To honor the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, Nov. 8 serves as the date for the annual National First-Generation College Celebration, a day to celebrate first-generation college students, faculty, staff and alumni and their success! To mark the occasion, The Peel connected with three first-generation students about their favorite places and resources on campus, as well as advice they’d give to other students and their first-semester selves.
Samantha Beltran
Graduation Year: 2025
Major(s): Sociology and forensic science, with a minor in Spanish
What’s your favorite spot on campus (to study, hang out, eat, etc.)? Multicultural Affairs’ lounge area, Schine Student Center and the grass area in front of Hall of Languages. All areas are calm and open to do work.
What office(s)/resource(s) would you recommend to other students to help in their transition to college life? The Barnes Center at The Arch for mental and physical health, and for extra activities on and off campus.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to another first-generation college student? “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It is okay to make mistakes, it happens during your college experience, but you learn that you can only do so much, and you will grow from those challenges and realize you were overthinking too much.
What would you tell your first-semester self about college? Be more social and go out and join clubs. I was so focused on my grades and work that I didn’t give myself time to have fun with friends.
Raquell Carpenter
Graduation Year: 2023
Major(s): Mathematics education and mathematics
What’s your favorite spot on campus (to study, hang out, eat, etc.)? My favorite spot on campus is 119 Euclid. I am able to go there for multiple things like studying, hanging out, events or just for a quick snack in between my classes.
What office(s)/resource(s) would you recommend to other students to help in their transition to college life? I would recommend Multicultural Affairs and utilizing the organizations on campus, because they do help. These can help you to become well acquainted with the campus quickly, if you are open to meeting new people and perhaps trying new hobbies.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to another first-generation college student? My advice is to be involved in things on campus. It helps to develop a home away from home, as well as adds balance to the workload that comes with being a college student. I would also recommend getting a job that allows you to do schoolwork. It is very helpful and will alleviate a lot of stress when the workload picks up.
What would you tell your first-semester self about college? I would tell my first-semester self that college has a lot of opportunities and ways to be active, but it is important to not spread myself thin. Health is wealth, and if I am not okay from being so involved, then how can I apply myself to my fullest potential? Balance is key, and prioritizing myself is very important.
Mark Persaud
Graduation Year: 2025
Major(s): Undecided
What’s your favorite spot on campus (to study, hang out, eat, etc.)? My favorite spot to study on campus would be Bird Library and my favorite place to hang out or grab lunch would be Schine Student Center. Bird Library is usually a quiet place to work by yourself or with friends. Schine has a lot of options for food, and I grab lunch with friends there and catch up between classes on school days.
What office(s)/resource(s) would you recommend to other students to help in their transition to college life? 119 Euclid is a place for people of color that fosters a sense of familiarity and serves as a home away from home. Black students and culture as well as the African diaspora are also celebrated here. Another resource a student can use is the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS). CLASS is a tutoring service available to all students around the University, and it does an amazing job of covering materials in your classes. This will definitely help improve your grades and help you get a better understanding of what’s happening in class.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to another first-generation college student? One piece of advice I would give is to make a lot of connections as a first-year student. The more connections with people you have on campus, the more involved you are at Syracuse University. You get information on clubs, events, extra help, resources for classes and more.
What would you tell your first-semester self about college? I honestly would tell my first-semester self to be patient and not overthink situations. The transition from high school to college can be hard. You can get frustrated with your classes, expectations of yourself, having a lack of energy and so forth, but you can’t let that put you down. The thing that I failed to understand was that the other students around me were going through the same thing. I was scared of failing and letting myself down because nothing was going to plan. I learned that failing an exam/quiz or having no clue what is going on in class is not the end of the world. These are the learning experiences that prepare you for the next step; it betters you to learn from your mistakes, and as you go on, the second semester can be much better from your improved mistakes.
Looking to join in on the First-Generation College Celebration yourself? The campus community is invited to attend this year’s Celebration event, “You Matter, You Belong,” featuring Dr. Eve. Organized by the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), TRIO Student Support Services, Kessler Scholars Program, Syracuse University Libraries, Intercultural Collective and New Student and Family Programs, this event seeks to empower and elevate the voices of first-generation students, give students the opportunity to connect with each other and campus resources, and foster allyship within the campus community. This year’s First-Generation College Celebration event will feature a keynote, fireside chat and Q&A with Dr. Eve. Dr. Eve was a first-generation college student who earned her Ph.D. at the age of 28. She is now the founder and president of Evingerlean Worldwide®, an entity created to empower first-generation scholars and professionals across the globe.