Thread re 1st gen professors (1/6): Recently I attended an academic event for professors. When I arrived the greeter said they wanted to raise awareness about professors who were 1st in their family to go to college and support for 1st gen students.
(2/6) She offered a pin to wear for those who were 1st in their family to go to college. I was excited about the prospect of that and I want to support 1st gen students, so I eagerly put my pin on.
(3/6) I sat down at my table of 8 or so, no one else had a pin on. Then I looked around the room of at least 50 other profs and saw only a few others wearing pins. The entire day, no one mentioned the pin or anything about supporting 1st gen students and profs.
(4/6) I wouldn't say I'm self conscious about being 1st gen. It isn't something that is always salient or bothersome to me. But until I put that pin on, it was invisible. Once I had it on, I realized how alone I was and that feeling of not being in the club reared its ugly head.
(5/6) I don't know what the purpose of that pin was, but it reminded me that the 1st gen community in the academy is lacking. It also reminded me of how lonely and intimidating being a 1st gen felt when I was a student - The leap of faith I took and how uncertain I felt.
(6/6) I put my hair over my pin throughout the day. I've had a few days to think about this and I realize how important it is that I'm not invisible, that I wear the fucking pin. So to my fellow 1st gens, in every career stage, thank you for your support, you are not alone!
