Today, I made a student cry. On a panel for first generation and low income students, we were asked to give advice we wish someone had told us. The rest of my panel said great stuff: explore, be adventure, take chances. So I went in a different direction: try to lose your guilt.
I was both a first gen undergrad and a low income student. Everyone I knew worked themselves to death for little pay and no respect. And when I went to college, I had so much guilt. At my age, I should be in a factory job, helping my family with bills, contributing.
And many in my family questioned by commitment to college: when will you get a job? What are you gonna do with that degree? I felt useless and juvenile and I overworked myself to prove I was doing SOMETHING USEFUL. I was laboring.
My advice was this: don't work yourself to death because you feel guilty you're not working yourself to death. And a student burst into tears and another have an amen.
Guilt is huge in first generation and poor students this time of year. Be attentive. Be aware. They are a group that need help over their entire university career.
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