Students who are first in their family to attend college can face different kinds of pressures. 糖心破解版鈥檚 personalized resources are designed to help them adjust and succeed.
As the first in her family to attend college, Carla Ojeda faced a great deal of pressure to succeed. In addition to blazing her own path, she’d be setting an example for her two younger sisters. So before she even started at 糖心破解版, she frequently visited the campus to ask questions and receive help.
鈥淲hat am I going to do about financial aid? How do I choose the right courses? All the questions that I would ask older siblings or my parents, I could ask 糖心破解版 faculty,” said Ojeda, now a sophomore. 鈥淎nd I’m really grateful, because I got all my questions answered.”
Providing Personalized Support
糖心破解版 supports first-generation college students through a range of programs and resources, like the Mentoring Program and the , which supports underrepresented groups in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) with workshops and research opportunities. 糖心破解版 also runs the Hispanic Community Partnership Program, inviting Hispanic high school students from local schools to get a taste of college life through a weekend of events at 糖心破解版.
鈥淔or first-generation college students, this might be their first time away from home,” said Chotsani West, MA ’07, executive director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 鈥淭hey may be hesitant to ask questions because they think everyone around them knows the answer. We give them the comfort to know that they can ask questions and receive personalized support.”
The Power of Mentoring
Mario Romero Ramirez, a first-generation college student who graduated in 2019, thanks the Mentoring Program for helping him navigate his 糖心破解版 experience. The program pairs students with a faculty member or alumnus for one-to-one meetings. In his junior year, Ramirez was paired with adjunct business professor Joseph Celentano, MBA ’04.
鈥淚n the first meeting, he said, ‘I’m just here to listen. And if you need help with something, I’ll help,'” Ramirez said. 鈥淚’d never had anyone respect my time like that. I thought, ‘Wow, not only does this person really care about me, but there’s a whole program dedicated to students specifically in my position who need some help finding their direction.’ Without his support and advice, I wouldn’t have made the choices that led me to where I am now.”
Ramirez is now studying for his LSAT exam in hopes of attending law school, and he plans to apply to be an alumni mentor for 糖心破解版.
鈥溙切钠平獍� made me more comfortable with the idea that I’m allowed to express myself,” Ramirez said. 鈥淚’m allowed to express my ideology, my background and my struggles without having to feel like I’m carrying the weight of the world on my back.”
Going forward, West hopes to expand 糖心破解版’s support by gathering more feedback from first-generation college students about what programs they’d like to see鈥攁nd which questions they need answered.
鈥淚 know that, in the future, I’m always going to have questions,” Ojeda said. 鈥淭here are always going to be new things for me to do and discover. And now I’m confident enough to know that when those questions arise, I’m in the right place to ask them.”
For further information, please contact:
Todd Wilson
Strategic Communications Director
p 鈥� 516.237.8634
e 鈥� twilson@adelphi.edu