UW Oshkosh’s chapter of Tri-Alpha, a national honor society for first-generation students, induced 39 members Nov. 7 in the Culver Family Welcome Center.

“The students that we are inducting … distinguish themselves academically because they continue to take advantage of the opportunities and the support networks that we have here,” said Cordelia Bowlus, director of the McNair Scholars Program.

The ceremony was hosted by the Center for Student Success and Belonging in honor of National First-Generation College Celebration week. 

In Oshkosh, 44% of college students are first-generation students,  students who are the first in their family to obtain a bachelor’s degree at a postsecondary educational institution.

Bowlus said UWO’s support systems for first-generation students are much better than they have been historically.

“You either sank or you swam,” she said. “Thankfully, this is no longer the case, especially not here at UWO.”

President of UWO’s Tri-Alpha executive board Ashley Hooyman, who is a first generation student, said the organization acted as a safe space for her to relate to students with similar experiences.

“I was always looking for a community where I was understood, where I could vent my struggles,” she said.

Hooyman said that not having parents who can help navigate the college experience can be difficult when accomplishing tasks like course registration, buying textbooks and settling into the dorms.

“There’s kind of the not really knowing how everything works,” she said. “Unless you have other friends and family who have gone through it, you come to campus and it’s a whole new world.”

First-generation students experience other challenges, as well, Bowlus said.

“There’s that intimidation factor, especially if they look around and see that the students around them seem to know what they’re doing,” she said.

Being first-generation and not having background knowledge other students have coming into college can even hinder their confidence to engage with others, Bowlus said.

“The challenge is understanding that it’s okay not to know,” she said. “And I think a lot of the students I’ve spoken with over the years, they’re very intimidated to go to their faculty’s or professor’s office hours because they think they are going to ask a dumb question.”

Wyatt Seibel, who was inducted into Tri-Alpha, said that although his parents didn’t receive a bachelor’s degree, it was his mom who encouraged him to pursue an education.

“My mom has been stuck at the same job she doesn’t really like her whole life,” he said. “Her whole thing is pushing us as kids to get into it. She was always hard on me; it wasn’t really quite an option, it was ‘where are you going to school?’”

While being a first-generation student may come with extra challenges, some said there are other benefits that come with being a trailblazer within their families.

“I see it as something to be thankful for,” Hooyman said.  “I have the opportunity to provide a better life for the family I want to create and just push myself to the fullest potential.”

Belynda Pinkston, McNair program coordinator and honorary Tri-Alpha inductee, told first-generation students they act as inspiration for many other aspiring students.

“You serve as a beacon to others, not only within your family and the UWO community, but you never know who’s watching and who is inspired by your hard work, your diligence and your commitment,” she said.

Ever since I came to campus, I was kind of looking for a community of first-gens. You go home and your parents don’t really understand the college atmosphere, and unless you have other family members that aren’t immediate who have gone to college, you’re kind of stuck doing that independently. 

I was always looking for a community where I was understood, where I could vent my struggles.

Going home and not really having that support system that acknowledges: okay, she has this many exams and taking this many credits, this is the amount of time that she’ll need.

There’s kind of the not really knowing how everything works. Unless you have other friends and family who have gone through it, you come to campus and it’s a whole new world.

I came to campus and I was like ‘oh my god, I’m so overwhelmed with all this information.’ 

I see it as something to be thankful for.  I have the opportunity provide a better life for the family I want to create and just push myself to the fullest potential. 

When I was a college student, there was no appreciation for what it meant to be the first in your family to navigate college. You either sank or you swam. Thankfully, this is no longer the case, especially not here at UWO. 

Pre-college, students support services, first-gen student ward, McNair

Because of this robust support that we have in place on this campus, this past spring, the center for first-generation student success…designated UWO as a first scholars institution.

The credit goes to those who leveraged the opportunities at their ready.

The students that we are inducting… distinguish themselves academically because they continue to take advantage of the opportunities and the support networks that we have here.

I can be very disorienting, because it’s so different from highschool. High school doesn’t really prepare you for college, period. So if you don’t have parents who say ‘when I was a freshman, ths is what happened; you need to be careful

The challenge is understanding that it’s okay not to know. And I think a lot of the students I’ve spoken with over the years, they’re very intimidated to go to their faculty’s or professor’s office hours because they think they are going to ask a dumb question, or even to speak up in class.

There’s that intimidation factor, especially if they look around and see that the students around them seem to know what they’re doing.

My mom has been stuck at the same job she doesn’t really like her whole life. Her whole thing is pushing us as kids to get into it. She was always hard on me; it wasn’t really quite an option, it was ‘where are you going to school?’

You might be first-gen if: you are a visionary, if you’re able to see beyond your current circumstances and all that your future might hold; a trailblazer, who is unafraid to go where others have not gone before; youre a hardworker

You serve as a beacon to others, not only within your family and the UWO community, but you never know who’s watching and who is inspired by your hard work, your diligence and your commitment.