“You belong here.” That message became a mantra at CCV-Montpelier on Tuesday, where students, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate First-Generation Student Day. The goals of the day were simple: have fun, meet new people, and share stories. They were also practical: gain new skills to apply to school, work, and life.
The event was a joint effort between CCV and Vermont State University (VTSU) to celebrate students across the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) who are the first in their families to attend college—after all, more than half of VSCS students identify as such.
National First-Generation College Student Day is observed each year on November 8th, when colleges and universities across the country recognize the strengths and successes of their first-gen community members.
Tuesday’s event featured a welcome from Jill Krowinski, Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives; a documentary showing and discussion; a speed networking activity facilitated by CCV and VTSU career development staff; and an alumni panel.
You Are a Pioneer
Dr. Debbie Warnock, director of VTSU’s McNair Scholars program, spoke to participants in a talk titled “Thriving Beyond Doubt: Imposter Syndrome and the Unwritten Rules of Higher Education.” She acknowledged—from firsthand experience—that navigating college can be confusing, overwhelming, and intimidating for anyone, and especially for first-gen students who don’t have someone in their immediate family who can act as a guide. Common themes among the first-gen experience, Warnock explained, can range from alienation to survivor guilt to imposter syndrome, “the persistent feeling that success is undeserved despite evidence of achievement.”
Warnock’s takeaway was one of empowerment: “You are not an imposter—you are a pioneer!” she said.
The Student Experience
A CCV behavioral science student named Ariel came to the event to gain leadership experience. “I grew up in a low-income family and I was always told that college is for people that have more money,” she shared. “I try to break that [stereotype] so my kids can see that no matter what, there is access to college. It’s all about advocating for what you want and connecting with people that can help you.”
Ariel hopes to continue for a bachelor’s degree and eventually pursue a career working with children and families who have been impacted by addiction.
Charlie, a VTSU-Johnson student studying psychology and political science, credited the TRIO and Upward Bound programs—federal programs designed specifically to support first-generation students—with his growth as a campus leader. Charlie graduated from Lamoille Union High School, where he says he wasn’t exposed to the tools and resources that could nurture his college aspirations. But with a start at Plymouth State University, he learned how to connect with others, lean on advisors and other support staff, and advocate for himself. He transferred to VTSU, where he discovered a robust support network. “All these people just brought me in and presented me a new home,” he shared. “As the years [went] by, I became a student leader. I was really able to start building a community.”
What brought him to Tuesday’s celebration? “To represent my TRIO family,” Charlie says, “and also be a leader of my own future.” His goals for post-graduation include giving back to the programs that supported him by working with TRIO or Upward Bound.
Alumni Reflections
Staff members who are proud first-generation Vermont State Colleges alumni closed the day with a panel discussion, where they reflected on their personal journeys through higher education.
CCV staff member Elizabeth King, who recently retired as director of student services and still works part-time for the College, was a self-described high school dropout. “I’m a ‘60s kid,” she shared. “I remember my dad saying my brother might want to go to college, but us girls would get married and have kids.” King became a single mom at age 24 who eventually earned a GED through Vermont Adult Learning. A mentor encouraged her to go to college, but King was full of doubt: “I didn’t have a license, because I didn’t have a car, because I didn’t have money. I lived in Richford [Vermont] and it was a forty-five minute drive to [CCV] St. Albans. I was like ‘how am I going to get there?’” But a retired teacher in her community was taking CCV classes and rearranged her schedule so she could give King rides. “Mary was my lifeline,” King shared.
King suffered from self-doubt and imposter syndrome throughout her higher education journey, which began at CCV and continued through both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Motivated by her son to keep going, she stuck with it.
She also had a CCV instructor who insisted that she did, in fact, belong. “If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have given up. He would tell me on the regular, ‘you belong here.’ All the time, in my papers, ‘here’s your grade, you belong here.’ So you finally have to start believing that.”
To learn more about TRIO and other resources for first-generation college students at CCV, visit ccv.edu/trio.
