By Aaliyah Pinkney
This spring, 59 identified first-generation college students are expected to graduate from Hood, marking a significant milestone in their academic journeys.
According to the Pew Research Center, adults aged 22 to 59 whose parents earned a college degree were three times more likely to attain a bachelor’s degree than those whose parents did not attend college. These figures reflect the broader challenges that first-generation students often face in accessing and completing higher education.
In 2024, First Gen Forward, an organization dedicated to advancing first-generation student success, reported that the six-year graduation rate for first-generation students was 24%, compared to 59% for students whose parents attended college.
In contrast, Hood College’s outcomes exceed national averages. Among first-generation students who began at Hood in Fall 2018, the six-year graduation rate reached 55.8%, closely aligned with that of their continuing-generation peers, according to Shaowei Wu, director of institutional research and assessment at Hood College.
The Pew Research Center highlighted that the U.S. college enrollment process is often complex and multilayered. “Enrolling in U.S. higher education is a complicated multistep process that includes completing college prep coursework in high school and navigating the admissions and financial aid process,” the report stated. This complexity is easier to manage for students whose parents have previously gone through the experience.
Asiayonna Jones, a graduating first-generation student, described the emotional and academic barriers she encountered: “Not everyone gets the barriers and adversity that first-generation students face. It can be so lonely and isolating because you’re doing something that no one in your family has done before.”
Despite these challenges, Jones found personal motivation and purpose in her role as a role model. “I have a 4-year-old niece, and she’s my motivation. I want her to grow up and see the example I set for her and know that she can be or do anything,” Jones said.
Jones also credited her family with providing critical emotional and practical support. “My family is so proud of me. They’ve supported me in so many ways, including listening to me rant about assignments, sending me items or money when I needed it, and always encouraging me to make it to the finish line,” she said.
Looking ahead, Jones plans to attend Howard University in the fall to pursue a Master of Social Work. “I wouldn’t be going there without the support of all my professors here at Hood,” she added.
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