Earlier this week Fresno City College celebrated National First Generation Day with a discussion panel and photo gallery walk of first-generation students and campus leadership held in the Old Administration Building from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The event highlighted the challenges and achievements of first-generation FCC students and staff who had charted new educational paths in their families history.
According to Ben Reynoso, first-generation student and the director of the TRIO Student Success Programs at FCC, 48.5% of students at FCC are first-generation college students. With so many of these students being from different backgrounds and possibly different immigration statuses, it’s not easy being the first in the family to go to college.
Reynoso believes the day is important for connecting with programs on campus that support first-generation students.
“We’re here to help and support them and make sure that they feel wanted at Fresno City,” Reynoso said.
To Christopher Araujo, a first generation student and FCC counselor, the day meant being able to see others similar to his own background succeed and achieve their educational goals.
“Today, for myself, I like just connecting with other people and just getting to know everybody more on a personal level, and building that rapport with students and other faculty members,” Araujo said.
Opening Words: Welcome & Introductions
The OAB auditorium is filled to the halfway mark full of first generation students from high school to college to graduates.
Reynoso took the stand thanking everyone who was involved in the creation of the event, and for those who could make it.
“This year we went big,” he said.
Reynoso listed key programs involved including Puente, EOPS, CARE, FYE, and the TRIO programs. All that were listed help students in various ways, from financial aid to first year counseling support, all based on factors like first time parenting, low income status, first time or first-generation students and more.
Shortly after, he introduced an “important member of the community,” to share their story as a first-generation college student.
Taking the podium was Rob Funtes, State Center Community College District Trustee and Assistant US Attorney for the Department Of Justice.
Fuentes was born in Fresno but grew up in Porterville, attending high school there. He came from a farm working family with many of his relatives working in the fields growing up.
Despite his humble beginnings however, he would strive for greatness becoming the first in his family to graduate college and attend law school.
“I understand firsthand the struggles, the challenges that are placed in front of us as first-generation students,” Fuentes said.
He also understands the strengths that build within those who have struggled, namely endurance and ingenuity.
“If you take away anything from today, just know you are not alone in your journey. Just like all of us before you, you have the ability to succeed. You have the talent and the skills to chart your own career path. You have the power to write the chapter in your stories,” Fuentes said.
He then hands the stand back to Reynoso who invites the panelists up.
Interview Panel: Struggles and Victories
Five first-generation students and faculty members took the stage: Aniya Bacon, Nelley Guzman, Kevin Martinez-Gonzalez, Dr. Lataria Hall, Vice President of Student Services and Dr. Ernie Martinez, Director of Student Activities.
Applause booms throughout the auditorium as they are introduced and come on stage.
Question #1: What does it mean to you to be the first in your family to go to college?
Bacon answered saying it means she now gets to support her family after her single mother had supported and sacrificed for her for so many years.
Gonzalez added on with a similar sentiment.
“It means a lot, just thinking about all the sacrifices my parents made for me to be here,” Gonzalez said.
Guzman felt it was “quite interesting to me,” as she is the youngest out of eight and the first in her family to go to college and graduate high school.
“I’m doing this for my siblings who couldn’t and for my family who brought us here.” Guzman said.
Question #2: How did you manage college with other responsibilities in your life?
Hall answered by sharing her experience as a student athlete, often not having much time for anything as she balanced working and going to school full-time.
“I was very intentional about my time. I did not have a lot of time to waste. Every moment was important,” Hall said.
Martinez answered with a different story, being a parent to a daughter and going back to school at the same time
He expressed needing to be self centered at times so that it was possible for him to reach his goals.
“I made sure that my goal was in line at all times. I was selfish in a good way.” Martinez said.
A similar feeling was shared by Guzman, as the experience of working and having to be responsible financially for her school was hard.
Guzman emphasized the importance of prioritization, acknowledging that while tackling challenges step-by-step is key, there are difficult days when “you’re having a bad day, you don’t know what to do anymore and you want to give it all up.”
“You just need to keep going, just manage your time and when things go well, just take a moment, freeze, and be grateful for everything that you have,” Guzman said.
Question #3: When applying for things like financial aid how did you deal with applying for that when you didn’t know what to do?
Reflecting on her journey, Hall conveyed feeling vulnerable and intimidated when applying for things like FAFSA as she had no family guidance and came from a low income household.
“I didn’t want to seem like I was ignorant or didn’t know anything. And so there was always a fear of even asking for help,” Hall said.
Ultimately, she had found support through her basketball coach, a trusted figure in her life who guided her and her family through her challenge.
“That was my experience, just finding people that I can trust,” Hall said.
Guzamn agreed by sharing her fears of also asking for help but added that “being able to have someone by your side is very helpful.”
Question #4: What is your biggest accomplishment that you have made so far in your journey?
Answering first, Guzman prides herself on her acceptance into the future nurses program straight out of high school. She feels the fact she can say she did that in the first place is “quite crazy.”
Bacon adds on by admitting her pride in being able to go to school and work full time while maintaining good grades while also being accepted into a study abroad program for her next semester.
Hall feels that having acquired the highest level doctorate that could be achieved, that she truly “made it.” But despite that, and after all the challenges of growing up in the area she did and all the trials she faced.
Through it all, the biggest accomplishment Hall is most proud of is “being at FCC as the Vice President of Student Services and being able to impact the lives of so many of you, so many things that we’ve done, and make those decisions that create a pathway of success for you.”
Hall emphasized that 80% of students on campus receive financial aid, assuring students that they are not alone in their financial challenges. She encouraged students to share that attending college, including Princeton City College or local community colleges, is accessible without high tuition fees.
“So that’s what I’m proud of, I’m proud that I can sit here before you and hopefully you can see yourself and me and where I came from and do, if not the same, much better than what I’ve done and be proud of that,” Hall said.
Question #5: What advice or words of wisdom could you give students in your shoes?
Bacon believes that applying to scholarships as soon as you can is the best course of action.
Guzman shares that she was able to get many of the scholarships she had applied for even though she thought that she wasn’t capable of doing so.
“Once you get it you’ll complete it, and once you complete it, you should be proud. Keep on applying, you don’t know where you’re gonna end up, you don’t know what you’re gonna get, and you’ll be happy to know that you did” Guzman said.
Martinez adds onto that with an uplifting message.
“Not just first-generation students, but everyone, I’d say just feel it through. There’s a saying that goes ‘the pain of discipline is better than the pain of regret,’” Martinez said.
Lastly, Hall gave the audience a slice of motivation.
She believes that you should never give up, no matter how long it takes, you must see it through as time never stops.
To her, the individuals in everyone’s lives who watch and support you are also influenced and motivated by you.
“You have no idea how much you are influencing them and giving them hope. Keep going on the pathway you are going, for your younger siblings, cousins or even some of your aunts and uncles,” Hall said.
In his closing speech, Reynoso offered words of encouragement to first-generation students, reminding them that their backgrounds do not determine their future. He emphasized the importance of hard work and persistence, encouraging students to stay focused and take charge of their education.
