Students show off merch at First Gen Bash hosted by the Center for Student Empowerment on Wednesday, November 4, in Houston, Texas. | Patrick Sammon/The Cougar
The Center for Student Empowerment hosted First Gen Bash for students in the Houston room at Student Center South on Nov. 4.
The First Gen Bash is part of CSE’s First Gen Week, which is aimed at encouraging first generation students through the difficulties of a new college experience by helping them navigate the University scene.
First Gen Bash allows first generation students to come into contact with resources available to them from CSE and from fellow students among them.
“Today we’re celebrating specifically first-generation students and their accomplishments and obstacles,” said assistant director for the Center of Student Empowerment Steven Samaniego. “We’re just here for the opportunity to create that sense of belonging and sense of community for students.”
The support from a community of like-minded people allows first generation students to feel advocated for during their college journey.
“I feel like a lot of my friends feel very lost in the situation,” said public health freshman Samantha Bridges, a volunteer for CSE’s First Gen events. “They feel like if they don’t have the support for it, they don’t want to stay because they feel like they’re alone.”
Bridges notes that it is common to feel discouraged as a first generation freshman, so it’s encouraging to have events targeted towards assisting students like herself.
“Some people don’t know that you have to do FAFSA every year, people don’t know you have to sign up for classes,” said English junior Abdullah Hassan.
CSE not only aims at getting people to connect at events, but they hope to stay in touch with these students who need help throughout their time at UH.
According to Samaniego, CSE acts as a Swiss Army knife by offering financial aid, housing, food, career and mental health assistance to all students, not just first-generation UH students.
“It’s not just about one semester or how I’m going to pay for my college, it’s about every semester, also connecting them to different resources on campus through and also professional development,” Samaniego said.
Students voiced their appreciation that their voices can be heard somewhere, even when it seems as though they are not able to gain the same type of help at home.
“My parents don’t know what it’s like to go through college, it’s like going in blind,” said psychology freshman Kimberly Salgado. “College is a huge transition. And whereas (other families) have more experience, I don’t have that same support.”
Students feel that the pressure, especially without familial support, gets easier by knowing peers in their same position.
“The pressure that you have in your own head is kind of at ease in that way, knowing that there’s people like you,” said health freshman Sitara Noorzad. “I feel making friends with people that relate to your issues and know what you’re going through, it’s like a family bond.”
While the First Gen events are focused on the development of UH students professionally and academically, the Bash allowed for students to have fun and enjoy the company of fellow first-generation students.
After students signed into the event and waited in line, they were greeted with Papa John’s pizza, Wingstop, Shasta’s Ice Cream, free T-shirts and other CSE merchandise such as hats, pins and bandanas.
Once students got through the food line and received their merchandise, the Houston room had a DJ playing on stage, a photo booth for students and a table area for people to meet and connect with one another.
The event drew a significant number of students, with a line wrapping around the second floor of SCS to enter into the Houston room.
For CSE, keeping students informed for the entirety of their time at UH, while keeping in touch makes the most difference in seeing them succeed.
“CSE is not only about supporting the students in general, but helping them one-on-one, and how we can also build them a sense of community at UH to let them know they are not alone,” Samaniego said.
news@thedailycougar.com
