In celebration of first generation day, TRiO held an event to reach out to first generation students, giving them a space to hangout and learn about resources that could help them during their first time in college.

First generation day is when you celebrate students, staff, and faculty who are the first in their family to pursue a four year undergraduate degree in the U.S.  

TRiO is a program that provides assistance, support, and encouragement to low-income, first generation students, and students with disabilities. TRiO’s student support services offers current Highline College students personal and academic support services to help Highline College students succeed. While Talent Search helps middle school, high school, and Running Start students succeed in college. They are currently located in Building 6 on the first floor.

During the event there was multiple videos of first generation students who talked about their experiences and struggles as well as some things that helped them during their time in college. They also had various snacks as well as a photo booth where you could take pictures with little signs. You could also leave some tips on a board for other students to read and use.

You also had the chance to talk with some of the staff of TRiO like Megan Mihara, a programmer who talked about what they hoped to achieve with this event, “We just wanted to bring awareness to first generation day and what it means, and just highlight student experiences, because student have extra challenges, again like not having family support and that familiarity with the college system.” 

You could also talk with other first generation students and what their experience with college was like and what they struggled with and even get tips from past first generation students.

Cindy Arias, a Cultural Center leadership adviser for TRiO as well as a past first generation student, had some tips for other first gen students like, “What comes to my mind is to find resources, find connections I think there’s a lot of resources for first gen but they’re not accessible and people don’t know about it.”

Ada Safi, a freshman in college who has been struggling with learning the ropes of college life said, “I didn’t really know how college works, like where do you apply and everything sense I’m the first generation right, so it was a big struggle.” 

Safi elaborated on her favorite parts of the TRiO event, “I actually met a new girl there and she was talking about her major and talking about her first day and first year in this college. So my favorite part is that I made a friend here.”

The TRiO event was meant to reach out to first gen students and to connect them with resources that would help them in their college life. As well as connecting them with other first generation students who share the same struggles or even past generation students who can give them tips.