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St. Olaf College is proudly home to many students, staff, and faculty who were the first in their families to attend or complete college.

Join us for activities and events happening all week long as we celebrate the First Gen experience! Visit our First Gen website for the full schedule of events. Some highlights include:

• Chapel Talk featuring first-generation college students Arroyo Garcia-Torres ’22 and Brent Sykes ’24
• TRIO McNair Graduate School Panel featuring first-generation faculty Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Statistics, & Computer Science Jaime Davila, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Cassandra Joiner, Assistant Professor of Biology Norman Lee, Associate Professor of Psychology Jeremy Loebach
• Piper Center Open House for first-generation students
• First-Gen Stories/Peer Dinner designed to promote conversations between first-generation students at St. Olaf and Carleton

In honor of National First-Generation College Celebration, recognized annually on November 8, we spoke to several members of the St. Olaf community about their first-generation experience.

Jinhee Cha ’17

When did you know you wanted to go to college?
During my sophomore year, I was ambitious, independent, and adventurous. I wanted to go to college because I wanted to explore the world and broaden my horizons. Going to college out of state sounded like a scary adventure and the idea excited me.

What do you want Oles to know about what it’s like to be First Gen?
It’s hard and I wish I wasn’t First Gen; things might have been easier for me if my parents knew what I was doing. But still, the effort was rewarding and the memories priceless.

What’s something others have done to make you feel at ease as a First Gen student?
Meeting others who are First Gen, especially BIPOC, helped me feel included and safe.

How should current First Gen students approach you for advice?
Just ask!

What advice do you have for current First Gen students?
There’s a lot more first-generation students that you think. Introduce yourself as First Gen; you’d be surprised on who’d you connected and network with.

Associate Dean of Students Tim Schroer

When did you know you wanted to go to college?
I grew up on a small family farm. While I loved living on a farm, I hated the work and the lifestyle. I guess I always assumed I would go to college, although the thought of leaving my small town terrified me a bit. I also went to a tiny public school (one of the smallest in the entire state of Ohio) so I questioned whether I could academically cut it.

What do you want Oles to know about what it’s like to be First Gen?
What I found was that it was a double edged sword.. on one hand there were no expectations from my family (except to enjoy and do well) because they had no experience of what it was like to be a college student. I was free to chart my own path. I found this oddly liberating. So when I changed my major, joined campus organizations, etc., I did it on my own terms. The flip side is that there were times I really wished they understood, as support during the tougher times would have been great.

How do you work to support current First Gen students?
In my role as First Year and Senior Class Dean I work with many first-generation students just through the nature of my work with Oles in these classes working to support and assist as they navigate through their particular year. I discuss being First Gen when it comes up and they often like the fact that I can relate to their struggles/joys because we share some of the same things being the first to go away to study.

How should current First Gen students approach you for advice?
Simply set up a time to chat. Any student can set up a time to talk about anything about their experience here, or if there is a challenge that they are working through, to ask for advice and support. I like when students identify themselves as First Gen as I often find I can better tailor my approach to helping out.

What advice do you have for current First Gen students?
My advice is to cast your net wide. Try to experience as many things (classes, activities, etc.) during your time on your Hill — of course, in the most balanced way you can. And to NEVER hesitate to reach out to the many resources available to assist with your journey as an Ole.

Lori Tran ’21

What do you want Oles to know about what it’s like to be First Gen?
I want Oles to know that being First-Gen means that every day we persist through college is another day added to making generational history in our families. We don’t just pursue this degree to better our own futures, but also to uplift our parents, grandparents, our communities back home, and generations to come.

What’s something others have done to make you feel at ease as a First Gen student?
The TRIO SSS/McNair faculty and First-Gen professors, like Assistant Professor of Psychology Jessica Benson, have opened their offices to me as brave spaces. So when I felt like giving up or like there was too much pressure on me, I could always walk into their offices and be reminded of how great of an impact I made at St. Olaf and my potential to make my mark on the world.

How should current First Gen students approach you for advice?
As I prepared to graduate last Spring, I worked on a passion project called Voices of the First Generation: Letters from First-Generation Oles to our Parents. I highly recommend students take a look at that book (copies available in the TRIO offices, Taylor Center, Psychology Department, and Family Studies Department) and then reach out to me so we can talk about their journeys at St. Olaf — I’d love to be their cheerleader too!

What advice do you have for current First Gen students?
To current first-generation students, as much as you are pursuing this degree for your families and communities, don’t forget to live for yourself. You deserve to be there, you deserve success, and your voice matters!!!