Growing up in Brooklyn, Racquel Samuel, a first-generation American, didn’t give college much thought. With the help of family, teachers and supportive organizations, she became the first in her family to graduate from college. A New School alum, with the help of Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), she graduated in 2014. She is a Student Success Advisor, Office Manager for Higher Education Opportunity Program, and leader of the New School First Committee.
The committee began as a program for first-generation college students at the New School in Fall 2017 by Alex Vasquez, former associate director of HEOP, and Samantha Ramos, former Student Success Advisor of HEOP.
“Alex and Sam went to a conference about first-generation college students and were really transformed by it. They were like, ‘Why isn’t there anything like this at The New School?’ They came back, did a presentation to our advising staff, and started brainstorming on how to support first-generation students,” Samuel said.
Alex Vasquez came up with the programs five pillars: Adaptable, Proud, Resourceful, Persistent, and Independent.
“The goal and premise of New School First is helping first-generation students recognize that they have these five things innate in them, and cultivating those things. A lot of the times, when they enter the classroom, they feel like because they may not necessarily have the book knowledge, that they can’t offer anything in the classroom,” Samuel said. “But psst,” Samuel laughed, “Are you kidding me?”
“These things can’t be taught in a textbook. These aren’t things that you get a degree for. These are things that life teaches you, things that your family, your parents teach you. No one can take these things away from you. If you are able to tap into these five characteristics, you can move mountains. Again, it’s hard, but it’s recognizing you are unique in this identity and you bring a lot into the classroom and the university. Our goal is to support first-gen students through programing but also to remind them that they belong here first and foremost,” Samuel reiterates.
When Vasquez left in the Spring 2018 semester, Samuel was approached to take over as the lead of the New School First Committee. Samuel, along with about 10 other academic and student success advisors, most of whom also identify as first-gen themselves, make up the New School First Committee.
According to the New School First Committee, there are over 1,000 undergraduate students that self identify as first generation college students. Currently, they do not have data on students that are a part of the graduate programs.
The project is something Samuel connects with on a personal level. She didn’t have any family members before her who went to college. She grew up in a single-parent household, where all the women in her life defined independence and what it meant to be a strong black woman. Samuels’ mom immigrated from St. Vincent in the Grenadines to New York.
In elementary and high school, she got good grades. “I was also nervous about not doing well and getting phone calls from teachers,” Samuel said. “I just made sure I had all my ducks in a row. I passed every test, all my homework was done. I was just a good student. But no one really talked to me about college.”
Her mother didn’t have experience with the U.S. college application process. For Samuel, it was a caring high school counselor, Mr. Steckle, who took the time to connect her to opportunities and resources that helped her figure out the process of applying to colleges.
Due to Samuel’s abundant and varying interests, Mr. Steckle advised her to apply to the New School and The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).
According to the New York State Education Department , HEOP, founded in 1969, is an organization that partners with the New York state and independent colleges within the state to provide economically and educationally disenfranchised New York residents the ability of accessing a college education. The program is funded by both participating independent colleges and universities and New York State Education Department.
Mr. Steckle worked with Samuel closely on her college application, and making sure she had all the materials she needed to apply for the New School. “Literally I would be in his office for hours writing personal essays, looking them over for grammar, giving me ideas for personal essays, and helping me decipher financial documentation,” Samuels said.
After a few interviews with HEOP to confirm her eligibility, she secured her spot to attend Eugene Lang. “I got accepted into Eugene Lang college through the HEOP program. Initially my experience was very challenging,” Samuel said.
“Especially in classrooms like at Lang where you are engaging with other people and you’re constantly theorizing and thinking about things out loud, there is more of an interaction between your peers and your professor,” Samuel said. “That can be really challenging because sometimes people will say something that doesn’t necessarily jive with you or doesn’t resonate with you because of your own lived experiences, especially when conversations about race come up,” Samuel said.
This year, with her leadership, Samuel and her colleagues created the first event of its kind at The New School: First-Gen Week.
“We thought it was important that we created events that not only celebrated and uplifted what it means to be first gen, but also provide them with support in the areas needed the most,” Samuel said.
Shakira Teague, a junior Parsons student, majoring in Fashion Design, and minoring in Race & Ethnicity and a first-generation student was the first to show up to one of the events that Samuel organized for First Gen week. “I think it’s nice to see other people and feel a little more motivated that I’m not the only person that’s struggling and trying to figure out stuff,” Teague said.
Davida Smyth, an associate professor of natural sciences and first gen herself, also attended the lunch. She said that there was unique challenges to being first gen. “It’s critical that students get all the help and support they need. Going to school can be a struggle when you are surrounded by people that are very privileged,” she added.
First Gen Week was created to inspire and generate community among first-generation students and faculty.
“My advice to faculty would be to reach out to the students that you think are struggling a little bit. Most [first-gen] students are going through some really serious issues outside of the classroom and they bring it into the classroom. I am not saying professors should become a clinical psychologist in that space, but there is nothing wrong on a human to human level to just say, ‘Hey, are you ok? What is going on?’ I wish I had that. I wish someone would have reached out to me,” Samuel said.
In addition to building community through First Gen week, Samuels hopes to create a summer bridge program for first-generation students during their first year at the New School. She also hopes to create more scholarship opportunities for first-generation students.
Samuels has invited first gen students who have questions about the program or have questions about resources to email her at NSFirst@newschool.edu.