Staff Writer- Evangelyn Hill

Every student at Gustavus has had a different experience. Different families, schools, fields of study, and life experiences contribute to their experience of their time at college.

First Forward+ Week is an event celebrating the diversity of experiences at Gustavus Adolphus College. It highlights first-generation students (those whose parents haven’t completed a college degree), adoptees, internationals, multilingual students, and more. 

First Forward+ Week will begin with the First Generation Celebration Dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10th. Come to hear panelists, participate in games and a photobooth, and celebrate the accomplishments of first-generation students at Gustavus.

Also on that Monday, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., all students are invited to join First Forward+ organizations in painting the Cafeteria windows. 

Throughout the week, Nov. 10th through 14th, representatives from First Forward+ will be tabling outside the Caf. Stop by to learn about the different groups included in First Forward+.

On Friday, Nov. 14th, there will be a speed-friending event from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the CIE. Games, crafts, and drinks will be provided while students come together to meet new people and make friends.

Finally, on Saturday, Nov. 15th, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., the Adoption Recognition Community (ARC) will be hosting their conference, Home and the Heart: Exploring Identity, Belonging, and Adoptee Experiences. Students will explore the stories and lives of adoptees at Gustavus. This event is open to everyone, and free lunch will be provided. 

First Forward+ Week celebrates multiple student identities, from first-generation students to adoptees to international students. It highlights the diversity of Gustavus students – and explores the unique challenges First Forward+ students might face. 

Senior Beau Supan is the co-president of Tri-Alpha at Gustavus, a national honor society for first-generation students. 

“As a first-generation student myself, I have felt lost at times, unsure where to go, who to talk to, and how to do certain things. I remember nearly missing my class registration in my first year in the fall because I had no idea how to log in to MyGustavus,” Supan said.

Heidi Carstensen is the other Tri-Alpha co-president. “It was really intimidating to even make the decision to go to college.” Carstensen said.

Both explained that, as first-generation college students, they sometimes ran into the “hidden curriculum,” which is the part of the college process that students are assumed to understand. Without being able to rely on the experiences of their parents, first-generation students sometimes feel lost when trying to register for classes or pay for tuition, or even simply take the step to go to college.

That’s where organizations like Tri-Alpha come in. Carstensen explained that Tri-Alpha is “really focusing on fostering a sense of community.” 

Supan echoed the importance of that first-generation student community, saying that “talking to other first-generation students has helped me navigate college, and Tri-Alpha has allowed me to share that knowledge with others.” 

First Forward+ also encompasses adopted students. ARC is a Gustavus student organization that is running a conference for First Forward+ Week.

ARC’s goal is to build awareness for the experiences of adoptees and to raise money to support orphanages throughout the world. They also strive to foster community between adoptees and non-adoptees.

In light of this, ARC is hosting Home and the Heart at the end of First Forward+ Week. The event is open to all students, but they particularly want to engage with students in teaching or psychology majors, who can apply a better understanding of adoptee experiences to their future careers. 

Supan praised the work Gustavus has done to support first-generation students. “Gustavus does a great job with its Career Center and integrated class assignments, ensuring that all students know how to access their resources,” Supan said.

However, he acknowledged that there is still much work to be done to improve the experience of first-generation and other First Forward+ students. “Sometimes the biggest issue in the first-generation community… is imposter syndrome and discomfort with using college resources. This is something we are actively working on improving,” Supan explained. 

First Forward+ Week is something that can step in to fill that gap by acknowledging the experiences of first-generation students and affirming their belonging at Gustavus. “First-Generation week is the first time we see a whole week dedicated to first-generation student support and celebration, so make sure to put yourself out there. Different organizations will be holding events each day of the week,” Supan said.