At UP, approximately 20 percent of the student population identifies as a first generation (FGEN) college student, and these students have a lot to be proud of! One of our First Generation (FGEN) students, Gaby Hernandez Duran ’21, shares her experience at UP and offers some advice to parents of FGEN students.
What is your major?
Biology Major, Chemistry & Spanish Minors
How have you been involved with the FGEN community at UP?
During my freshman year, I had an FGEN mentor that was absolutely amazing! I was struggling with fitting into the college environment, especially living in the dorms. Additionally, I wasn’t happy in my major and wanted to change, but didn’t know how I would do it. My mentor really encouraged me to pursue what I wanted to do and met with me whenever I needed help. My sophomore year I got more involved and knew I wanted to give someone else the same mentorship my mentor gave me. This year I was an FGEN ambassador for the summer launch for incoming freshmen. I also hope to be more involved in other roles throughout this school year.
What has been beneficial about being involved with the FGEN community at UP?
You get mentorship from so many people who want to help you and understand the barriers you may face in your educational journey. There are a variety of events that address issues that many FGEN students face, such as studying abroad, premedical preparation, financial aid, or how to apply for programs. These events are so informative and encourage you to seek out opportunities that are available at UP.
What has been a challenge of being a FGEN student?
One of the challenges I have faced as an FGEN student has been fitting in socially with the rest of the UP community. UP is a predominantly white school that, for the most part, is also made of upper middle-class students. It’s very intimidating trying to make friends, but I was able to socialize in my Spanish courses, where I met other students who look like me and understand what it’s like to be an FGEN student that does not come from a middle-class home. I think for the most part all students at UP are very kind, but it’s just finding the confidence to step out of your comfort zone that is difficult at times.
During the transition to college, what are a few key things you wish your parents or family would have known in order to better support you?
I wish my parents knew that I’m not trying to ignore them, but that I just have a lot of work I need to do and don’t have much time to reach out. I also wish they knew that when I get frustrated it’s not their fault, but that I just am navigating a path I have never gone through and have bumps that sometimes get the best of me. I feel like in college the work load gets heavier and more difficult as you go through your career, and it creates distance between family and student.
How has your relationship with your parent or family changed or grown since starting college?
My relationship with my family became a bit distant after I started college because I was living in the dorms and didn’t manage my time very well, so I wasn’t reaching out very much. However, my parents would come see me and I would go home once a month since I live 30 minutes away. My relationship with my parents now is much better since I communicate with them now about how I won’t have much time to see them, but I do call and text them every night. They also now understand what college means and how it is very different from high school. They understand that the career path I’m pursuing requires a lot of attention from me and they know that I have to focus on school much more than before.
What is one piece of advice you would give parents or family members of incoming FGEN students?
One piece of advice would be to have patience. Your child is starting to explore a new environment and trying to find where they fit in. They will also be busier and you may feel like they don’t talk to you enough about what’s going on. They will likely call you when they’re struggling or having a hard time, so I would recommend that you listen and offer the best advice you can. Even if you may not know the educational process well, you can be there for your child, motivate them to keep going, and encourage them to seek help from the resources on campus. One final piece of advice would be to tell your child how proud of them you are. It can be difficult being FGEN and it’s easy to lose yourself when school gets overwhelming. However, knowing that you have people who support you and are rooting for you makes the experience much better and will push your student to stay motivated.
Learn more about the FGEN program at UP by visiting their website. You can also stay up-to-date ont he FGEN community at UP by following them on Instagram or Twitter.