WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

What are the Challenges for First-Generation Students?

Jennifer Soto

Period 6

English 12

Abstract
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

What are the challenges for first -generation college students ? One of the challenges would

have to be getting anxiety. There are students who have different ways to either finish their

work , or to even attend school . Its difficult for students to be the first to have a higher

education in their family due to being stressed , over thinking things, and also by thinking

negative about yourself. It can also be triggered by over thinking about your past . It can be hard

to not overthink things because youre always thinking when you have to finish it. This is trying

to tell all freshmen entering college is going to be hard with getting anxiety.

Key words : First-generation , anxiety , challenges , being stressed , entering college

What are the Challenges for First-Generation Students ?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

Entering college can be pretty exciting but can also cause anxiety. In addition anxiety can

be caused by all the excitement , work, background , and the negative thinking . Educational

barriers that these students encounter, coupled with the stress and anxiety that they often

experience relating to their home environments and fear of failure, put many of them at risk for

unsuccessful degree completion at college and universities , (Allison ,2015). In other words

students who have a bad background can have that running through their mind which that can

cause over thinking. Therefore all the thinking of their background may make them have a lack of them

doing their work , which means they have a higher percentage of not graduating.

First Generation Challenges : Being around a lot of people

Being around a lot of people could be one of the reasons how you can get anxiety . In large

college and university settings can lead these freshmen to become stressed and anxious ,

(Allison ,2015 ). Being around a lot of people may feel like your suffocated , or seeing them can

get you dizzy. Not only is seeing a lot of people walking around making you feel dizzy can gets

you even more anxious . Those who have anxiety disorders have gotten help ,but the others who

still get anxiety attacks are more likely to be on medications.

First Generation Challenges : Negative Thinking

How does negative thinking give you anxiety? Having that disorder is already bad enough , and

putting bad thoughts is even worst. While having those thoughts can lead you to harming yourself and

also get more anxious.There are several things running threw everyone's mind , either good or bad

Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD is slightly different. These types of bad thoughts are all simply

worries, and are often (although not always) triggered by the situation , ( Calm Clinic ,2017).If getting

help wont work you are more likely to be sent to a psychiatrist.

First Generation Challenges: Too Many Classes

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

When having a lot of classes , it can making you think a lot . On how youre going to turn in the

homework on time , how much hours of studying and sleeping they have. If having all that letting running

through your head it wont help the anxiety get away. Not having enoughn time will have you thinking

you wont graduate. If having too many classes has you over thinking it best to take some in the day and

some in the night.

First Generation Challenges: Not Getting Help

Dealing with being away from home for the first time and finding less parental support, most students

face social stress, (Scott,2016). Being in a campus not knowing anybody is pretty scary. Now youre a

young adult college will be preparing you for your future . Not having your family there to support you

will be a big challenge . Whos going to help you pay the bills ? Whos going to be waking you up on

time? Whos going to cook for you? All that running in your mind on whos going to help isnt going to

help your anxiety. Not getting help while being in college is will only get harder and harder if you dont

learn how to do things on your own.

Conclusion

For the most , going into to college will have its highs and lows . Going through a lot of

challenges will be hard but worth it . So if youre off to college dont be over thinking things ,

think positive . Always ask for help.

Reference
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS

MS Scott , Elizabeth. (2016) Stress in College : Common Causes Of Stress In College. Verywell

https://www.verywell.com/college-stress-causes-3145172

Allison , D Kelly . (2015) STRESS, ANXIETY SYMPTOMOLOGY, AND THE NEED FOR

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR UNIVERSITY FRESHMEN OF FIRST-GENERATION

STATUS, LOW-SES BACKGROUNDS, AND THOSE REGISTERED WITH DISABILITIES .

https://www.verywell.com/college-stress-causes-3145172

Paterson, Tanya J . (2015 ) Anxiety and Overthinking Everything . Healthy Place for Your

Mental Health

https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/anxiety-schmanxiety/2015/12/anxiety-and-over-thinking-
everything/