[music]
I think every day is a day to celebrate college students and first gen students as well.
But the one thing that I think is cool about this day, because we didn’t have a day like this when I was in undergrad,
is that you can see how many of your teachers and administrators and another people in your life here at college who went through some of the same  things you did.
Who stumbled and learned and grew along the way.  So, I think that that is probably a neat opportunity.
We have a lot of those first generations scholars but, then there a lot of those students who don’t have the scholarships but they’re still the first in their family
to get recognized for all of this.  So to have that appreciation and to be recognized here on campus it means a lot.
It wasn’t anything that was done in my family.  I was the first person to actually enter college
so it was a new venture for my whole family.  It was something I think that my family was looking forward to also.
I would have to say my family because they kept making it possible and gave me the encouragement that I needed and sort of a kick in the pants when I needed it.
It’s funny that we sort of gravitated to each other because of a least two out of the four good friends
that I had in college were also first gen so it was sort of like we are all in this together.
My parents, so I call them, like I made a rule with my mom to call her once a week.  So even if I get really busy,
I’m a nursing major so we always have a ton of stuff to do, but if I am really busy, I can always just call her
and she’s like you’re doing fine.  I’m so glad you’re in college and doing so good.
The most influential person was one of my teaching assistants.  He really kind of set the bar on expectations
that I needed to do, to meet in college and just kind of just put everything in perspective.
I think it is important for both students and for the community.  I think anytime we can broaden those in our community who bring all kinds of experiences.  It’s really important.
I think for students, the opportunity for higher education really opens up opportunities for people.  And I think it is part of the mission of Fisher.
There are benefits that do come to the College for having first generation students, but I think the real importance is beyond the College.  The real importance is that this is how we strengthen our country.
We bring everybody in, we make everybody capable, we give everybody opportunity.  And this is one way to do that. I think that's what makes this important.  So yes, it benefits Fisher, because it introduces diversity to our community, but beyond Fisher it benefits all of us.
Being good enough; being able to keep up with the levels of studies. I understood that college level courses were going to be tremendously more difficult than my regents high school curriculum that I had been living under.  So, it was just worrying about being able to cutting the muster.
I really worried about things that are common to what probably most students worry about all the time.  I want to make sure my grades are up, I want to make sure that I had the grades that I need
in order to get into grad school and subsequently to get a job.  I wanted to make sure that I knew people, that I had friends, that I was making contacts and networking and doing all of those things.
I think it is important that we all feel good about our accomplishments, and we have a day where first generation students are noted for being first generation students. Then you are able to appreciate each other and how hard it is to accomplish going to college and getting a degree.
I think it is such an important thing for the whole family, but when you have an opportunity to go to college, I think we need to celebrate that.  We need to celebrate
all of the good things that you are doing and all of the good opportunities that this will open up for you and all of the important things that you bring to this community.
So I think it is really fun to be celebrating our first gens today.
It just provides encouragement.  And whether you know the folks that are encouraging you or you don’t, feeling part of the community, feeling the encouragement
and the energy that the campus has around supporting student success, I think is an important thing for everyone to understand.
Recognition for being the first one in their families to go to college.  Both of my parent obviously didn’t and they’re really proud of me
and I think we should get recognized for taking that leap from staying in our small town to moving on to bigger and better things.
Hi my name is Matha Thornton, Henry Mosicki, Fr. Kevin Mannara, Stephanie Ketterl, Rick DeJesus-Rueff,
Keith Delmote, Jane Snyder, Jose Perales, Wayne Strauss, Clair Smith, Karen Costantini and I am a proud graduate of SUNY Cobleskill!
Grove City College, Syracuse University, St. John Fisher College, Franklin Pierce College, SUNY Brockport, Haverford College, Buffalo State College, Niagara University, UNC Chaple Hill
I graduated in 1989 from the University of Connecticut as a first generation student!
