of just like degrees, degrees, degrees. I want to get my masters, I want to go to law school, I want to get, like all these degrees that almost like I'm making up or something.
10:40
Amy Friers: Oh, yeah, I can totally relate to that. So I'm a little bit older than you guys. So my story goes back to the 90s when I was in college, but I felt the same exact things that that all of you are talking about exactly the same. I remember calling home and saying, you know, I was like in tears. And my mom was like, �What is wrong with you, you don't react this way?� And I said, �I'm so stressed out, I have to practice I have to write papers, I have to study I have to go to tutoring. And I don't even know where my advisor is. And I've been looking for and I don't know how to find her.� And my mom goes, �So just ask somebody, I don't understand what the problem is.� And I'm like, �You don't understand me!� You know, so it's everything you guys are saying like resonating, being like two different people that I feel like that has happened forever for first gens you know. That was guys, that was a long time ago when I was in college like, and I can still it's really interesting to me that so many years later, first gens are still dealing with the same things.
11:41
Anthony: Also, one big thing, it's like kind of a sign that you're afraid generation is that, um, the money. Money wise. A lot of people, they go hang out, one big thing I've noticed is that so in Syracuse campus Greek life is a thing we have fraternities, sororities. One thing I noticed is if you've, a lot of people come here have family who've been been here longer welcome, kind of a generational attendance thing here. And so they know some of the frats, they know some like the president's, vice presidents. So it's a lot easier to get into those into like, be involved versus you coming here and you don't nobody. No one knows your family, your last name, who you are. And so you have to build that up from the ground from nothing. That's a lot harder and more significant, significantly harder. Now also the money thing. You see a lot of families out here who have who most family like their sons and daughters, father's parents have all gone to college. And they all have good, good jobs, stable financially. And so on the weekends, they go to dinner restaurants hang out and all that I'm like, that's a bit pricey. I can't really afford that dinner. How about we go Dominos, Dominos is a lot better. But you know, it's like, it's a bit hard sometimes. And sometimes, it's also really hard to ask, �Can you cover for me this time? Can you cover my check?� That's, that's a very big thing that I have to be honest, I'm very prideful and having to ask one of my friend of mine. Oh, well, when am I out to my friend, �I can't go out
because I can't afford to be honest.� �Oh, I got you.� �Thank you.� But I just feel a bit kind of weird about that. Because it's kind of a pride thing, how much someone pay for you. Yeah, and it's not really charity. But I feel like sometimes.
13:17 Samantha:
And I think as like a first generation student, and also just like a minority student on campus who does like receive financial aid. It's not, I didn't like come into this, like, planning to do this. But I kind of found myself like surrounding myself with people who like resonate with me, with other minority students with other students that are in different programs and with other first gens. And I think that it makes it easier to connect with people kind of just build off what you said, because we're almost like all understanding of that same thing.
13:44
Amy Friers: Those unspoken things. That you don't have to actually talk about because you already know who right what someone else, you know, you�re first gen? Oh, me too, right. It's like, yeah, that�s all you have to say.
13:56
Raul: You know, I think you hit something on the point there's like, a lot of minorities are first gen, and there's something like, all this like inclusive talk on campus. I never really thought about that. Like, oh, like, minorities are different. We have like, we started off and, you know, here's the first floor, we started like 10 feet under the floor. I never even thought about that. And then so I got here I was like, man, maybe I did have a hard time. Maybe I am going to have to work harder than being here. We're hearing all these like, talk about it. But I had while I have worked hard, it made me realize before then, I still have a lot of go. But it's pretty insane.
14:32
Samantha: Yeah. And it's kind of interesting to see like, again, how it just builds off and like not in a stereotypical manner. But just like an observance is like the students on campus who are first gens who are minorities who are like receiving extra financial aid support, they all kind of fall under the same umbrella. And I think it's really cool that we're able to connect with each other and like meet with each other like Amy said to have those like unspoken friendships and unspoken bonds, because it brings us closer together and motivates us to be like, we can do this as a whole and as an individual.
15:01
Amy Friers: And I think it helps to with even that, that sense of imposter syndrome. Like, yeah, do we belong here. I'm not the same as everybody. Everybody else. Right? Right. I know people listening can't see my little air quotes I�m doing here. Right? I'm not the same as everybody else. So I feel like that helps us. You know, it helps us get through that, you know.
