Troubles and Triumphs of First Generation Students at Dominican

By: Ava Sanchez

Dominican has stepped up to help first-generation students with the particular challenges they face in college, students say. 

  

            Financial aid, course registration, and just knowing where to start with academics can be new to students whose parents never went to college. And at Dominican, that’s 59 percent of the undergraduate student body. 

  

            Sophomore Rose Matzuka praised Dominican’s staff and faculty outreach from the very beginning of her college career. 

  

“There’s a lot of staff that are willing to go the extra step to help, and as someone who, as a first-generation student, doesn’t have too many other people to look to for official guidance,” she said. “It’s really helpful to be here and have people who you can be on a personal level with. You could tell they want to help you. So, I would say that it’s really great here.”  

Dominican’s TRIO program helps students with financial instability, documented disabilities, and students who are first generation. Assistant Director Eric La Luz  described how upperclassmen in the program can mentor incoming freshman, sophomore, and transfer students.  

  

“Our (TRIO) ambassador program students help them adjust to Dominican, make them aware of resources, provide another ear in terms of like, ‘hey, how can I help you? Can I be more of a peer mentor?’” La Luz said. 

  

TRIO gives first generation students an open and welcoming environment so they can overcome any struggles throughout their time at Dominican as soon as they start, he said. 

  

“I was just so blown away at the community. It’s so tight knit,” La Luz explained. “The directors of TRIO and our peer leaders really created an environment of like, ‘I want to be here.”

  

For senior Yailin Hinojosa, the willingness of the Dominican community to help has been important for her time as a first–generation student. Her experience has been better than at her previous college, Columbia College in downtown Chicago. 

  

“They have a lot of resources here that I feel welcome whenever I want, compared to going to school downtown.” Hinojosa said. 

  

The financial aid office and the wellness center have helped her a lot whenever she was struggling with uncertainties. Hinojosa also explained that you are never alone at Dominican University. All it takes is to ask for help. 

  

“Anyone can help you. Anyone’s willing to help you here.” Hinojosa said. 

 

asanchez48@my.dom.edu