Creating Exposure and Awareness of the First-generation Community at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles

Founded in 2010, 25 students and 35 LMU Faculty and Staff members started First To Go simply as a mentor program for first-generation college students. As of the Fall 2017 semester, this program has now served over 230 graduates and is currently serving over 240 students in addition to 120 faculty and staff mentors. This premiere program is dedicated to helping students transition to the university by providing them with an academic, social, and professional network to help promote their academic and personal success. It also empowers students to be fully engaged in the academic life of our institution, preparing them for both post-graduate success and, most importantly, advocacy for institutional transformation around the needs AND assets of first-generation college students. It is a truly a privilege to serve first-generation students. Furthermore, all corners of the institution support our program.

Over the last seven years, First To Go has sent 50 first-generation students to the Dominican Republic via our study abroad program. Students have also participated in service trips relating to racial and social injustices in the United States. Other noteworthy accomplishments of the program include: mentoring students through personal, academic, and professional situations and experiences, exposing them to graduate school and research opportunities, and celebrating first-generation students through our annual First-Generation Awareness Week. Furthermore, we have helped 80 students become published authors through our First-Gen Voices Journal—a publication in which students share their narratives and creative work to five continents. To date, there have been 7,500 downloads of the students' work. The First To Go program, thus, is helping change the narrative around first-generation students in institutions of higher education.

Often times, research and conversations are shadowed by a deficit perspective, which often downplays or fails to recognize the resilience, dedication, determination and true communal and familial commitment first-generation students bring to enrich college campuses. Here at LMU, we focus our conversations on their strengths and recognize the full potential and capability of our students. They are truly trailblazers, who set an example for their immediate and extended family members and, above all, their communities. We are extremely proud of the first-generation students at Loyola Marymount University.

Although our accomplishments are many, we still have our challenges. Mental health continues to be an area of concern in the FTG community. College can be stressful for students, but as a first-generation student, there are additional layers of complexity and stress. These include: managing imposter syndrome, survivors guilt, border living, college culture shock facing the hidden curriculum, financial concerns, the uncertainty of immigration status of students and their families, microaggressions, and bias incidents. Often, first-generation students internalize these issues due to the strength they possess within, therefore, becoming “ignored.” It can be challenging to have students address their concerns or problems. I constantly remind my students that I cannot help them if they do not tell me when they need help. Sometimes it takes pulling a student into my office to find out what is going on (maybe even a few times). We, as a first-generation community at large, must constantly remind our students that they are NOT in this alone. They have a community surrounding them with love and support. If anything, this defines the First To Go community at LMU. A community. A family.