Counseling and resource services for first-generation students
By Alana Van Slovis
First-generation students and their non-first-generation peers at Ohio State have one very important thing in common, access to resources geared towards their transition to college.
Counseling and resource services provided by Ohio State aim to support first-generation students in their college experience as a result of having a non-traditional transition to college.
“First-generation students face all of the same issues that any other students would face on this campus,” Dave Isaacs, manager of communication and media relations said. “The top stressor of students reporting to Counseling and Consultation Services is anxiety, first-generation students are no different [in experiencing] that.
Where their experiences may be different is that they may not have anybody in their immediate family that can talk about shared experiences, Isaacs said.
“Some students might feel extra pressure, like the weight of their family is on their shoulders, but as far as services go, it’s all the same sorts of things,” Isaacs said. “There are counselors at Counseling and Consultation Services who were first-generation students themselves and may be able to offer extra insight.
There are a number of programs available for all students including drop-in workshops, group workshops and specific courses like, “Surviving College 101,” which focus on learning skills needed for transitioning to college, Isaacs said.
Khaila Washington, a first-year student, described her experience with Counseling and Consultation Services as a first-generation student.
“I think Counseling and Consultation Services has helped me better understand my place here at Ohio State as a first-generation student,” Washington said. “It has helped me navigate my feelings, insecurities and doubts that come with being a first-generation student.”
Resource and counseling services most importantly need to address issues of money, self confidence and acknowledging that just because we are first-generation students, does not mean we are predisposed to failure, Washington said.
Additional resources like classes geared towards first-generation students and classes taught by first-generation faculty members would be helpful, Washington said when asked about what additional counseling resources would be helpful for first-generation students.
Jaylan Snowden, a first year, discussed how being a first-generation student has brought her a lot of challenges academically. She has used Counseling and Consultation Services and is in the process of getting in contact with the Stress Trauma and Resilience Program also known as STAR.
“My transition, at first, was pretty tough,” Snowden said. “I was bringing in a lot of outside trauma that made it difficult to really focus on my schoolwork, but being able to talk with someone and get in contact with an outside source that specialized in what I was dealing with really took a burden off of me.”
“Becoming so independent so quickly and lacking the knowledge of resources, like tutoring or even student advocacy, adds a lot of unnecessary stress to my plate that maybe a non-first-generation student wouldn’t have.”
“I feel imposter syndrome is something that I had to deal with that affected my mental health and should be addressed because it caused a variety of emotions and stress that was hard to manage, being a first-generation student,” Snowden said when asked about issues needing to be addressed more.
“It gave me reassurance that there are resources here on campus that support me as a student,” Snowden said. “Being able to just sit down and talk with someone about the stresses of my life has definitely been helpful.”
