By Brandon Wallace, EIC News and Aryana Richardson
Being an under-represented student is hard—at a predominantly white institution like GW, this is no different. Through the hardships and highlights, first-generation college students discuss their experience at GW.
Pictured: Fasica Mersha
Fasica Mersha’s family came from Ethiopia. She, both a first generation American and college student, is an international affairs (IA) major with a double concentration in Africa and international development. Additionally, Mersha is a sophomore in GW’s Global Bachelor’s Program. To many, she is merely another face in the crowd, just another IA major here at GW. However, Mersha detailed the struggles she has faced specifically around her peers whose parents had a college education.
“I watch what I say around certain groups of people and I am constantly reminded of the fact that this school wasn’t really built for students like myself. It feels as though people don’t understand my very existence,” Mersha said.
The struggle of Mersha is much like other “first-gen” college students, those who are the first generation in their family to go to college. In 2011, ABC News addressed the specific issue of Imposter Syndrome, which many first-gen students face—including the likes of Michelle Obama and Sheryl Sandberg. Imposter syndrome is the process by which a student feels like they do not belong, in this case, on a college campus, as if their presence in an institution is a mistake, a pity, or charity, rather than a result of their qualifications and hard work. Imposter syndrome finds its way into GW’s population of first-gen students often. Jennifer Garcia, the Director of Communications for First Gen United, specifically discussed Imposter Syndrome in her experience.
Pictured: Jen Garcia
“My first-gen experience here at GW has sometimes been a culture shock, since I am surrounded by affluent people whose parents had the opportunity to attend higher education institutions and I [have] never had that experience. It has been really difficult with moments of imposter syndrome,” she said.
While GW has programs directed towards first-gen students and their issues, for many like Mersha, there are still struggles that have yet to be solved.
Pictured: Annie Mullin
Annie Mullin, a sophomore double majoring in international affairs and public health, has experienced her fair amount of stress. As a double major across schools—the Elliot School for International Affairs and Milken Institute School for Public Health respectively—Mullin is already in a distinctly stressful situation. The fact that she is a first-gen student only adds to that stress.
“As a first-gen student at GW, I still find it difficult to relate to the lives of my peers. My parents aren’t doctors, lawyers or high up in the government. I was raised by two people who went straight to work after high school to support their families. My friends here joke about not knowing exactly what their parents do for work since it’s so complex, while I helped my parents run our three employee family business,” Mullin said.
Mullin further discussed the struggle of fitting in. “As a freshman this was difficult for me, constantly comparing myself to people who seemed to have unlimited resources when my family didn’t know much about college in general,” she said.
As these problems pervade, a closer community seems to be developing. At GW, the Center for Student Engagement along with First Gen United host
Pictured: Melany Blanco
Melany Blanco, a sophomore majoring in Public Health, found community through the First Friday Dinners, as it allowed her to connect with other students.
“First Gen dinners have definitely helped my first-gen experience. It provided me with the tools and resources I needed. It also gave me a chance to meet other people who identify as first-gen. It also gave me the opportunity to save money on food, something that is a concern to many due to the food insecurity we face on campus,” Blanco said.
Related: Is 20 Tables Addressing Food Insecurity at GW
For many of these students, First Gen United has been a kind of refuge. “First Gen United has functioned as an incredible network of resources to help me through issues/hard moments; within my work as Director of Communications, I just want to provide outreach for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong at GW because I want to ensure and reinforce that they are exactly where they need to be,” Garcia said.
While the experience of first-gen students at GW can be challenging, organizations like First Gen United and the services they provide have aided students with some mitigation of struggle a silver lining to a gray cloud.
One clear thing about the first-gen students at GW is their strive to reach beyond that silver lining and maintain their pride in their identities.
“I’m proud that I go to GW and that so many other first-gen students do too,” Mullin said.
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