Generation One Trailblazers: First-Gen Voices

Firsthand accounts and recommended reading.

Selected Articles

On Being the First: The Role of Family in the Experiences of First-Generation College Students 
Capannola, A. L., & Johnson, E. I. (2022). On being the first: The role of family in the experiences of first-generation college students. Journal of Adolescent Research, 37(1), 29-58.

Transitioning to College: Experiences of Successful First-Generation College Students 
Ricks, J. R., & Warren, J. M. (2021). Transitioning to College: Experiences of Successful First-Generation College Students. Journal of Educational Research and Practice11(1), 1-15.

How Relevant Is Grit? The Importance of Social Capital in First-Generation College Students’ Academic Success 
Almeida, D. J., Byrne, A. M., Smith, R. M., & Ruiz, S. (2021). How relevant is grit? The importance of social capital in first-generation college students’ academic success. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 23(3), 539-559.

"I'm Having a Little Struggle With This, Can You Help Me Out?": Examining Impacts and Processes of a Social Capital Intervention for First-Generation College Students 

Schwartz, S.E.O., Kanchewa, S.S., Rhodes, J.E., Gowdy, G., Stark, A.M., Horn, J.P., Parnes, M. and Spencer, R. (2018), “I'm Having a Little Struggle With This, Can You Help Me Out?”: Examining Impacts and Processes of a Social Capital Intervention for First-Generation College Students. Am J Community Psychol, 61: 166-178.

I'm First!
Check out video stories from first-gen students, read student blogs and discover colleges that have special programs to support their first-gen students. Watch or share your own story!

First Generation Celebration

Documentary: A Walk in My Shoes

 Lyric Swinton

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