GSAS Celebrates First Generation Students Through Networking Event
November 11, 2024
Abigail Arnold & Lauren Crosser | Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
For the eighth annual First-Generation College Celebration on November 8, 2024, Brandeis University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) hosted a networking event for graduate students who identify as first generation, meaning that they are the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree. The event, held at Solea Restaurant & Tapas Bar in Waltham, combined the chance to enjoy delicious food and drink with the chance to meet and mingle with a group of fellow students as well as alums, many of whom were first generation students themselves.
The First-Generation College Celebration was started by the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation Student Success in 2017 to highlight the accomplishments and experiences of first-generation college students. It is observed by institutions throughout the United States, and this is GSAS’s second year celebrating. Becky Prigge, GSAS’s Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, was the one who first brought the event to campus. She said, “Graduate school can be very isolating, and it’s important to provide opportunities for students to connect with one another based on shared identities or life experiences, not just their field of study.”
Last year, GSAS hosted a discussion of the hidden curriculum of graduate school; the networking event is a new one. When planning the event, Prigge said, “My goal for this event is to make networking feel less daunting for students. Networking is so much more than just informational interviews and adding people on LinkedIn. Some of the most meaningful professional connections come from informal or social conversations.” She added, “I hope students and alums take away authentic connections from this event. I organized an informal social event to celebrate National First-Gen Student Day this year, rather than a workshop or lecture, because I love to see the spark that happens when people from different academic fields, identities, or life experiences find common ground through conversation. These social interactions lead to more natural connections that don’t feel like traditional ‘networking.’”
At Solea, students and alums enjoyed a Friday evening of just such interactions and connections. While eating tapas, they talked to old friends and new acquaintances. Students met both peers and alums, and conversations ranged from what different jobs are like to advice for the application process to good old-fashioned ice breakers (“Are you a beach or a mountain person?”).
Students agreed that the event was very valuable in allowing them to meet new people and build a first generation community. “Having the first gen community experience is very important!” said Sociology PhD student Liv Zinn. “As first gen students, we might feel imposter syndrome or be insecure or unsure about how to ask for help. This helps us realize that our experiences, though complicated, are not uncommon.” Chemistry PhD student Hannah Harrison added that she was excited to meet people outside her own discipline, and Physics PhD student Rupam Saha said that he was excited to hear about jobs from alums he had known as students.
Students also spoke of what they gained from talking with alums and learning about their paths. “I’m still figuring out my research,” ssaid Physics PhD student Chitrak Bhowmik,“so it’s good to see how alums have gone through that process and get a bigger picture.” Computer Science master's student Vedanshi Shah added,“We don’t always get to have full conversations with more advanced people, so it helps to have this time to ask questions.” Biochemistry and Biophysics PhD student Jiahua Chen said that she had come to the event to get examples of peoples' experiences looking for industry jobs. She said that she often finds it challenging to figure out how to craft a resume or job application without knowing exactly what is out there or what questions to ask; hearing about alums’ experiences helped her with this.
Alums also appreciated the event and the chance to give back to GSAS and connect with others. “This event was great and should happen more often!” said Víkko Suárez Casanova, who has defended his dissertation in Neuroscience, will officially graduate in February, and is now working as a staff scientist in the Patent and Intellectual Property Group at Choate, Hall & Stuart LLP. “I’m a first gen student and there was a lot I didn’t know about graduate school and job applications, so it felt good to share tips and tricks!” Simon Huynh, MA ’21 and MS ‘23 in Mathematics, is now a math teacher at the Newman School. He shared his experiences teaching with current students, explaining that while teaching math in this setting is very different from what he did in academia, he enjoys it a lot because he gets to be more playful and have fun with the students. Liz Mahon, who has defended her dissertation in Psychology, will officially graduate in February, and is now working as a Data Analytics Manager at Appcast, added, “I value the people who have mentored and taught me. I want to do the same for others and am happy to see them succeed!”
The first generation networking event was a great success in building bridges between students and alums. People came together across programs to learn and build community, connecting based on shared experiences as first generation students.
Photo credit for GSAS event photos: Becky Prigge.