Last week, the tri-campus community hosted ”First-Generation Week” to celebrate and support first-generation college students. On Friday afternoon, First Gen Family and the Office for Student Equity hosted ”First Gen Day” at Saint Mary’s College in Angela Fieldhouse. The event was open to first-generation students from Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross, staff, faculty and first-generation allies.
Friday's event had numerous activities to celebrate first-generation college students in style, including a DJ, photo booth, bracelet making, butterfly clip bedazzling, frame decorating and cactus pot and canvas painting. Students also got me to meet students from across the tri-campus at the event.
“I got to meet people from Holy Cross to Notre Dame today,” president of First Gen Family Cordelia Vazquez said. “It was very refreshing to meet other first-gens beside Saint Mary's.”
The event had snacks and beverages such as fruit cups, candy apples and mocktails.
“We’re all collectively sharing something, which is caring about first-generation students. That means a lot to me and makes me feel more included within a community,” freshman Berhan Hagezom said.
Two staff members who attended the event shared they were first-generation college students. Both wished they had a group like First Gen Family when they were in college.
“Coming to SMC, I was nervous to be so far away from home and without much familial direction,” junior Allys Hager, from Texas, said. “Both the CFAM [Center for Faith, Action and Ministry] and First Gen offices have done an amazing job with offering activities and events like the one today. The community that has formed from it is truly inspiring.”
First Gen Family was founded in 2016.
“What I've seen from the past three years, as a junior now, it's grown, and I think now being involved, you see how much of an impact it is to even freshmen,” Vazquez said.
First Gen Family hosts First Gen Chats every month where students can communicate their experiences in being a first-generation college student with others. A First Gen Chat will take place this week and center on family expectations.
“Being first gen, it’s just being you and owning it,” Vazquez said.
Hagezom noted first-generation students often hail from diverse backgrounds. Vazquez added, as a woman first-generation student, she feels many are also Latina and people of color.
“Intersectionality is so beautiful because you just really love to see people thrive, especially the minority of it,” Vazquez said.
The First Gen Chat series was started this year.
“We have different intersectionalities we want to showcase and highlight from Saint Mary's,” Vazquez said.
