First-Generation, is it taboo or an opportunity? I’m First-Gen and I say opportunity! Growing up I faced hurdles but each hurdle contributed to who I am today. Both my parents worked in the factory, more often than not working 6 days a week in all seasons just to make ends meet. If I had shown interest in college I guarantee my parents would see to it the funding would be there but that would mean more hours in the factory. As my high-school years approached I knew college wasn’t an option but that wasn’t a goal for me at that time. I was eager to support myself and, in my eyes, no longer be a financial burden to my parents. Maybe then they wouldn’t have to work the long hours in the factory. My school days came to an end, my friends went off to college, and I kept working my full-time job.

But I wanted more, always encouraged to learn more if the opportunity came (thank you, Dad!) No matter the situation there is always something to learn. A decade out of school, married with children, I enrolled in my first college class. So not only am I a proud First-Gen, I’m also a non-traditional student. Neither of my parents went to college or even faced the opportunity of college. They were both born in the depression and college was only “for the riches.” When I told them I was officially a college student, tears rolled and you would have thought Dad won the lotto, in his eye he did. First child to go to college, first one in my entire family for generations and generations. My parents had no clue what “college” included: tuition, dedication, stress of due-dates, papers and more papers! They just knew that me going to college would open doors they never imagined, it would mean I wouldn’t have to work in the factory like them. While I also had no clue what college actually meant, I did know that I had the most amazing support team.

I penciled out my degree route, studied the group of classes I needed to accomplish the degree. I identified, most importantly, step goals (peak-short term, distal-midterm, and proximal-major). Goals that I would feel accomplished with each success, goals that were reachable with effort. I started college with a certificate as my peak goal and a bachelor’s being my proximal goal. Each goal I would be proud of myself, keeping that in mind was my internal motivation. Before I knew it, the bachelor’s degree became my peak goal and a master’s was added.

Walking at commencement felt surreal, I did it. I was the first in my family to EVER graduate college! Some days it still feels unbelievable! It has opened so many doors. I look back at my freshman self and thank her daily, she had the nerve and self-ambition to start this journey that I so love today!

Karen D. Eisman, MPS
Adjunct Instructor & Academic Administrative Assistant III