Page 2 - First Gen Student

○ The Harvard College First Generation Student Union​: FGSU has three main objectives: To facilitate the transition to college for first generation students through initiatives such as providing mentorship networks and sharing academic and social resources among members; To build a community among first generation Harvard students; and To provide the first generation student community a platform to express its voice and to advocate for themselves.
Office: 86 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 Phone number: 617-495-1581
Networking/Campus Resources
● Issues
○ From my personal experience, networking is extremely important in success.
Students may be struggling with networking as they do not have experience or
any one in the family with experience.
○ Having issues with networking could hinder them from getting amazing job
opportunities. ● Solution
○ Mentorship​: To ​sign up for the mentorship program, please visit the "Mentor Program" tab and submit the application.
go.to.ro@gmail.com
Words to Avoid with First Generation Students
● Issues
○ Words and phrases like, “American Dream”, “Poor background”, “discourage”.
Certain words can trigger first gen students.
○ If they feel like they are being separated from others or different, it may cause
anxiety and feelings of failure. ● Solutions
○ Educate yourself: read books like Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival and ​and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard and Educated: A Memoir. Watch videos, Ask around.
○ First Generation Harvard Alumni​ is a Harvard Alumni Association shared interest group dedicated to mentoring, advocating for, and providing networking connections to first-generation Harvard students and alumni.
59 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA 02138