Written by Tiff Kim, Transfer Jacks Peer Mentor
November 8, 2022 was National First-Generation Celebration Day! NAU proudly observed this day to acknowledge our nearly 46% student population who identifies as first-generation college students. It’s the day to celebrate not only students but also faculty, staff, and alumni who are the first in their family to pursue a 4-year degree. NAU has many programs dedicated to first generation students such as the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, TRIO Student Support Services, STAR, First Scholars, and First-Generation Mentoring. It is important to acknowledge the services like these because they are vital in assisting student success. The First-Generation Programs webpage can be found here.
Here are some of the highlights of our day featuring some of our own transfer mentors!
But first, cake.
To celebrate National First Gen Day, the Transfer Jacks Program offered a delicious chocolate cake to first gen students and supporters!
As a first-generation student myself, I love how our university celebrates the first gen population! At my previous school, there was not really any celebration for students like me. On the other hand, NAU dedicates November 8th to first-gen students. In previous years, there was the whole week to celebrate. For example, in the infamous pandemic year of 2020, lots of zoom events took place. This included a trivia event, TRIO Tuesday, Watch Parties and more! (https://firstgen.naspa.org/events/northern-arizona-university-s-first-generation-college-celebration) On the Transfer Jacks team, we have several first-generation students as well!
This is one of our transfer mentors, Cora B!
Cora is a junior studying business economics with a minor in political science. She also was nominated mentor of the month in October!
“Being a first gen student is quite a unique experience compared to others. You don’t really have family guidance to help you through the process of applying, picking classes and maybe financial aid. Being a first gen student has helped me grow into the strong person I am. At first, it was terrifying to know that I was going to be on my own but in the end, it is very rewarding to know that I did it myself.” – Cora Brown
Here are our other transfer mentors, Leah Minero (right) and Jennifer Wadley (left)!
They are a part of the Tri-Alpha Honor Society! This program highlights the academic excellence of first-generation college students at NAU. Here they are at the Fall 2022 induction ceremony!
Leah Minero is currently a senior majoring in psych studies with a minor in disability studies. She has been a member of the Tri-Alpha Honor Society since 2021!
“Being a first-gen student is a unique experience that forces you to learn and grow as a person. I had no knowledge of the college process and being a transfer student made it more confusing for me, but I was fortunate to have amazing resources on campus like my Transfer Jacks Peer Mentor. It is exciting and important to celebrate being a first-generation student because oftentimes it can be hard to find the motivation to go to college but being able to persevere and receive your diploma makes the experience worth it.” – Leah Minero
Jennifer is a senior studying exercise physiology. She was recently inducted into the Tri-Alpha Honor Society this semester!
“The first-generation college experience is different than others. It is new territory for my family and I. With the love and support of my family, I was able to overcome challenges and be the first in my family to attend college. It is not an easy journey, but you must remind yourself, “you’re here, you’re doing it.” You are not only breaking generational chains, but you are making yourself and everyone who sees you proud. This has been one of my most rewarding accomplishments! I cannot wait for what’s next.” – Jennifer Wadley
We are proud to say that our team is made up by remarkable first gen students. This year 9 out of 14 team members identify as first-generation college students including our supervisors. Thank you to each of them for sharing their stories as well on the @nautransferjacks Instagram page. As we continue, it is important to recognize first-generation students and their accomplishments not only on this special day but every day. Our journey is not the same as others and we take pride in our experiences. We are paving through an unfamiliar route and we are striving for success!