First in the family: Experiences of being first-generation

BY ANNABETH JOHNSON / Multimedia Journalist

Welcoming a new semester means welcoming the new students joining the Tarleton State University family. From students coming in from overseas or just up the road, every student has a different background and story. Within the Tarleton family, over 45% of students are first-generation. 

Jenny Watts, Tarleton’s Executive Director for the First-Gen Initiatives, briefly describes what qualifies you as a first-generation student as well as the current first-gen enrollment here at Tarleton. 

“By definition, a first-generation student is one whose parents don’t have a Bachelor’s Degree. About 48% of our undergraduate students are first-generation,” Watts said. “That is roughly about 7,000 students that are first-generation. Other universities are only going to have about 25% of their students that are first-generation.”

First Gen Initiatives is a community of students, faculty and staff who are or were first-generation students. This organization focuses on holding student facing events to celebrate and provide community and network for first-generation students.

The community of First Gen Initiatives hosts First-Gen Fridays. On the first Friday of every month, students and faculty have coffee and donuts on campus. This provides students the opportunity to explore and see different offices and resources. 

First-Gen Initiatives also celebrates November 8, National First-Generation College Student Day, on all of the Tarleton campuses as well as online. 

Jeanelis Watson is entering her sophomore year and is the first in her family to attend a four-year university. With her parents receiving their Associate degrees at community colleges, Watson is the first member of her family to be working on a Bachelor’s degree. 

She describes her first-generation student experience as fun and non-stressful. 

“All the events on campus help you make friends and get to know more about the school. There is a lot to do,” Watson said. “There is something for everybody.”

She currently enjoys supporting the Texans by attending soccer games and being a member of the American Sign Language club. 

President James Hurley, who was a first-generation student himself, extends some advice to his fellow first-gen students. 

“Know that you can do it and you are going to be successful,” Hurley said, “Start with the notion that you are going to be successful. Also, start with the end in mind. You have to understand the destination, and that destination is the degree. The learning experiences along the journey are far more valuable than the degree. Enjoy the journey, but also don’t be afraid to ask for help. I am fortunate enough to be here today because people believed in me but I also believed in them. I believed in the power of partnership and collaboration and being there for one another.”