Diana Tachie-Mensah’s First-Gen Journey

What Does Being First-Gen Mean to You?

For me, being first-gen means being the first in my immediate family to have the opportunity to do something great. My parents’ lives, especially my father’s, weren’t easy, and they didn’t have as many tools as I now have to live up to their full potential. Being first-gen means making sure their sacrifices don’t go to waste.

When Did You First Recognize Yourself as First-Generation?

I didn’t realize it was something to be talked about and celebrated until last year, when I joined the R.I.S.E. Network and attended the First Year Mentoring End-of-Year Celebration.

At that time, it felt good to be around people like me, but I still didn’t think I completely fit into that category since my mom went to university in Ghana, and most first-gen students have parents who didn’t go to college at all.

A couple of days ago, I was having a conversation with Ulises Garcia, the assistant director of First-Year Mentoring, and he told me that some first-gen students have a parent or parents who went to school in their home country, but their credentials weren’t recognized in America, so they had to start over.

That is when it really hit me: Wow, I have more ties to this than I thought. At that moment, I felt seen.

How Has Being First-Gen Shaped Your College and Life Experiences?

I think it has, more than anything, instilled in me the understanding that it is really up to me to make it. I’ve always lived a relatively good life, but since I started college, I’ve watched my parents struggle more than I’ve ever seen them struggle before.

It got to the point where I’m working part-time while taking classes and sending money back to my parents for things like groceries or to help with certain bills.

My father has had many conversations with me about how, growing up, his chances of success were always low. His dad abandoned his family, and he had to drop out of school to take care of his mother.

I hear that and compare it to the life I’m living, and I realize that I absolutely have to do better and get not only myself but also my parents out of the situation we’re currently in.

I’m not like other students who can fail as many times as they want. I have to make every opportunity count.

What Experience at St. John’s Has Made You Feel Especially Proud of Your Journey?

One experience that made me proud of being first-gen was graduating from college. I had arranged for two of my dad’s brothers, whom he hadn’t seen in years, to come to the ceremony, and I honestly had never seen him so giddy and happy.

When the ceremony was over, my dad told me that he was proud of all my accomplishments. All he wants in life is for me to do better than he did, and not only have I begun to achieve that, but I’ve also made sure his favorite people were there to celebrate with him. I’ve always known my dad was proud of me, but that really solidified it.

What Would You Tell a Student Who Is About to Become the First in Their Family to Attend College?

I would tell them to get involved and take advantage of all the resources college has to offer, whether those be friends, professors, advisers, or others. Closed mouths don’t get fed. You’re not alone in your journey, and the more you speak up about the things you may be struggling with, the more likely you are to find a resource that can ease your stress.