First in the family A
nahi Martinez had no idea what to expect at Lynchburg College. She was excited, a little confused, and very anxious.
Like many other first-generation students (those whose parents have not attained a college degree), Anahi was embarking on a journey that was brand new and that would affect her entire family.
by Betty McKinney Although Anahi was unsure of what college had in store,
she was sure of one thing — the high expectations of her family. She was on the verge of fulfilling her parents’ dream, and she wanted to be sure she got it right. First-generation students (first-gens) comprise approxi-
mately one-third of the student population at Lynchburg College. According to Mari Normyle, assistant dean of aca- demic and career services, there is a lot at stake for these stu- dents. “If a person is the first in the family to earn a college degree, it changes the family future forever,” she said. “New opportunities are created for that person and subsequent generations.” In order to better serve first-gens, lc began a Summer
Transition Program in 2008. Now the opportunities include a mentoring program, transition coaching, a workshop series, and “Expand Your Horizons,” learning communities com- mitted to experiential learning. “Because first-gens tend to gravitate toward pre-profes-
sional majors such as education and nursing rather than lib- eral arts subjects, we try to help them understand the wide range of possibilities that might be open to them so they don’t narrow their options too soon,” Normyle said. Originally from El Salvador, Anahi and her family moved
to the u.s. when she began high school. The family settled in Woodbridge, Virginia, with the expectation of better job op- portunities and improved quality of life. Even though Anahi’s parents had never had the opportunity to attend college, they were determined that all four of their daughters would. “Ever since I can remember, going to college wasn’t even a
question. My mom constantly said, ‘You will go to college.’ My parents wanted us to get an education so we wouldn’t
24 LC MAGAZINE Spring 2011
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