Mining for First-generation Monarchs – Our Perpetual Mission

King’s College was founded in 1946 at the request of Bishop William J. Hafey of Scranton with the primary purpose to educate the sons of coal miners and men returning from war. From the very beginning, the mission of the college has been to educate first-generation students, so graduates can learn how to make a living and lead meaningful lives. The college has evolved over the last 75 years to encompass many programs and affiliations, yet part of the mission remains the same. King’s College is proud to continue to be devoted to first-generation students. Adding the First-Gen Forward designation to our campus has literally and symbolically reaffirmed our commitment to the importance of supporting first-gen students at King’s.

There has been a great deal of care regarding this work expressed by the entire campus community: faculty, staff, students, and administrators. We are “mining” through members of our community to identify those who are or were first-generation students, including our current president, Father Thomas Looney, and many faculty, staff, and students. We would like to share a few perspectives of our first-generation students' past and present. 

Questions for Current Staff Member: Dafne Paramo de la Rosa

Dafne Paramo de la Rosa is a King’s College alumna currently serving at King’s College as the Director of the McGowan Hispanic Outreach Program and Student services.

   1. What memories do you have of being a first-generation college student?

The most difficult part was the application process and meeting deadlines. As a first-generation college student, my parents had very little if any involvement in the process. As a first-year student, I remember being overwhelmed by the amount of work required for every class and how quickly it accumulated. My favorite memories from college are definitely the times when my academic efforts were celebrated and acknowledged by my professors and the institution.

   2. What challenged you and surprised you?

I was surprised to find that I was having a tough time balancing my school life and home life. Even though I was a resident, my family still expected me to continue the home responsibilities I carried out as a member of the family. This was challenging because my parents did not understand the change of culture in college and the level of time, effort, and dedication it took to be successful in my academic career.

   3. What helped you the most during your first year of college?

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in a Summer Residential Program and to have taken college level courses while in High School. It was because of programs like these that I knew what was expected of me, how to navigate the college campus, and utilize resources when needed.

   4. What advice would you give for first year, first-generation students?

I strongly suggest starting the semester by creating a schedule and getting organized. I work with many students that are brilliant but lack the organizational skills to stay on top of their work. I would also encourage students to seek help when they are struggling and falling behind.

My favorite memories from college are definitely the times when my academic efforts were celebrated and acknowledged by my professors and the institution.

Questions for Current Student: John Mabin

John is originally from Philadelphia, PA, approximately two hours from our King’s College campus. He is currently a senior resident student of Mechanical Engineering and plans to graduate in May 2023. John is highly active on campus and is currently getting our first-generation student committee rolling. John credits the family atmosphere at King’s with drawing him to our institution. In his words, “The family environment is what sealed the deal for me to come to King's. I loved the environment that was good for me.”

   1. What is a common struggle you notice among first year students, particularly for first-generation students?

A common problem I notice is 'how to college'. There is a lot of freedom and I see some of them to this day walking around campus exploring, which is great, but that student may also have some homework due three days from now. It’s so much freedom away and because their parents don’t have the experience to warn them and say I know there is time to do nothing, but you should be doing something that will keep you ahead of work.

   2. What are some changes you noticed between your first and second year?

Between my first and second year of college, I think that I changed the most mentally. My first year I was a little lost, especially with the pandemic altering the way I knew college my first year. I was more aware of campus life and how I could use it to my advantage. Most of the changes I dealt with were within because I was shaping who I was.

   3. What advice would you give for first year, first-generation students?

I would tell all first-generation students to just get involved. Find time to do schoolwork but to also participate in school activities because there are connections to be built outside of the classroom.

   4. What supports at the college helped you succeed?

A major support for myself at King’s has been the multicultural office. Finding a sense of belonging helped me progress in college towards my career and life goals. With the help of Jasmine Giddings, our Diversity Coordinator, I was able to find out who I was as a student and where I felt I belonged.