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First-Generation Red Dragons: Blazing the Trail

First-gen college students & grads from the SUNY Oneonta community share their stories for National First-Generation College Celebration Day

By SUNY Oneonta

November 8^th, 2021

In 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation Student Success launched the inaugural National First-Generation College Celebration, a day to celebrate first-generation college graduates and students, uplift their voices, and hear their success stories.

Nov. 8 was selected to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which was intended to help level the playing field for Americans from minority and low-income backgrounds. Among other actions, the legislation created federal grants and loan programs to help students finance their educations.

MANY SUNY ONEONTA FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI AND STUDENTS WERE OR ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS.

Without any frame of reference and little to no assistance, they filled out piles of paperwork, balanced schoolwork and jobs in order to make ends meet, and navigated a new and daunting collegiate world. By doing so, they paved the way for their siblings, friends and students to come.

Here are a few of their stories:

First-Generation Red Dragons: Blazing the Trail

"Being first-gen means I am making history! I know that my experiences are creating an easier path for my family in generations to come. It helps me believe that I am truly a leader and can correctly guide younger first-gen college students. My message to them has always been that anything is possible, and they are not alone in this journey."

-Odalis Galeano, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2020

Site Coordinator at Delaware North Sportservice at UBS Arena

"I didn’t have anyone who had graduated before me to look up to or someone who experienced this to encourage me to keep going when I felt like giving up. Instead, I set a goal for myself and constantly affirmed that I can and will do this, not just for bragging rights but so that I can be an inspiration for my family members. I wanted to prove to them that this is achievable, no matter the obstacles you are faced with.

-Amarii Smith, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2020

Assistant Program Director for United Activities Unlimited, Inc.

"Being in college can be overwhelming for anyone. Being in college as a first-generation student meant that I had to 'decode' a lot of basic things about the college experience. ...

Being a first-generation college student led to my career and entry into a dynamic, vibrant world."

-Darren Chase, Director of Milne Library at SUNY Oneonta

"One word - opportunity. Taking risks, stepping out of my comfort zone, and committing to something my family has not seen before, all while remembering to stay humble.

I sometimes think back on all the obstacles I had to overcome and feel satisfied that I’m able to sit in a classroom learning about the subjects I’m passionate about. And when I think of the future, standing at my graduation and having that opportunity to tell my parents that I’ve made it, gives me such a great feeling."

-Mara Silva, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2022

"Learning how to navigate a series of systems that I had very little access to prior to going to college was the biggest obstacle for me. College was an entirely different culture with new languages and unspoken customs that made it difficult for me to navigate, and not having access to services that helped to teach me how to navigate college made it especially complicated. ...

Being a first-generation college graduate gave me access to a breadth and depth of knowledge and critical thinking skills that I would not have been exposed to had I not gone to college."

- Greg Hummel, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at SUNY Oneonta

"Being a first-generation college student means perseverance. You have to do it tired. ... You have to take advantage of the resources that surround you, and most importantly, you have to do the work. If not for yourself, for your family. It fills me up with such pride and joy to know that...I did it! Since I began my journey at SUNY Oneonta, I vowed to my family and myself that by any means necessary, I will graduate."

-Jyesse Behling, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2020

Legal Intake Specialist at a law firm

"It means opportunities; a chance to make a change and a difference."

- Donna Johnson, SUNY Oneonta Class of 1985

Coordinator of Articulation and Transfer Credit at SUNY Oneonta

"It means I get to be a role model for my younger sisters.Growing up, there wasn’t much pressure to succeed academically, and when it was time to consider colleges, there was not much support. I remember asking my grandparents if they could take me to see some schools, and I’m glad I did - they were a huge influence in pushing me over the 'to go to college, or not to go to college' ledge. I hope being a first-generation college student inspires my younger sisters to continue their education in some way after high school."

-Kyle Beckley, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2008

Co-founder and Producer at Full Out Creative

"To me, being a first-generation college student means that I'm taking control of my life and making independent decisions about my future. By being a first-generation college student, I have learned life skills and fundamentals of life."

-Ethan Chichester, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2023

"Being a first-generation student means so much to me. It shows me how hard my parents worked in order to come here and want me to continue higher education. It has been difficult. You don't have a lot of people in your family for questions or advice. It can be scary. What's important is to remember there's always people there to help you and want to see you succeed. Don't only make your parents proud but make yourself proud, too."

-Allen Kariyakarawana, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2024

"Being a first-generation college student to me means being a trailblazer. I am making my own path for myself and not just following in the footsteps of somebody else, which makes my life all the more interesting."

-Bel Mendoza, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2021

"To me, being a first-generation college student means opportunity. ...

I grew up in poverty on a farm, deep in the mountains of Virginia. College was completely unknown to my family. When I decided to pursue higher education, I did so without any support from my family and against the direct guidance of my high school."

-Tracy Allen, Dean of the School of Sciences at SUNY Oneonta

"Being a first-generation student, I faced many unknowns. Navigating the academic system was difficult, and adding financial burdens to the equation created many obstacles. ... To me, being a first-generation college student represents perseverance, inspiration and the continuous pursuit of growth."

-Marvin Rodriguez, SUNY Oneonta Class of 2015, Lead Programmer/Analyst at SUNY Oneonta

"I am very proud of being a first-generation student. College saved me from a cycle of work in my family that I did not want to be perpetually tied to, mainly hard manual labor. College opened up a whole new world for me, and it continues to do so."