Breaking Barriers, Building Legacies: First-Generation Students Share Their Stories

At Stony Brook University, nearly 40 percent of the almost 18,000 undergraduates are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Many navigate college without guidance from family, balancing coursework with jobs and family responsibilities while learning to succeed in college-level coursework and to access resources and opportunities often unfamiliar to them.

To honor the resilience and success of these first-generation students, Stony Brook hosts First-Generation Weekeach November, a series of events aligned with the national First-Generation College Celebration. The week offers workshops, networking events and community-building programs designed to empower first-generation students and highlight their contributions to the university.

This year's celebration opened on November 3 with a brunch and panel discussion that filled the Student Union Ballroom with over 50 attendees. Hosted by the First Generation Committee, the event brought together students, faculty and staff who shared personal stories of perseverance, identity and belonging.

"Being first-generation means setting new standards and creating new traditions," said Mariana Torres, assistant dean for Academic Advising and a first-generation college graduate who moderated the panel. "It's about opening doors that weren't open before - for yourself and for others."

The panel featured Cydney Munro, academic advisor in Academic and Transfer Advising Services; Giselle Castro and Cenia Larios, both Master of Social Work Advanced Standing students; Saniya Lopez, a business management major, resident assistant and peer career coach; Celia Marshik, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate and professional education; and Jose Romero-Diaz, a Bachelor of Social Work student.

Their stories reflected a shared theme of persistence, the unfamiliarity of college life, and the pressure to succeed not only for themselves, but also for their families.

For Romero-Diaz, the journey to higher education was anything but linear. "My college experience has been very turbulent," he said. "I had to drop out due to financial and personal circumstances, and I worked in the service industry for 10 years before coming back. But I learned how to speak publicly, work under pressure, and pay attention to detail, and those skills helped me when I returned to school."

That perseverance earned him membership in the Tri-Alpha Honor Society for first-generation students and Phi Theta Kappa.

Larios shared a similar determination to find her path. "It took me a little while to get here," she said. "I started and stopped at different colleges before realizing social work was where I was meant to be. Once I found my place, everything clicked."

Munro, a two-time Stony Brook graduate, said she didn't fully grasp the importance of connecting with campus life until later in her college career. "Getting involved was a game-changer," she said. "Attending events, communicating with peers, and celebrating milestones like graduation - that's what made me feel like I belonged."

Lopez described arriving at Stony Brook unsure if she even belonged in college. "I didn't think I was going to college," she said. "My family was struggling financially, and I applied late. My freshman year, I was homesick and ready to go home. But once I got involved and built a community, I really fell in love with being here."

Castro's journey also didn't go as she originally imagined. "I thought I was going to be a dentist," she said. "But I wasn't good at science. It was hard to explain to my family why I changed my major. They didn't understand at first, but when I graduated, their excitement made it all worth it."

For many, communicating their college experience to family members who hadn't been through it was among the biggest hurdles.

Munro said she enjoyed keeping her family connected to her college life by visually sharing her experiences. "I used to FaceTime my family to show them where I was on campus," she said. "Just sharing my day helped them feel part of the experience."

Marshik, now dean of the Graduate School, recalled her own first-generation journey as one shaped by distance. "My parents wanted me to go to college but didn't want me to go too far," she said. "They didn't understand the significance of things like graduation ceremonies. The first one I ever attended was here at Stony Brook, as a faculty member. I realized then what I had missed."

"It's hard to feel like you belong," Romero-Diaz said. "But asking for help isn't a weakness. It's a sign of strength."

Munro said that the realization of the importance of mentorship inspired her work as an academic advisor. "As a student, I didn't take advantage of resources because I didn't know they existed," she said. "That's why I tell first-gen students now: find a mentor, ask for help, and use the support systems that are here for you."

Larios presented a small marble and held it up to the audience. "Someone once gave me this as a reminder of perseverance," she said. "Every time I look at it, it reminds me why I'm here and why I keep going. I brought marbles for all of you today, to remind you of your purpose." She invited audience members to see her after the discussion to receive a marble of their own.

Torres asked each panelist to share one piece of advice for first-generation students beginning their college journeys.'

"Don't be afraid to ask for help," Castro said. "I wish I had done it sooner."

"Find your people," Larios added. "Build your community. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable."

Marshik offered a practical tip: "Go to your professors' office hours. That's what they're there for. We want to help."

"Being first-generation isn't just about going first," Torres said, concluding the discussion. "It's about opening doors so others can follow."

The week's events and sessionscover essential topics such as career advising and an opportunity for a professional headshot, designed to equip first-gen students with the tools they need to succeed, as well as events such as game night and 'stop and chat.' The week concludes with a first-generation caféat the UNITI Cultural Center on November 7.

- Beth Squire