15:24
Anthony: Speaking of impostor syndrome, I've always like to think, I'm very self aware. It won�t affect me, I'm different. Bla bla bla bla, but it did it recently. It did. Because like, being in my classes, like this kid raised his hand ask a question, right? And a professor�s like, �Oh, that's a very good question.� And then I ask a question, � Oh why is two plus two, four?� It�s like, it feels like a less valid question than compared to the other students and like, hearing that, it's like that, that really makes it feel that way. Yeah,
15:52
Raul: It definitely does. I felt like I was not embarrassed to ask a question but like that my question�s not gonna be nowhere near as sophisticated as that question.
16:00
Samantha: Like, damn, how do they know that?
Anthony: Worded sophisticated. Yeah, exactly.
16:04
Raul: And something that you just said right now, like, about being an imposter. There is another Hispanic, first gen on campus here. And we're talking about how we felt when it first got application letter and I was like, �Man I was like very shocked, you know, something I worked hard for� whatever. He was like, �Man, my first words were, man I can't believe this white school accepted me.� And I was like, �Wow, you're right. Like, it is pretty crazy.� This is a predominant, like a, you know, a Caucasian school.
16:29
Anthony: PWI
Samantha: PWI
16:30
Genesis: I don't think I considered that a factor when I came here. Like, I knew that it was predominantly white, but I didn't, I didn't really understand how that would affect me. And I think now I feel like I've, well, I don't want to say I've made a mistake. But I guess that's the word I'll use. I feel like I've made a mistake. Because all my friends that surround me are like, they're predominantly white, most of them are white. They don't like they don't receive any financial aid any of that. And like, there's certain things that has happened during the course of me being in Syracuse that, like, they don't understand my struggles. And it's like, it's so difficult to like, explain my struggles. Like, that's, I feel like, I'm like the token person of color in the group, right? Because I have to, like, explain certain things to them. And it's just, it's so exhausting to having to do that, like constantly. Because it's not, it's not like I go to them to like, you know, I need help with something, please help me. I can't do that. The things I have to do is explain why do I need help and stuff like that. So like, I don't really have an outlet of like, help in my friend group, which is like, I don't know, it's it's very disappoint. That's why I say I feel like I've made a mistake by making so many friends that are just like predominantly white. And like, they don't understand the struggle of being first generation.
17:34
Samantha: I think this kind of conversation like naturally veered into the second question, which is, �What do you want other know, others to know about being a first generation?� And I think I would say, to just know that you belong there, you got accepted for a reason. You're here for a reason. And you belong here. And like, that is something that my mom stressed me so much, because I struggled with imposter syndrome. Even like through high school, I always would like, make a joke. Like, I don't think I'm as smart as people really think I am. And so it's just like, be confident and know that you belong where you were, and like you got accepted with everyone else.
18:07
Anthony: I also want to say one thing is to become a backstop, also kind of ties into what we just talked about, is growing up a lot different. Like, I know a lot of people from my high school who dropped out or who aren't going to college, you're just working off the bat. And that's really interesting, because being in that environment, it's very, not exactly college inspiring. I was exactly inspired to come to college or exactly, veered. And on a path to go to college I was there was a lot of crossroads, a lot of left and right turns and to be honest my high school years weren�t at my best, and to be honest, before Syracuse I was thinking the military, but that's one thing, too, that allows people, my people in similar circumstances to do the military or other things, because colleges is very, it's very daunting, very expensive, and very hard. I think one big step in terms like closing the gap is making them more accessible. I don't know how but it�s making them more accessible in one way or another. I know one of the reasons why military I think it's because they do pay for college here and there. Now I�m not saying go into the military but that's I think that's why that those options are so attractive is because they help you pay for college and help you go to college. I think like somehow making that more accessible for families is the thing to do. Something important.
19:23
Raul: Right it�s unfortunate, that more underprivileged communities, that it's almost like a way out to be successful. You go into the military first. And my school was always a bunch of military recruiters. But there's, there was a high school like 30 minutes away, that was a private high school and there's no military, they were not allowed on campus. Because they wanted them all go to college. And at the time, I was like that�s super dumb. Why wouldn't they let them? And now realize like, yeah, because they want them to just go straight to get educated.
19:53
Samantha: Like, it's like, for some people, it's a necessary step and for them it's not.
19:59
Anthony: That's one big necessary step because there's no way you can you can finance yourself through college without taking an absurd and an absurd amount of loans and having those loans to, to bite you in the butt later on.
20:13
Genesis: Being a first gen student and having parents that haven't like been to college before, I think it's very difficult. It was like a very difficult step to go to college and like break that news to my parents, my parents were very angry, I was going to college, they were very angry. And especially that I was going so far away, I think that at first, that was the main reason why they were angry. But my dad has come to like, understand, like, you know, college is like the best thing for you. My mom has not, my mom is very against me going to college, she thinks that college is a waste of time. And I should be working to like pay the bills with my family, because like my family are very, extremely poor. But both my parents are disabled, both of them are unemployed. So like they're like, or my mom rather, is like, you need to be here to be paying the bills for us. That is your job. College
is a waste of time for work while you're in college. And it's like, I'm computer science, I already failed like a whole semester of classes because I tried to work during college that did not turn out for me. So I don't know, it's very, very difficult having parents that don't understand like, what it's like to go to college. Because like originally, I thought, oh, college is just like another like high school just like you learn like deeper topics. No, college is very hard. Yeah. Especially being an engineer. It's very, very, very hard.
21:20
Anthony: Yeah, I think one thing I want to say about that is that environments, that college in a way, it's kind of a gamble. Because one big thing has been, you know, have a lot of family who are college graduates who don't have these jobs, who are financially stable, sending your child, which is basically your investment away, is kind of a gamble, because that that doesn't turn out turn out, well you lost 1, 2, 3 however many years of one potential income and two years invested into that child, because yeah, their child was also an investment and it's for it's for these families. It's also a kind of a big gamble as well. So I know for me personally, personally, that's why I always say this phrase that I can't afford to fail, because if I fail, there's not much I'm going back to you aside from working and helping my mom pay the bills, and then hopefully if I have kid, there's my family chance again to gamble again and gamble for college.
22:16
Samantha: Another thing is like we like almost literally can't afford to fail. Like some people kind of just blow through classes, and it is what it is. But like, I can't afford to retake classes because there's a limit of credits that's covered by financial aid. And there's a limit of years and time like, we literally cannot afford to fail.
22:34
Amy Friers: Yeah and that pressure. Yeah, right. Like, that's a lot of pressure. I know, I felt it. I feel it in talking to my students on a regular basis.
22:42
Anthony: Very discouraging. Like, if you like, Yeah, you did kind of bad on a quiz, you can tell you like lagging behind certain subjects and concepts. It can get very daunting, overwhelming.
Sometimes you want to want to cry because like, �Wow, if I fail, what am I going to do is work the rest of my life?� I don't know work until I�m dead.
23:01
Amy Friers: Right. So what do you do to combat that when that happens? I mean, I know what I do with my students, but what do you what do you guys personally do. This is interesting.
23:10
Anthony: Um, well, I mean, the gym, I go to the gym a lot. And when sometimes when you're doing the reps, reps, are like how many times you lift the weight, sometimes you'll know that there's like, kind of a limit and like, you will be halfway up and then you can't go up anymore. And then what I do is I just hold it and keep pushing, keep trying to lift it and eventually you do do that last lift and you got it. I think that kind of translates into this conversation because it's like, you're at that limit where you feel like you can't do it's overwhelming but you got like this is might be problematic, but toughen up and just work through because you can and like is work through and push through it because like once you get past that kind of wall, that ceiling, you are good for however long until you get hit the next thing and you go through that and I feel like one big thing just keep pushing through and remembering all this is a gamble. The big thing for me is that it's a gamble. And so it's like we're running a race you're tired, second place but you can get first place. You have a boosters running and just go crazy before it ends before the race is over and try to get first place, like kinda like that.
24:16
Mauricio: I think for me, like one of the things that I do to kind of deal with this pressure of being like a first like generation college student is kind of like think back about like, well, when I have like a quiz or when, like, there's a lot of pressure going on. Like I kind of think back about, like all the hard work that I've like, take like that it's taken me to, like get here and like everything that I've done to like kind of get here and I also like to visualize a lot of like, like when I graduate like how it's gonna feel like when it pays off and like your family is there and you're kind of like the first in your family to graduate from college. And you'll so it's like, I kind of tried to like, like, think about like, what it's going to be and how it's going to like pay off in the future to kind of like deal with this pressure and it's like, something that I like to do a lot.
