18 Pitzer College First Gen Experience by Diego

Executive Summary 

The Pitzer College first gen community is an incredibly unique, inspiring, and ever-changing. There are many aspects of the programming that successfully support students, yet there are many barriers imposed on the First Gen Program and students that are limiting. By taking a theoretical approach in the analysis of the First gen program, we can identify the dynamics that comprise it and strategically plan the future of the program. For example, I call for more funding into the program to better support students and alleviate the stress from all members of the growing first gen community.

Introduction 

The First Gen program at Pitzer College is an incredible example of a powerful intergenerational organization created by and for the disadvantaged students at this school. As a first gen student myself, I am in awe of the passion and dedication of other students in the program to uplift each other and ensure that we all graduate. Being a first gen student is no easy task— we are burdened with a lack of understanding, resources, and sense of community that other students unknowingly have and benefit from. Together, with a community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, we have created an organization that will forever support future first gen graduates break cycles of oppression and domination.

The First Gen program, like every other organization, has positive and negative aspects that are encapsulated within. We can use Gareth Morgan’s organizational metaphors to identify these aspects of the First Gen experience and be able to strategically plan how to better support first gen students at Pitzer. The three I will be using to analyze the first gen program are organizations as psychic prisons, political entities, and organisms. These three (and more) encapsulate the varying experiences in both an individual and collaborative manner. I hope that by reading this narrative of both theoretical and autobiographical perspectives, you are able to better understand the first gen experience and celebrate the accomplishments of first gen scholars.

In this paper we will be looking into the experiences of first gen students at Pitzer, specifically the resources allocated to them and the dynamics between the students and the organization. First, we will be looking at the broader ecosystem of Pitzer College and learn about the different programming available to first gen students, such as the First Gen Program, and First Gen Club. We will identify the goals of these support systems, as well as the challenges that they face, both internally and externally. Next, we will use Morgan’s organizational metaphors to analyze the program even further and identify the inner workings of the organizational structure. By doing so, I hope to inspire reflection and dreaming to better equip ourselves to transform the First Gen Program into a greater resource for students. Last but not least, we will look at our organizational analysis and future, to reimagine the program and learn from it ourselves.

Setting the Scene: Pitzer College First Gen Experience in Context

Figure 1. Pitzer College Robs its First Gen Students

Figure 1 is an original drawing created to reflect how I feel as a first gen student at Pitzer. In the center you see the Pitzer logo, a visually stunning representation of a tree, and alongside it you see two people. The people are meant to represent first gen students, both watering and nourishing the tree, and attempting to gather the fruits of their labor. My intention was to highlight the hard work and resources that Pitzer first gen students put into the school, as seen in the person on the left. This is not only a celebration of the accomplishments of generations of Pitzer First Gen students, but an emphasis on the effort and oftentimes unfortunately overworking of students for the betterment of the institution. The figure on the right is a continuation of this, highlighting the lack of reciprocal gain to the student from the school. We are drained of our money, effort, and brainpower, only to receive minimal to zero resources from the school. Fortunately, through the creation of support networks for first gen students (by first gen students) we have been able to find our foothold in this institution and will continue to fight for our place in this school.

One of the greatest challenges that first gen students face is the lack of school funding that goes into our education. Many people always talk about Pitzer’s endowment which is much less than all of the other 5C schools, especially Pomona. As a result, our access to resources and opportunities is smaller and it becomes challenging to navigate this institution. On top of that, there also seems to be a lack of care or engagement from Pitzer administration, staff, and faculty. On National First Gen Student Day last year, the administration put on a front when celebrating first gen students, stating that they were so proud of our accomplishments and that they are always there to support us. As a first year, listening to this made me distrust the school’s efforts towards supporting first gen students, and made me more reliant on my fellow first gen peers. If Pitzer wasn’t going to offer us adequate support, we were going to have to find, and create it on our own.

The current First Gen Program Pitzer offers students support with navigating the academic, social, and systemic challenges of the institution. The program was created fairly recently and has been increasing its resources to students with every additional year. One of the primary resources offered by the program is the First Gen mentor program which pairs an upper class first gen student with an incoming one. This resource is invaluable in the transition of first gen first years who need additional support navigating the campus, social life, and college structure. It provides incoming first years with a steady support system who has already navigated their first year at Pitzer. For upper class students, the First Gen Program also provides an internship opportunity to three first gen students at Pitzer. Through this intern position, first gen students can work with staff to create events catered to first gen students to further establish the first gen student network. It also provides a professional opportunity for first gen students who have less resources to do so, further improving their resume, and preparing them for life post-Pitzer. Apart from hosting information sessions and workshops for students, the First Gen Program manages to create a support system for first gen students, consisting of professors, staff, students, and alumni.

