Booths and Activities for First Generation Students

A First Generation event took place on November 7th, 2018, at Rio Hondo in the lower quad area. These events were for all the first generation students at Rio Hondo who have had trouble applying and navigating their way through college.

Talani Solia, the chair of Student Success for Associated Students (ASRHC), organized this event. Solia stated what the idea behind First Generation was about, “I know Rio Hondo’s majority of students are first generation students so I wanted to focus on that. I just wanted to know what’s their reason for coming to Rio Hondo or why they’re the first in their family. So I kind of just wanted to focus on that, because many people don’t really like to focus on first-generation students, especially the struggles they go through.”

ASRHC made five different booths throughout the quad with different activities. One booth called “What I’m Thankful for,” allowed students to go up and write what they are thankful for and stick it to the poster. “Why I’m First” was the name of a booth where students were able to answer why they are the first in their family.

Another booth named “Snacks and Facts”. This booth let students get a snack and read facts about first-generation students. “Something I wish my parents knew” asked students to write what they hoped their parents knew about college as a first-generation student. Lastly, the booth called “Take a note, leave a note”. Students here randomly pick an inspirational note and in return write their own for someone else to pick.

Reception and Other Resources

Rio Hondo Student, Marissa Ramirez, stated her thoughts about the event, “I say it’s beneficial just because, clearly when you go into a new environment everybody is scared and like when they don’t feel welcomed doing events like this makes other students feel welcomed.”

There was also other booths that helped acknowledge the school’s resources that some student might not know of. Resources like E.O.P.&S/ C.A.R.E, Transfer office, Guardian Scholars, and First Year Success.

A print version of this article appeared Tuesday, Nov. 6th in addition it was adjusted by the editor for an online publication.