24:57
Samantha: I kind of like do the same thing like imagine what like, how is how it's not going to be like simple but how life is going to like work out in the end once I just finished this once I do this, cause I�m not gonna be here forever
25:09
Anthony: How to work now to relax
25:10
Amy Friers: Yeah, Persevere, persevere.
25:12
Genesis: Yeah, I think that me personally, I like to look at it sounds kind of corny, but I like to look at pictures of my parents and I'm like, this is the reason why I'm here to support them. I think that's like the most inspiring thing and what makes me like get out of bed and be like, let's go to class.
25:27
Anthony: Yeah.
25:28
Amy Friers: And forever, your family will look back and say you're the person who created that change you did that. You broke that chain.
25:33
Anthony: In a way it�s breaking that generational curse. Absolutely. Like they feel that this gamble off, my kids are going to go to college most likely, and then their kids and then soon I'll be that family that everyone knows that everyone goes to one college, you know, it's like kind of a generational wealth thing.
25:49
Samantha: And even like me personally, just like, on top of being like a first generation college student, I grew up in like a small town where like, you look and like my grandparents didn't even make it to like high school and stuff. So it's just like, almost like those building steps every year. You know, we're going to high school, we're going to college. We're graduating college.
26:07
Anthony: Yeah. And sometimes it can be discouraging though cause sometimes, like, I'm, I'm in college and I�m thinking, if I don't succeed, it kind, nobody, so at some point, sometime down the line, someone will, but it's kind of, it aches my heart a bit because like, my, my mom didn't succeed. So she had me now I'm supposed to keep if I don't succeed at the point, I kind of pass that burden to the next person in line, and then kind of keeps going until someone finally makes it and breaks that curse. And then we start building up from there. Because like a bit personal history. Sorry mom. But my mom's an immigrant she came from Peru and all that. And she came for nothing. She came from nothing. And now she bought she built up. We have an apartment in New York City, which is crazy. New York City is really expensive. Yeah, I heard that I have some friends who are like who have are seniors and sophomores who are renting here and wow rent�s that cheap, for all that's really good. I'm like paying almost we're paying a lot of money for what we have is it's not it's less. And so New York it's very expensive, but she was able to thrive make a living in New York City. And then she she has I think, an Associates. But that's the most I think my family I didn't want to ask as ever gone, because she's the one who happens to be and because of that, now I'm able to go off my four years, and then hopefully, maybe me but hopefully my children would probably go for the PhD or masters and all that.
27:25
Genesis: I want to touch on something that Anthony said he was talking about, like, he doesn't really have that opportunity to fail a class like he can't do that. And I wanted to speak about HEOP because like, I of course I don't want to fail a class but me being in HEOP and failing a class is okay. So, at least within four or five years, I should be able to graduate, no matter what is the hurdle or like the circumstance, I should be able to graduate. And that's why I'm so thankful for being here under HEOP. Like really thankful.
27:54
Anthony:
I think HEOP is a great program. Because I think one important thing about these programs is that they're very forgiving. It's like, you wouldn't get mad of a child or baby for breaking something and in a way we�re kind of like babies because we're in a new environment on our own for the first time, we're going to make mistakes. But oftentimes, if if you make a mistake in college, junior, sophomore, it kind of screws up your entire plan, and then you can flunk out, you can drop out. And that's it. There's not much forgiveness there. But I feel like if you treated it as if you to your child, you wouldn't get mad and kick a child of the house for breaking a vase for accident or because a crawling hit their head, you know, I'm saying it's like, it's kind of similar. So I think one important thing a HEOP has done wonderfully is it's a forgiveness, like, like how much you're willing to put through because no way you're it's kind of like raising a child or raising a name and raising a family or raising a generation.