One year after the First Gen Program was created, the First Gen Club came to life. Inspired by other affinity groups and by the establishment of the First Gen Program, students established their own recognized group on campus. The First Gen Club was created by students for students, providing a safe space for students to meet weekly and participate in discussions regarding their experiences. This student-led affinity group has their own space on campus, located on the third floor of Mead Hall— a space that students struggled to attain. The club also has allotted funding from the college, which are used to satisfy general needs of the club, such as food and room decor. Most importantly however, the funds are also used to fulfill funding requests for students, for example if students had to buy an emergency plane ticket home, the funds from the club can be used to satisfy the expenses. Thai Affinity Group has become an incredibly safe space for first gen students, offering inspiration and support on our journey to graduate and beyond. The First Gen Club has proven to be an invaluable resource for first gen students by providing transitory, financial, and social support.

Metaphorical Analysis: Pitzer College First Gen Experience through the lenses of psychic prison, political, organism

In order to analyze the First Gen Program through the organism metaphor, we must also take into consideration the greater Pitzer first gen experience. There is a symbiotic relationship between both, with the First Gen Program impacting Pitzer College as a whole, and vice versa. Within the First Gen Program, there is an extensive amount of collaboration between students and faculty which effectively creates resources for first gen students. When you look at the greater ecosystem as a whole however, there are some areas where the school fails or is incapable of supporting the program. For example, as a liberal arts institution, professors will more likely be overworked, and have less time to devote to the First Gen Program and will also be underpaid for their hard work. As a result of financial limitations on behalf of Pitzer, first gen students are provided with less resources and have to rely more on each other.

This is apparent within the First Gen Club, where students have been able to effectively work together in order to better support each other. The executive board, or the leadership team for the group, has various positions from co-presidents to class representatives, to social media manager. Throughout the year there are also many opportunities for students not on the executive board to participate in projects directed towards the future of the affinity group. Within the first gen club, there is “free and open collaboration and communication” across everyone, despite leadership positions (Morgan, 46). This effectiveness allows the First Gen Club to quickly adapt to the changing environments and seek different ways to support its students. For example, during the period of time when schools shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the First Gen Club had to quickly adapt to the situation and reconstruct their strategy to allocate resources to better support their students. As Pitzer grows and evolves, the First Gen Program will do the same, hopefully strengthening the relationship between both organizations and as a result positively impacting the first gen experience.

The Pitzer college experience alone is inherently political, with discussions about problem solving, power, and success. Being a first gen student, you feel like an outsider within your institution of higher education, with added pressure placed on you. You inherently become one of the “powerless” in an organization where the dominant population has resources, knowledge, and generational support, making them the “powerful”. Every decision and everyone a first gen student talks to becomes even more political as it has great influences on their educational experience. The emphasis on additional resources and additional support is apparent as these are highly needed by students, as we must be met in the middle. The political aspect of this organization places an emphasis on our own individuality and separate interests, passions, and lived experiences that need to be acknowledged and celebrated by the school and First Gen Program. The First Gen Club is also run in a political manner, with an executive board consisting of student leaders who advocate for each other. There are elections, and within the club, they have the most power to influence the way the group is run. Within it there are many cross-grade interactions both influential and educational. Older students pass down this knowledge and passion to motivate first gen students to continue persisting on their journey to graduation.

The psychic prison metaphor makes us look within ourselves and unravel the ways institutions have impacted the ways we see ourselves and the world around us. When looking at the first gen experience, it is crucial to look at the ways first gen students have been conditioned within institutions of higher education. At Pitzer, we are oftentimes told that first gen students are among those who thrive at Pitzer and acquire great opportunities after graduating. This creates an abundant amount of stress on students to reach certain levels of success and be among those who are celebrated for their successes.The Pitzer first gen experience has negative impacts on students mental health, as first gen students find themselves trying to fit the norm.  Many first gen students suffer from imposter syndrome, believing that they do not belong in an institution like Pitzer. This is a result of generational trauma that first gen students have had to endure that lead to first gen students not seeing themselves in the same light that others perceive them. Although there is great value within the collaboration of first gen students, there should not be additional stress placed on our already full plates. Only through a reformation of the Pitzer first gen experience can first gen students have the resources necessary to combat and escape these psychic prisons.

