As a first-generation college student and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I knew I always wanted to pursue higher education, but I was constantly worried by “imposter syndrome,” a term that describes a sense of having not earned one’s position, a fear that I would not belong.

I was excited to be accepted to UC Santa Barbara, but my entire first year was online. So, when I finally got to campus, I felt as though everyone else had already settled in and found their place.

But, after just a few short weeks, I found support and community with peers who shared the same passions, and I felt more at home on campus than I could have imagined. The opportunity to meet in smaller groups during discussion sections, office hours, or even in lectures for my smaller upper-division classes allowed me to connect on a deeper level with classmates and I made friends effortlessly.

I am not alone in the anxiety I felt making my way to college. One-third of all college students in the United States are first-generation. As this number grows, schools are working harder to welcome and accommodate students who are experiencing an often-difficult transition to a setting unfamiliar to them and their families.

First-generation college students don't have to struggle to find community at UC Santa Barbara. They have access to resources such as the ONDAS student center and CLCRC’s El Centro to help them seamlessly navigate their way through earning their degree and finding community along the way. UCSB cultivates supportive spaces for students to learn, grow, be encouraged academically, and gain a sense of belonging, despite unfamiliar and sometimes scary new circumstances.

Mural in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies. Photo by Jessica Gonzalez.

“I felt behind when I was starting college,” says Lola Torres, a fellow first-generation college student and a Psychological & Brain Sciences major. “I didn't understand how a lot of different processes like scholarships or financial aid worked because there hadn't been anyone to show me.”

A great number of first-generation students share these concerns, and our parents are likely just as confused as we are. Luckily, there is a multitude of resources at UCSB to answer questions about any procedures that may be confusing to a first-gen student.

“My amazing professors and the department as a whole has done a really good job of cultivating my passion for my major,” Torres said. “UCSB has so many great clubs and multicultural student organizations geared toward students looking to find community.”

UCSB has numerous multicultural sororities and fraternities which promote the objectives of academics, culture, and sisterhood/brotherhood, and are supportive homes away from home. Lambda Theta Alpha, a Latin sorority on campus, is home to countless first-gen Latinas who have created a space to grow academically and create meaningful friendships.

The members of these organizations typically share a common cultural background, which bolsters a sense of belonging and can be very comforting to students far from home. With bond-building activities and events in honor of important holidays like Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Hispanic Heritage Month, first-gen students can find community and connection.

For prospective and current first-gen students struggling to find their place, there is so much more to the college experience than passing classes and acquiring a degree. UCSB is an environment to thrive in regardless of how foreign a college setting may initially be.

“Finding my place at UCSB has been priceless in the value of my college experience as a whole,” concluded Lola. “I am eternally grateful for the countless opportunities I have to create connections and make the most of my college career.”

Despite my initial fears, I now feel comfortable, thriving at my dream school, and hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

Jessica Gonzalez is a Third-Year UC Santa Barbara student majoring in Sociology.