Temple University recently invited members of the university community to share their experience and perspective as first-generation college students. The College of Education and Human Development's Elijah Rhea was among those featured. His story is below.

Elijah Rhea 
Assistant Director of College Access and Persistence Initiatives, College of Education and Human Development 
BA, psychology, Towson University, 2013; MEd, elementary education and teaching, Relay Graduate School of Education, 2017 

What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student? 
Being a first-generation student means legacy. There's a collectivist ideal that is often felt being a first-generation college graduate, bearing a sense of responsibility to move forward in one's education with the hopes that it can provide upward mobility. I think that when I was younger, this resonated with every decision I made as a person who didn't want to go to college. Now I feel a responsibility to continue to show my younger siblings, cousins, etc. that this is attainable and to pay respect to my elders and ancestors.

What was your experience as a first-generation student? 
Applying to college felt very daunting and out of reach. So many people around me had mentors or family to coach them, while I felt like I was lost at sea. But it gave me a huge sense of pride and confidence in myself to be able to figure things out. As I progressed through undergrad, being a first-generation student also helped me become more open to asking for support. 

Why is Temple a great place for first-generation students? 
There is a lot of work happening to understand the needs of first-generation college students and build out systems to support them. I have also seen a wide and diverse range of first-generation college staff and faculty that have been reflecting on their own experiences to support students here. Temple is a place where community seems to be constantly growing, and I'm excited to see how we keep expanding.

Read the full story online.