Figure 2. Pitzer College First Gen Experience 

This figure is a visual representation of the First Gen Experience at Pitzer College. It is a reflection of the hard innovative work that first gen students have directed towards each other in efforts of communal success. Students whose parents have attended college already have an idea of what to expect and a support system to navigate these institutions. They already have someone who has reached the top and knows the ropes, meanwhile first gen students have to forge their own paths to get there. It takes double the amount of support to get a first gen student to graduate, than one whose parents have graduated from college. Although making it to the top is viable for first gen students, we have to work extra hard and collaboratively to ensure that we make it to where we want to be. Although this is a fairly pessimistic depiction of the first gen experience, it shows how strong and familial the first gen community is, and for that I am truly grateful. <3

The Path Forward: A reimagined Future

Reconstructing the first gen is a difficult task in itself that will require abundant amounts of time and support, however, I have some ideas on what will help aid this process. The first, is the continuous allocation of Pitzer’s money into the program, so that we can better support students. For example, if we are able to pay the first gen interns for their work, we will not only be compensating them for their support but also become a financial support system for them. In an institution like these, money means more resources and a stronger foothold within the community. If the first gen program and those working within it, such as students, faculty, and the First Gen Club, students will have better experiences. More money also means more resources and opportunities. The First Gen Program and Club would be able to host larger events and info sessions for students. It would be amazing if we could even hire someone specifically to support first gen students, whose job will solely be to create plans and strategies for us. They could give the programming the attention that it deserves, such as checking in regularly with students, managing the intern program, and regularly updating the website (the website has not been updated in a year). This, as a result, will alleviate a lot of stress from first gen students and faculty who are first gen graduates, so that they can focus on their own success.

If Pitzer College truly wants to change the world and revolutionize the education system, we need to have higher admittances of students from underrepresented backgrounds. This was demanded in Pitzer BSU’s address to the school in the 2020-2021 school year, stating that a larger community of Black students at Pitzer is essential to their success and wellbeing. Taking a similar approach, a larger more engaged first gen community would mean a stronger community of students that will support one another. This will help combat self perceptions of not belonging and a lack of community with shared experiences. This will also have a greater impact on generations to come as these Pitzer first gen students will be able to further support students coming after them. A revitalization of the first gen community at Pitzer will have substantial impacts on Pitzer College and beyond.

Conclusion

By analyzing the first gen program through a theoretical lens, we have been able to identify strengths and weaknesses of the program that we can act upon. Through these, we have been able to identify the ways Pitzer fails to support first gen students and creates a limiting environment that further complicates our journey to a degree. By looking at the first gen experience through the organism metaphor, we see the intricacies of the organizations we are a part of and the ways we influence one another and help each other grow. Through a political perspective, we see the power dynamics within the first gen experience, which forces us to look for ways to redistribute it. Through the lens of organizations as psychic prisons, we are able to analyze what it truly means to be first gen, and ways we can change our mindset on this identity. These are only a few metaphors that can help put this experience into perspective and only by learning about them and discussing them, we can challenge systems that oppress us.

The Pitzer College first gen community has grown so much throughout time as a result of the inspiring first gen students who have worked hard to alleviate the challenges we face in this institution, and we are not done yet. The love we have for the first gen community is a driving factor in this change-making process to make Pitzer a better place.  Being first gen means having hopes and dreams, not only for ourselves, but those who came before us and those who will come after us. Our community is timeless, and the possibilities are endless.

Works Cited 

Morgan, Gareth. 2006. Images of Organization, Updated Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Pitzer College BSU, 2020. Pitzer College Black Student Union 2020 Address. Claremont, CA. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kas6Kcb4dHztAgH5QK-iKCYHHZpeq0CHUPVTiqxuKqM/edit

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my family, specifically my parents for the sacrifices they made so that I can go to and one day graduate from college. I would also like to acknowledge the first gen community at Pitzer College, the current, past and future ones. Shout out to Diego, Jesus, Michelle, Jackie, and Johanna for making my college experience unforgettable and for their undeniable support. Also, Barbara and this years Organizational Theory class for an amazing semester full of collaboration and growth!