GenOne Week Celebrates First-Generation Warriors

One by one, first-generation Warriors stood up, introduced themselves, and began sharing personal stories of pride, fear, joy, uncertainty, responsibility, and a medley of other emotions that came with being the first in their families to attend college.

Students spoke of successes and setbacks, but each story concluded with a common theme: the Generation One Club was a place where they felt heard and understood, and GenOne Week was a celebration that allowed them to pause and appreciate the progress they’ve made.

Held from Nov. 3-7, GenOne Week at East Stroudsburg University featured events and activities designed to bring first-generation students together. At this particular gathering, called “Knowledge for College,” each student in attendance opened up about their experiences.

When it was Khryztelle Alferez’s turn, she began her story by explaining she was born in a small village in the Philippines – a place where education didn’t carry the same weight as it does elsewhere.

“My family is from a place where even if you have education, you could possibly not get anything out of it,” said Alferez, a junior majoring in medical technology. “So, coming to America, that was my family’s way of surviving.”

She paused and looked around the room.

“Coming to ESU, I really believed this was my chance to give back to my parents for all that hardship and struggle they experienced in getting me here,” she continued.

Alferez went on to explain that though the pressure was real, support from the Generation One Club, fellow students, and ESU faculty and staff helped her succeed.

“I came to a meeting and for the first time I heard some semblance of my own experience, and it was surreal because I had felt like maybe I don’t belong here, but the club helped me realize that I do,” she said.

Feelings like imposter syndrome are not uncommon for first-generation college students, said Generation One Club President and junior nursing major Alyssa Ryan. For them, having a tight-knit network to rely on when things get tough can make all the difference.

“We all leave our families and come to a brand-new experience where everyone and everything is completely different,” Ryan said after “Knowledge for College” concluded. “Every single story about making friends, finding connections, or getting the help they needed, is a telling point for me that we’re doing something right, and we’re fostering these connections.”

GenOne Week not only provides a needed forum, it helps bring new members and new perspectives into the club, Ryan added.

“We want to get first-generation students involved in the club as early as we can because the longer you’re involved, the more relationships you foster,” she said.

Angel Arce, a dual major in social work and middle level education with a concentration in English, spoke about growing up in Philadelphia and how it was difficult to find guidance related to education. The Generation One Club became that place.

“It’s a second family that serves to make you feel welcome but also makes sure that you’re supported no matter what,” Arce said.

In addition to “Knowledge for College,” GenOne Week featured karaoke-centered “Music for Commuters,” a hot chocolate and coffee fundraiser, an annual mixer for faculty and staff who were first-generation college students, a game night and a relaxation and mindfulness-themed “Zen Hour.”

Events and resources aren’t just limited to GenOne Week. Programs are held throughout the academic year to assist first-generation students who encounter challenges when adjusting to university life.

Students interested in learning more about the Generation One Club can visit the club’s WarriorLink page or the GenOne website. They can also contact the co-coordinators ESU’s First Gen College Campus Programs and Initiatives Joe Akob and Dr. Jessica Santiago or GenOne club advisors Christine Getz and Kim Roselli.

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