“Being a first-gen, sometimes we have this whole impostor syndrome. Do I even belong in higher education, do I belong in this class in this major,” said Athina Cuevas, the assistant director of the Promising Futures First-Generation Program and Cross-Cultural Center. “This week is more of a reminder (of) you’re here, you’re present, this is where you’re supposed to be. I hope this week is a motivation booster.”

During the first week of November, Chapman’s Promising Futures Program celebrated First Gen Week with events ranging from an ice cream social to a financial wellness panel. The week started out with a Kick-Off event where students played bingo and had a chance to reconnect with other members of the first-generation community.

“It gives us the spotlight and lets us know that we have a community on campus,” said Diego Rubio, a junior computer engineering major. “A lot of students they’ll start off and come through summer bridge and then kind of fade away from the first-gen community and later on they’ll come back (and) see a lot of familiar faces they hadn’t seen in a while. It gives everyone the opportunity to reconnect, to gain a sense of feeling like they belong here.”

First Gen Week is not only for first-generation students, but it’s also a place for first-generation faculty and staff to celebrate and come together as a community. Being first generation is an identity that people carry not just during their years in college, but something that they carry throughout their roles later on in life. For Cuevas, it’s also really important to encourage first gen supporters and allies, as she believes that there’s a lot everyone can learn from each other’s experiences.

“You don’t realize how many staff and admin are first gen until they come (to first-gen) events and you’re left surprised,” said Rubio, who helped put the events together. “(But then) you feel more connected to them.”

For Cuevas, it was really important to make sure that First Gen Week events cater to what students need, so she asked for some students' input, as well as for help in planning. When she was planning the second event of the week, Cuevas knew that students would be anxious, as it was the same day of the election. She settled on an ice cream social, after asking students if that would help them feel better. 

“It was my first time going to first-gen week, even though I’m a junior,” said Hanna Higgins, a junior business administration major. “It was really cool to see how much they do for us and a lot of people also spoke about their first generation experiences and what it was like in their family.”

First Gen Week is not just about coming together and having fun, but it’s also a great opportunity for staff to share resources with students. This year, there was a financial wellness session, to help students better understand the resources that Chapman offers to help them understand their finances better. The Cross-Cultural Center, where that and most of the other events of the week took place is also a good resource for first generation students, as it’s a place where they can come together and see familiar faces.

“With the busyness of college life, it does help to be reminded (of resources), even though we are aware of it,” said Kevin Le, a senior computer science major. “I think some people get so busy that they forget so I think it’s a great thing that we are reminded of these resources that we should take advantage of.”

Le, as well as Rubio and Higgins all agree that Cuevas and Araceli Martinez, the executive director of the Cross-Cultural Center and First-Generation Programs, have created a great atmosphere for first generation students. The community that Cuevas and Martinex have created also presents an important resource for first generation students, as it motivates them to keep going to school and gives them people they can rely on. The studenta all feel like they can come to Cuevas and Martinez for advice or with any questions regarding anything from financial questions to advice on classes.

“I grew up in a town where first generation never was a thing, I didn’t even realize (that) first generation was important or that I could be recognized for something like that until I applied to Chapman,” Higgins said. “Chapman really made me feel noticed for (being) the first one in my family to go to college.”

The final event of First Gen Week was a panel and mixer that was made in collaboration with Laguna Beach High School. In the mixer, Chapman students got to share their experience and advice with high school students who are looking to go to college as first-generation students. At the mixer, Higgins was the only person who was out of state, which gave her a unique perspective she was able to share with the high school students, as she was able to offer advice on being away from home and being away from home. 

“It made me almost tear up because it (was) just so inspiring knowing how much of an impact you can make on (a) kid’s stories and their futures,” said Higgins. “I used to be in that position where I knew I wanted to pursue higher education and I wish I had talked to college students at their age. I wish I had that experience, so I’m grateful I got to speak to high school students and have that little bit of impact on them.”