As I am sure you have heard from countless others, the transition to college is challenging and draining, especially for first-generation students. New people, new places and new cultures have made for a curious first few weeks at Hamilton College.
In a profile released by the Hamilton Office of Admission, 16% of students in the Class of 2028 identify as first-generation. If I am calculating the percentage correctly, there are 73 first-generation students in the Class of 2028 at Hamilton. This is to say that we are a small group, but this does not make us tiny in strength or grit.
First-year, first-generation students: welcome to Hamilton. You belong here. Out of an applicant pool of more than 8,500, you were hand- selected as the future of this great institution.
Certainly, I am not here to “glaze” Hamilton for its reputation and rigor; rather, I am here to remind you of your worth and/or belonging in this community. I would venture to say that Hamilton College needs us. Hamilton needs our ideas, our cultures, our voices, our opinions and our uniqueness.
Leaving our parents and guardians for college has likely the most challenging milestone in our lives, but I can assure you that it will be worthwhile. As my own mother put it, these next years in our lives will never return to us. Once passed, all this will merely be a memory. Let us make the most of it. This is your time to break generational barriers, to take on new experiences and to embrace the spirit of and.
Familiarize yourself with the many multicultural communities on campus! From La Vanguardia to the Black and Latino Student Union to the Asian Student Union, there is a place for you here. To my fellow Opportunity Program, Posse and QuestBridge Scholars: use the communities you have at hand now and nurture these families. You never know when you may need them.
As we progress into our first semester at Hamilton, and upon personal reflection, I am reminded of a question which many of us answered in our applications for admission, asking us to explain how we will shape this college community. As the first-generation students of our class, we bring an unparalleled voice and power to it. Nurture your potential and seek opportunity, that you might grow as an individual and as a leader. Ask for help (like, seriously); college is not meant to be easy — which is what makes it so exhilarating — but do not drop out. Yes, I am talking to you. Receiving your first B on an essay you wrote for your Fundamentals of Race class does not determine your chances of succeeding at this institution! Keep pushing forward and strive to be greater than you were yesterday.
What is the point of this article? Good question; my answer is that there are times where I question my belonging here. I have never seen so much Lululemon in my life. There are times where I enter a classroom doubting my intellectual capabilities. With that said, I have realized that it is time to toss this mentality aside and erase it from existence, to stand firm and acknowledge that I belong here and that I am fully capable of succeeding.
In a speech I delivered at my high school commencement, I made it clear to my graduating peers that “it takes a village.” None of us got where we are today alone. Regardless of how independent you think you are, we are social beings. We depend on each other’s support. Lift one another up! The sky is not the limit. Break conventional standards and support one another in our journeys to tomorrow.
You belong here, my friend, so reminisce the why. Embrace the spirit of challenge. Champion your future. Wipe those tears off your face. Finish that essay whose completion you have been procrastinating. Calculate the mathematical equation you have been assigned. Apply to that job you have wanted. Do that which is necessary to make the most out of this journey.
Arise and keep the faith, for you are destined for greatness. Welcome to your new beginning.
