Atlantic Cape Community College brought together more than 120 students who are the first in their families to go to college.
The second annual First-Generation Student Conference, “Maximizing Your College Experience,” was held at the college's Mays Landing campus last week.
“This conference should be a staple at all schools in the state of New Jersey because you are the most important group that we serve," said Dr. Natalie Devonish, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, and herself a first-generation student.
The program sponsored by Atlantic Cape’s Student Support Services Department was attended by the college's students along with those from Rowan College of South Jersey, Stockton University, Camden County College, and Pleasantville and Atlantic City high schools.
"Oftentimes you hear of the struggles that a first-generation student goes through, and they are very true," Devonish said, adding that she has been through it. “As a first-generation student it means that you are going to blaze a trail and a path that no one else has ever done.
"Today we are going to highlight the many successes and support services that you have that others don’t have and that is a benefit that you will be reminded of throughout the day.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Joshua Fredenburg said he was despondent and devastated after an unsuccessful attempt at making his college men's basketball team.
But it was what led him down a path to becoming an internationally acclaimed speaker and author of several books.
“College changed my life," he said. "There, I found my calling and I wanted to be a motivational speaker. It changed my life because I was actively involved in the college experience, I was focused and I had a vision.”
Fredenburg founded The Circle of Change Leadership Experience, a national leadership development program that has reached more than 2,000 culturally diverse students from more than 150 colleges and universities from all across the country over the past 10 years.
"“I turned my failure into a successful journey because I knew what I wanted to do, but it was college that gave me direction,” Fredenburg said, imploring the students to embrace the process of attending college, not because it is easy, but because it is hard and a new challenge to tackle.
“Every problem is a gift," he said. "We must persevere and learn from it. Without it we do not grow because it takes work and discipline to succeed. Place yourself in an environment that empowers you. Connect and build relationships with this community. Get involved on campus and reach your full potential.
"And, part of being first is being a pioneer,” he added.
The student also attended two rounds of four, 50-minute breakout sessions with Atlantic Cape staff members on topics including “Mental Health: Self-Care is Self-Love,” “Financial Literacy: Make it Make Cents,” “First-Gen/First Year Women: Keeping it Real,” and “First-Gen/First Year Men: Engagement, Mentoring & Retention.”
The students were treated to lunch before rounding out the day with a student panel discussion in the Walter Edge Theater.