28:45
Mauricio: And talking about like programs, oh, well, I'm an SSS student, a student in the program. Oh, what I also really like about these types of programs and these, like opportunity programs, right? Um, what I really like is that like, a lot of the staff roles, like first gen. So like, Amy I also I think Michelle too, like, so it's like, it's really great to have like these programs that like the staff kind of understand like, what you're going through or like the cause they also went through something similar. And like being able to surround yourself with staff that are very supportive of like, what you want to achieve here in college, and they kind of guide you to like, make sure your goals are met is also like something great. And I think that like that's, it's great about like the SSS program and also HEOP. It�s very inspiring programs.
29:27
Anthony: Yes, it's very inspiring. People who were in your shoes make it successful in making a living for themselves because like, okay, then I could do it. Yeah, there's one thing that rarely would talk about what gets you through things, is that knowing that these people have done it, other people in the past? I can do it.
29:42
Amy Friers: And that's actually why we do what we do. If you ask every single person in our office, why do you do this? That's the core. That is our similarities
Anthony: Show others that they can do it too.
Amy Friers: Yeah, because we did it exactly what to say you know, and we'll be there to support you along the way.
30:00
Samantha: For final thoughts it�s just like I'm just like, thankful for like, the programs and the like things that offer support for first generation students, and that, like we're not lucky to be here. Because we worked hard to be here and we deserve it and like, it's like very accomplishable at this point.
30:20
Anthony: Final thought is the appreciation to be here. But also I think, for like, people and staff, professors, teachers, instructors know that I think one thing that I hope I wish everyone kind of had in their minds be bit forgiving for the students who are who are and who are first generation students because it's like, I send an email out, � Hey, Professor can I have an extension, please?� or this and that and like, can I come on, I feel it's something that I'm bugging them. I don't want to be like that. But I need the extra help. I need the freedom and support because I'm missing, this is my first time doing this. This is the first time my family is doing it. Think about it like that. It's kind of it's pretty, it's kind of wild. And so I know as people as professors and people in faculty and staff sometimes is used to people know what to do, because like their parents taught them. I don't have that so be bit more forgiving, be more lenient, understanding why I'm being so maybe annoying or asking a lot of questions because I honestly don't, I don't know until now. It's my first time having this.
31:11
Mauricio: I think for me, I'm just like, very grateful for being here. I think like, our backgrounds and everything, like everyone that's here in this table, that's a first gen student, like, whatever difficulties or whatever like has happened to us in life, we've like overcome all of that, to like, be here today. And I think that's something like we should all be really proud of. And I don't know, I'm like really grateful for the opportunity programs and everything.
31:33
Raul: Um, so for me, I think in everybody's family, there's always like one person that will change the tide of their family. For the next generation. I think this is like for you guys respective families, this is it the people before you, they did a good job. Most likely because you are here. But now you can make the rest, like a great job like your kids could be. Could be those people we're talking about who have these sophisticated conversations and straight A's and won't have an issue because of the hard work we're putting in now. Yeah, I think we'll be that person that two generations now like, oh, man, my great grandma, my great grandfather did this. And now like, if I have a business idea, I don't need to go think I go to them.
32:11
Anthony: Yeah, it�s like kind of a chance our families take on us to be here like we're that chance to break through. Go up the brackets.
32:18
Raul: Live the American dream. And whatsoever If you're a minority, the odds are you're family came here with almost nothing. Exactly. Anyway, they took a chance. And now we have to pivot that. Yeah, we have to.
32:30
Genesis: My final thoughts. Just more be like a message to the first generation youth that are going to college right now is do your work, do your work, go get support. Reach out to your professors. Just don't be like, don't do what your friends are doing that or not first gen. Like don't go to parties when you shouldn't be doing it. Don't like don't do those types of things. Because it's just like it's not helpful. I just wish someone would have told me that before I came here. So that's why I'm saying it now.
32:56
Amy Friers: And my final thoughts are don't be afraid to ask for help. There's so many first gen. professors, staff on campus, we're here to help. All you gotta do is reach out and say, �Can you help me find someone to help me with X?�
33:13
Craig Tucker: This podcast is brought to you by HEOP and SSS is The SENSES project. The SENSES Project encourages self-exploration and community building through podcasts and music and beat making. You can find out more about The SENSES Project at syracusesenses.com. Through nuanced discussion and dialogue across differences, The SENSES Project seeks to create a more inclusive community, one podcast at a time. Again, this is Craig Tucker, and we thank you for listening.