First generation student persists through obstacles

Allison Baker has been facing every challenge that college has thrown at her.

The international relations freshman has been using Syracuse University’s resources to assist her through her first year in college. As a first generation student from the small town of Wasilla, Alaska, Baker's unusual path to college started when she applied.

“(My) parents didn’t know anything about it,” Baker said. “So actually my cousin … she helped me with most of it, helped me write my essay and I had a teacher who helped me check all of my essays over.”

For Trisha Early, Baker’s mother, applying for financial aid was no easier than filling out the college application. She needed her accountant to assist with the applications.

“To be honest, I didn't have anything to do with it,” Early said. “It was all over my head.”

Baker explained that there was a lot of frustration when filling out the applications with her parents.

“My mom was yelling at me and I was yelling at her because we didn’t know what to do,” she said. “It was a bad time.” Baker filled out the FAFSA and the CSS profile by herself.

“I said, ‘Hey, I need your taxes,’ and they brought home their taxes for me,” she said. “I sat there and clicked on all the little help questions … because I’ve never done taxes before.”

Before arriving at Syracuse University, Baker did a pre-orientation program for first generation college students. It was here that she said she met some of her best friends. Baker no longer keeps in touch with her friends back home.

“About a month before I came here, we kind of just stopped talking and hanging out,” she said. “So I kind of lost those friends, but when I came here, I gained new ones, so it all worked out.”

Back in her town in Alaska, most of her high school friends did not attend college. Her friends were supportive of her college dreams, but only if she stayed in state.

“They don’t see the point in it,” she said. “There, you don’t need to go to college to make good money.”

Baker mentioned that during the summer, she worked as a flagger and made $50.60 an hour. Her parents don’t give her any money while she is away at school.

Outside of her pocket money, Baker was awarded several grants to attend SU. Her parents promised her they would give her support if she continued to receive good grades.

“My parents, even though they didn't graduate from high school, they’re so self-sufficient,” Baker said.

At a young age, Baker’s mother moved from California to Alaska. At age 14, she ran away from home and went to beauty school at age 16.

“College wasn’t talked about,” Early said. “Not to mention I went to like three schools in one year. So I just wanted to start my life.”

Early opened her first business at age 21. She currently has a credit card processing business and a business training and certifying flaggers. Baker's father, who dropped out of high school when he was 16, is a mason.

Early was more than supportive of letting her daughter go away for school.

“Everyone thought I would be crying. I’m going to let her go and spread her wings,” she said. “I’m so excited to have a spare room.”

Baker was placed in Flint Hall in the Gen-One Scholars Learning Community. Baker said she felt extremely comfortable here.

“My RA is amazing,” Baker said, referring to her resident advisor. “There’s just so many people that you have at your disposal to use to help that transition. So it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

Taylar Cobb, the RA for the Gen-One Scholars Learning Community, was always the go-to person not only for Allison, but everyone on her floor. She was always providing information to make their first year at Syracuse University easier.

“I hold a program every other week asking what kinds of questions they have,” she said. “I’ll take them to Pastabilities and white water rafting or how to get financial aid and sign up for it.”

Cobb is also a first generation student from Reno, Nevada.

“I’m one of those RAs who doesn’t need the money. I’m on full scholarship,” she said. “I did so well my first year, I wanted to give back.”

Cobb gives back by not only putting on these important programs, but by serving as a liaison in difficult roommate situations and also as a mentor.

“They’re afraid to go to financial aid. Struggling financially, parents struggling, what to do about getting money,” she said. “Some of them seem to be doing well and others not so much.”

This year, 679 students identified as first generation students at the University, according to the Office of First Year and Transfer Programs. Robert Wilson, the director of Student Supportive Services, said the University is increasing its support for these first generation students.

“You let people through the door, but if you don’t provide them with services that will ensure their retention and graduation, that’s not true access,” Wilson said.

In the SSS office, Wilson only works with first generation students. He said that a large part of the problem is that the parents of these students do not understand the application process.

“It is a fairly bureaucratic process,” he said. “Along with not understanding the value, they see a sticker price and say it can’t happen.”

Wilson believes first generation students are highly motivated and are constantly working hard to graduate.

“I don’t think they’re here to party their way through college,” he said. “They’re here on a mission.”

Baker will be serving on the Residence Hall Association and plans on becoming the RA of the Gen-One Scholars Learning Community next year. After college, she plans to join the Peace Corps.

Although she is far from home, Baker continues to keep in close contact with her parents everyday.

“They’ve always worked really hard,” she said. “I’m inspired by them to work just as hard for my future children and everything.”