Along with applying for colleges and financial aid, and taking tests, about one in four Central seniors face another challenge on the road to college: belonging to the first generation in their family to attend college.*

While some of these students have been expected to go to college since birth, middle school was the time that many made a personal decision to attend college.

Freshman Danny Trogdon made his decision a few years ago. “I want to go to college, really bad. I don’t want to be poor—I really want to make something of myself. I guess it comes from living with my parents—you know how it is, they weren’t doing so well,” said Trogdon.

All the first-generation college students interviewed find their decisions supported by their families.

“I think that [my parents’] lack of education led them to know what it’s like—they know the roadblocks in your life if you don’t meet the qualifications. They don’t want me to have boundaries,” said senior Cristina Correa.

Students who plan to become the first in their family to go to college are generally marked with independence. Although all the students interviewed receive support from their families for their intentions to go to college, many students cannot depend on their families for financial support or help with their schoolwork.

“[My parents] haven’t gone through the courses I take—they can’t help me with Algebra II,” said senior Shalisha Grady. Not having help with schoolwork in the family is “nerve-wracking” for Grady, who added, “I need an education so that I can help my kids with my homework.”

First-generation college students assume several responsibilities in their plans to go to college. “It’s not just for me, but for others who want it for me,” said Adria Cintron.

Sophomore Jonathan Esquivel plans to use his college education to get a job that pays more than the one he gets now, and continue to send his paychecks to his family in El Salvador.

Freshman Nicole Patterson intends to be the first in her family to attend college, and she wants to set an example for her younger siblings to follow her. “I want them to have what they can out of life,” said Patterson.

When it comes to getting the money to attend college, Patterson sighed and said, “I don’t know. I’m trying to get some scholarships. I don’t know how, but I just want to get some.”

Most students planning to become first-generation college students intend to pay their own way through college, through scholarships and jobs. When Grady realized that she would have to become financially independent in college, she said, “I was really stressed for a couple of weeks—I hardly slept, I had hair falling out and I was really anxious, but now I’ve accepted it.”

Some first-generation college students feel lonely in dealing with college-related stress. “I don’t really have anybody. I try to figure it out by myself, think about what my mom would tell me. Try to deal with it myself instead of worrying her,” said Esquivel.

“I had some friends who were seniors drop out three weeks before graduation, from the stress of going through it all without anyone there to support them,” said senior Samantha Searl.

Searl has drawn support for her plans to go to college from her counselor and teachers. “I want to become a high school history teacher and encourage high school students not to drop out,” said Searl.

Central participates in several programs to help students who face challenges on their road to college. The College Bound program offers free tutoring services to all students. For more information, stop by the counseling center.

The Upward Bound program is designed for first-generation college students. The free program provides tutoring, assistance with college admissions and financial aid and college campus visits. Students are also paid for their participation in the program. Applications are available in the counseling center.

*From a random sample of 100 current seniors, 23 percent of the students belong to the first generation in their family to pursue further education after high school.