Episode 65: Feeling the Pressure

Wellbeing

Oct 16

Written By HTC

In this episode, Cody sits down with three first gens to discuss the pressure of being the first to go to college in their family and how they dealt with the stress and anxiety that comes along with it.

Being the first in your family to go to college is a big milestone and something to be proud of, but with that can often come some family and societal pressure. The pressure to succeed, the pressure to go farther than ever before, and the pressure to be an example for younger siblings or other family members. And you’re trying to set expectations in something you’ve never done before. It’s important for first gens to be aware of the pressure and potential stress that can present itself along their journey and how to manage it.

In this episode you will hear from:

Aniya, a current HS senior, whose family has always had high expectations set by her family when it comes to academics and college. Several of Aniya’s family members have attempted college before but did not complete due to various circumstances. Aniya talks about the pressure she has felt in her life to succeed, and also how parental pressure has impacted her college search process.
Michael, a current college student, who’s family instilled the idea of college in him at an early age. Michael speaks how the pressure came to a maximum in high school when he dropped out for a couple of weeks, only to return to finish HS and then go onto college where he is a newly transferred student.
Miguel, a college graduate, who found fear of disappointing his family to be among his greatest motivators to begin and finish college. Miguel also speaks to finding independence in actually living on-campus at a college and also how his parents parenting style helped him as an adult.

Thanks again to today’s guests - Aniya, Michael and Miguel, for sharing their stories and experiences with our audience. And thank you for tuning in to How to College for first-gens! After hearing our guests’ stories, you can see that the pressure to succeed, especially for first gen students, can present itself in so many ways. Our guests offered a lot of great advice including setting boundaries, beginning to classify and focus on main priorities, staying in communication with family and using the pressure to propel them forward. Pressure can serve as a motivator for many, but it’s all about managing it and making sure you are being the best version of yourself that you can be at that given moment. It’s also important to be mindful of mental health needs and to always reach out to a counselor or other student service resources if you believe you would benefit from their support.

Below are some resources as well: