Left to right: Kamal Morgan, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Israel Perez, Ashley Davis. Photo courtesy of Ashlei Chears.

On Nov. 8, Henry Ford College hosted the “First-Generation College Celebration,” which focused on the uplifting and understanding of first-generation college students. Organized by program advisor Ashlei Chears, the event had the main events of a panel of current and past first-generation HFC students and a conversation between HFC President Russ Kavalhuna and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a first generation Arab American and among the first Muslim women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Tlaib was just re-elected for her third term.

The event also included presentations from representatives from student support areas like career services and counseling services, as well as a brunch provided by alum Tiffany Williams.

The event opened with a speech by the Vice President of Student Affairs, Holly Diamond, which addressed the common concerns of first-generation students at HFC and her own personal experience with them.

“Do you wonder if you belong? Absolutely, like imposter syndrome. Am I really a college student? Should I really be getting an education? You question, Do I belong here?” said Diamond.

Diamond validated these opinions and then went on to talk about her past, not wanting to attend college after high school until her parents dropped her off at the University of Michigan—Dearborn and forced her to face the idea of college. She had to overcome the feelings that current first-generation students still feel: confusion and anxiety.

Near the end of her speech she told students, “We will wrap our arms around you, support you because you belong here. I want you to know that. I want you to know you belong here,” said Diamond.

After Diamond finished her speech, she welcomed the panel of current students and alumni to talk about their experiences about being first-generation students at HFC. The panel consisted of Ashley Davis, Kamal Morgan, Saidah Obad, and Israel Perez. One question they were asked was how they feel about being the only student in their family and how it affects them.

“It’s like when I’m going to my classes, working towards my degree, it’s like [his parents] are there with me. They’re alongside me,” Morgan said .

“If I have to be the one that gets all the degrees, I will do that just so he [his father] is proud of what he did do and what he did sacrifice. I do that as an homage to him,” Perez reflected.

“I feel the weight of it, but I also feel the comfort of the accountability knowing that my family is my network and that I can set a new precedent for people who come after me,” Davis added.

While they each take something different away from their identities as first-generation college students, they all carry their family with them in some way. Answering questions like these, the panelists created a sense of tangible familiarity throughout the room. Most people at the tables nearest to the panel would nod their heads when someone would answer a question, finding a sense of connection.

Students were informed of the support resources available at HFC. First up was Sarah Krizan, the program advisor for transfer initiatives, and a first-generation college student, representing the Learn4ward program. She let students know about the major advantages of utilizing the Learn4ward transfer program to move to any of the four approved schools from HFC, including a tuition freeze, seamless transfer of credits to your target school, guaranteed admission, and personalized advising from both advisors at Henry Ford College and from your target transfer school.

Next to present was Career Services faculty, Chad Austin, who spoke about all the different opportunities available when students make appointments with him or any other career advisor. They help students unlock the opportunities to see each student’s future career in action, prepare people for job interviews, prepare resumes and cover letters, and more.

Lastly was Norman Hurns from Student Outreach and Success to discuss stress in academia and life and how someone should handle it both in the moment and long-term. The techniques mentioned were long-term exercise and health-improvement and the “Box Breathing Method,” which is breathing in for a few seconds, holding it, and breathing out for a few seconds, and repeating that a few times. This helps to lower your heart rate and concentrate your mind.

The event’s highlight was the conversation with President Kavalhuna and Congresswoman Tlaib. This discussion included Tlaib’s experience being not only a first-generation college student but also a first-generation Arab American.

“It wasn’t them [her parents] that encouraged me to go to college. I mean, my mom wanted me to get married… They love me, but this is their way of loving me, ‘How do I make sure she’s going to be okay?’” Tlaib said.

Tlaib further describes the ways that her parents’ lives differ from her own. Both of them having to drop out of school before high school, and her father having to earn money from a very young age by carrying groceries on his back for very little in exchange. Tlaib, like a lot of students whose parents didn’t attend college, didn’t even think about attending college until one person at her high school encouraged her.

“I remember it was Coach Watson at South Western High School and he saw that I didn’t submit any college applications…He’s like, ‘How come you didn’t submit any college applications?’ and I go, ‘I can’t afford it,’ and he’s the one that said, ‘No, no, there’s ways.’ And if it wasn’t for him, I would have never ever applied for college.”

The Congresswoman went on to talk about the effects that leaving for college affected her mother, being upset and sad in a way that Congresswoman Tlaib says was never done for her younger siblings in later years. Despite this, her mother continues to support her, call her, and remind her of who she always has been.

“In some ways, she keeps me grounded. Like I’m still Rashida from Detroit, the eldest of 14, didn’t speak English when I started school. She keeps me grounded,” said Congresswoman Tlaib.

Information on resources for first generation students and all students at HFC can be found on the college’s website: www.hfcc.edu.