By Nicole Gregory, contributing writer

Stepping onto the sprawling Cal State Fullerton campus can be intimidating for students who are the first in their families to cross the collegiate threshold. That’s why staff and faculty members want to make sure they know about the many sources of support, guidance and information available to them through events taking place during National First-Generation Student Week, Nov. 7-11.

The week of events occurs on the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which was part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. The act was designed to make education possible for everyone and led to the creation of federal grants and loan programs.

Today, about five million first-generation students attend colleges and universities around the country, according to the Center for First-Generation Student Success, based in Washington D.C. At Cal State Fullerton, about 32% of the student population are first-generation students, and most are Hispanic.

Kicking off the week will be a resource fair on the Tuffy Lawn, between the Student Recreation Center and the Titan Gym on Nov. 7. Representatives from the Office of Financial Aid, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center, the Center for Scholars, Male Success Initiatives, TRIO Student Support Services and many others will be ready at their tables to answer questions and distribute information. Students who visit five of these tables will be able to get a free “I Am First” T-shirt, sponsored by the CSUF Career Center.

A Habit Burger food truck, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, will be there, too, and students who check into the event will get a meal ticket to redeem, while supplies last.

“First-generation students want to learn how to navigate the system when they get here,” said Julianna Hernandez, assistant director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships College Access & Career Pathways, who was the first in her family to attend college. “It can be difficult because you don’t want to seem like you’re not competent enough to be in college. And it can seem that everyone else knows what they’re doing.”

The events of National First-Generation Week are aimed at helping students to feel competent and confident. These include a morning gathering of first-gen transfer students, a panel discussion on leadership and first-gen students, a donuts-and-discussion meeting with first-gen faculty, a money budgeting workshop, and much more. (Check the Instagram page, #csuffirstgen for event updates.)

“We want to help students connect with resources, help them network, help them build a community,” said Jennifer Mojarro, director of the Career Center. “They struggle with fear of the unknown, and they’re not sure where to start,” she said. “We want students to make connections with other first-generation students so they know they’re not the only ones. There are a lot of other people out there who’ve gone through the same struggles.”

A family member embraces a newly graduated Cal State Fullerton student. (Courtesy of CSUF News Media Services)

For a clear visual of just what that number looks like, a group photo will be taken of staff and faculty members who identify as having been first-generation students on Tuesday. President Fram Virjee proudly shares that he was the first in his family to go to college.

First-gen students can feel a lot of pressure to succeed at college, Hernandez said. “As the oldest of four, my parents were proud and cheering me on. There was so much excitement at being the first in my family to attend college, but I also felt extra pressure to perform so that I would be a good role model for my siblings.”

Hernandez hopes first-gen students learn about programs that provide support. “We have special programs such as the Abrego Future Scholars Program, which provides financial and academic support in students’ first year,” she said. This program awards 50 $1,500 scholarships to first-time freshmen and first-time transfer students.

The staff of the Career Center will be at the kick-off event to let students know about the workshops they offer. “We have a career specialist assigned to every college department, Mojarro said. “In addition, we provide ‘drive-thru’ hours when students come can meet with career coaches, who will review resumes and cover letters.”

The career coaches can also explain the different careers connected to various majors.

Mojarro wants students to visit the Center early on. “We encourage students to come see us from day one — even summer before they start college so they can plan their next four years. We have career fairs and workshops and panels where we bring in employers who talk about ways for students to prepare for an interview or the next steps in their career.”

She looks forward to sharing these programs with first-gen students at the Nov. 7 kickoff event. “We want to make it more of a celebration for students to understand the opportunities in being a first-generation student.”

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