| | FEBRUARY 20258By Anthony Perez, Assistant Director of Admissions, Multicultural Recruitment and Outreach, Western Michigan UniversityNavigating the college search process is an exciting and stressful time. Consider searching for a college or university while being a first-generation college student--the challenge is increased. Depending on one's upbringing, the college-going culture in their environment, or the resources at their school, students may face an even larger challenge. Then, we must consider the differences in institutional types (i.e., private versus public), institutional sizes, religious affiliations (if any), and much more.As a first-generation college student myself who navigated the college search, I did so because of the school environment that I was in. I was fortunate, and I acknowledge my privilege, to attend a private high school in San Antonio, Texas. College was something that my school stressed and is the norm for many high schools. There is an expectation that college is the next step after high school. However, issues arise when one encounters a first-generation family navigating the college search.Professionals within education, regardless of K-12 or higher education, can become creatures of habit. Unless EMPOWERING FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS: NAVIGATING THE PATH TO HIGHER EDUCATIONAnthony PerezIN MY OPINION
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