“Nicole Craig hopes to leave the audience with a stronger understanding of first-generation college students and encourage individuals to harness the power of being first in an increasingly innovative world. She aims to spread awareness for this student population and inspire others to find their ‘first’.”
“In this talk, Estrella Serrato discusses her experiences as a first generation higher education student. Her talk explores the cultural exclusivity in the college setting and how she personally found her path and earned her place as a graduate.”
TEDx Talks: What I have learned as a first-generation college student | Lyric Swinton | TEDxUofSC
“Anyone can feel out of place due to differences in gender, race, socioeconomic status, relationships, or even a separation of work life and weekend life. But Lyric Swinton knows that we are not defined by the stereotypes placed upon us. Swinton is keenly aware of how stereotypes can hinder one’s development, but she’s overcome the challenges of being a first-generation college student, and she wants us to know that we all play a role in helping others overcome their struggles.”
“First-generation college students experience additional barriers to success compared to non-first gen peers from childhood to graduation. Lindsey Dubose emphasizes a need for both an ‘instilled sense of possibility’ from a young age and an ‘institutionally-cultivated sense of belonging’ to succeed in higher education."
“A new initiative by the University of California system uses first-generation faculty to guide first-generation students, with the goal of decreasing dropout rates. As part of our series Rethinking College, Hari Sreenivasan visits UCLA to see how the program is working.”
K-State College of Education: A Walk in My Shoes: First Generation College Students Full Documentary
“This inspirational documentary delves into the lives of eight first-generation college students, five preservice teachers and three successful educators, who chose a profession dedicated to a concept they are all committed to: changing lives.”
Michelle Obama’s inspiring message to first gen college students
“Former first lady Michelle Obama - a first-generation college graduate - has a message for first-gen college students across the country.”
First In Our Families: Digital Stories of First Generation Students
“This First Generation Digital Storytelling project explores the use of storytelling and digital social media to give voice to the rarely heard narratives of First Generation college students and graduates. In three day digital storytelling workshops, current and former first gen students craft first person stories and then weave images, video, sound, and silence to craft elegant multimedia pieces about pride, growth, resilience, anger, tenacity, doubt, shame, and discovery as they navigate the invisible cultural and social norms of higher education.”
I’m First!: Video Stories from First Generation Students
“I’m First! features and collects YouTube video testimonials from first-gen students and graduates from across the country.”
TEDxTalks: Preparing students for the culture of college | JoAnn Myers | TEDxABQED
“It is essential for students to be academically prepared to enter college. However, JoAnn Myers believes they must also be prepared for the culture of college to success. She explains how this is especially essential for first generation college students.”
“Researcher and teacher Fiona Veraa has researched the needs and experiences of first generation students, students whose parents have no experience in higher education. After having worked and studied in London, Paris, Madrid, Hong Kong and Singapore, her cultural awareness was raised on how one can connect and build strong relationships in an intercultural context and she was convinced to make a change. Fiona created a program to radically rethink the educational equity to breakthrough barriers and create a real inclusive future. Because she believes that when we embrace our differences, rethink equity and create bottom-up initiatives we can truly create a society where people from all backgrounds can meet, work, learn and grow together.”