Know That You Are Worthy: Experiences from First-Generation College Graduates

Thirty-one alumni who were the first in their family to obtain a college degree share their experiences as first-generation students in this noteworthy new text. Their stories illuminate how the struggles of first-generation students are primarily due to a combination of multiple social inequities that are ignored, reinforced, and perpetuated by exclusive college systems. Speaking directly to current and future first-generation students, the authors offer tips and advice for success, along with powerful words of encouragement. Faculty and staff will also benefit from reading this book, as the authors describe a more equitable system in which universities are enriched by the wisdom, experiences, and talents of first-generation students while promoting a generative culture for all learners.

Author: Adam J. Rodríguez
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 02/02/2023
Pages: 306
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.18lbs
Size: 10.00h x 7.00w x 0.64d
ISBN: 9781538162415

About the Author
Contributors Sonja Ardoin, Glynis Boyd Hughes, Kallie Clark, Maria Dykema Erb, Jeremy Edwards, Mayra González Menjívar, Raquel Gutierrez Cortez, Patricia Harris, David Hernández, Karen Hill, Emilee Claire Inez, Dawna Jones, Jenny Lieurance, Yvonne M. Luna, Adj Marshall, Ivonne Martinez, T. Mark Montoya, Ulises Morales, Mytien Nguyen, Yolanda Norman (Foreword), Lynn Pepin, Kamina P. Richardson, Sean Richardson, Adam J. Rodríguez, Henry Rosas Ibarra, Mike Santaniello, Stephen Santa-Ramirez, Clifton E. Shambry Jr., Joyce Stewart, Anthony Vargas, Desireé Vega, David Winston, Kevin L. Wright About the Editor Adam J. Rodríguez, PsyD, is a first-generation college graduate and psychoanalytic psychologist in private practice. His pursuit of a college degree took him 15 years, spanning four community colleges, including Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California; two 4-year universities, including San Francisco State University, where he completed his bachelor's degree at the age of 32; and 4 years of graduate school at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California, where he earned an MA and PsyD. In his practice and scholarly work, Dr. Rodríguez is interested in the study of first-generation college students, multiracial identities, the intersection of race/ethnicity and class, and the connections between music and clinical work. He is a board member of Psychotherapy Action Network, an organization that advocates for therapies of depth, insight, and relationship.