PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TRIO DAY, & FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE CELEBRATION DAY
The TRIO Student Organization invites all BHSU students who are interested in college access and student success to join. The purpose of the club is to facilitate inclusiveness on campus through social interaction and participation in community service activities. The club also helps to promote the federally-funded TRIO Student Support Services program at BHSU. TRIO helps students be successful in reaching their higher education goals through personal and academic support. Meet new friends and help others by joining the TRIO Student Organization.
ASPIRE Membership and Conference
ASPIRE is one of ten regional associations that form the Council for Opportunity in Education, which promotes equal rights and opportunities for first-generation and low-income students, and for students with disabilities. ASPIRE is a professional organization of persons engaged in the administration, recruitment, mentoring, instruction, tutoring, and other support services for eligible students. ASPIRE strives to organize program personnel into a cohesive unit, facilitate open communication between program personnel, and disseminate legislative and Department of Education information to ensure that program personnel are well informed on current issues.
TRIO Participant Membership is $5 per year. Membership is available to TRIO program participants who are supportive of the goals/mission of ASPIRE. Members may have a voice but no vote and may not hold office. SSS students who are interested in membership in ASPIRE should contact the SSS office. SSS students are encouraged to attend the ASPIRE Conference held each year in October if they are interested in the mission of ASPIRE.
National TRIO Day
National TRIO Day has been celebrated every year on the last Saturday in February since 1986. It is " a day on which the nation is asked to turn its attention to the needs of disadvantaged young people and adults aspiring to improve their lives, to the investment necessary if they are to become contributing citizens of this country, and to the talent which will be wasted if that investment is not made." (Proclamation passed in the House of Representatives, .)
In recent years, TRIO students in South Dakota have done a variety of things to celebrate National TRIO Day. They have met with legislators at the state capital to share information about the programs at their schools, their needs, and their accomplishments! They have also done service projects in the community and hosted open houses to educate BHSU faculty, staff, students, and Spearfish community members about TRIO.
First-Generation College Celebration Day
is the annual National First-Generation College Celebration Day. It is a day to celebrate both first-generation students and the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. What does it mean to be a first-generation college student? It means you are a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor's degree. You are the first person in your family to attend a four-year college or university to attain a bachelor's degree. The impact a first-generation student can have on their family's future is beyond measurement. TRIO is a program that came out of the HEA of 1965 to help minority, low-income backgrounds, and potential first-generation individuals gain both access to and completion o f higher education. BHSU and TRIO celebrate this exceptional group of trailblazers each year on this day.
First-Generation College Day Transcript
Carissa Deming
My name is Carissa Deming, and I will be your host and moderator for today's show. I'm a proud BH alum, currently serving as a professional advisor in the Trio Student Support Services office. Today, we're celebrating first generation day, not only at Black Hills State University, but also across college campuses nationwide. Our staff in the Trio Student Support Services office decided what better way to celebrate than to sponsor a radio interview panel consisting of both current and former first generation students to share their memories, thoughts, and experiences. So, while this designation may not be new to our panel members, it might be new to some of our listeners. In order to be considered a first generation student, it's required that neither parent natural or adoptive has completed a four-year bachelor's degree. Today, I'm so excited to be joined by several fantastic panelists. We have Dr. Laurie Nichols, our president of BH, Dr. Trenton Ellis, professor Desi Shenowice, and Hayley Houck. So, tell me- please introduce yourself and tell me a little bit about who you are, maybe where you're from, what you do. So we'll start with you, President Nichols.
Laurie Nichols
Okay, great! Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Laurie Nichols, and I serve as president at Black Hills State University, and I am in my third year as president here.
Trenton Ellis
My name is Trenton Ellis, I'm an assistant professor of human services here at Black Hills State University. This is my seventh year at Black Hills State.
Hayley Houck
My name is Hayley Houck, and I'm from Pierre, South Dakota. My major is business management and this is my third year here.
Desi Shenowice
My name is Desi Shenowice. I am an associate professor of art here at Black Hills State. This is my tenth year at Black Hills State and I am originally from St. Louis, Missouri.
Carissa Deming
Wonderful! Thank you all for taking the time to be here. I know you all have very busy schedules, so I appreciate you taking the time out of your schedules. So, I have compiled some questions for you that I hope will be interesting and informative to listeners. So, to start, and this is up for- everyone can answer, anyone can answer- it's totally up to you guys. So, what memories do you have of being a first generation college student? Maybe what challenged you or what surprised you or anything in that category?
Hayley Houck
I'm not a person that adjusts well to, like, big changes so something that surprised me was it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I was very scared about getting lost on campus, but surprisingly I was able to find all my classes and always have been so.
Carissa Deming
Nice, nice. Anybody else? Memories?
Trenton Ellis
Well, okay so memories. I remember and I still feel like that. So I don't really ever feel like I've stepped outside of like not being a first generation college student. Like, I think that's how I generally approach like, my teaching, my interactions with students when I'm advising. I still kind of think about myself as that first generation student. And one of my favorite most salient memories is just a sense of difficulty belonging. Like, feelings like I didn't fit in. Where I grew up, I didn't grow up around a lot of other folks who had been to higher education. Um, I had one uncle who had a bachelor's degree, and so, it just wasn't dinner table conversation growing up. So, I always just kind of assumed, you know, all these people are so educated. They know so many things, what do I have to contribute? I think just kind of the struggle of like where do I fit in or do I fit in and always kind of feeling like this sense of not belonging I guess.
Carissa Deming
Do you think that helps you as you're advising students now to kind of understand what they're feeling and empathize?
Trenton Ellis
I think so. Um, you know, students who I interact with they come from all different kinds of backgrounds so, you know, but in general I think that I do have that in my mind whenever I'm interacting with someone. I always- I don't ask students if they are first generation, but I always try to get a little but of their story just to try to understand like where they're coming from because ultimately I think that helps me to better help them, you know, if they're coming in for advising or other kinds of advice. So yeah, I'd say that I think it does help me with when I'm interacting with students.
(unknown voice)
That's awesome.
Desi Shenowice
I think the idea of imposter syndrome is a real thing and our students that come in as first generation students also feel that too. They feel as though they are different than the other students in their classes. And so I also work pretty extensively with those students and talk to them about my own experiences in college and what it's like to navigate all of the different systems that is involved in higher education. You know, what offices to go to for this assistance or that assistance and so fourth. And one of the things that I strive with all of my students in all of the classes is communicate. Don't be afraid to speak up, speak out, and talk to people and ask for help. Because, people want to help, you know, and that's a great thing about being here is that everybody is so helpful. So, even for all of our students, not just the first generation students.
Carissa Deming
I, yeah, I agree. And, I feel like it is just so intimidating because there's how many offices on campus, right? And there's a lot of floors on Woodburn, so trying to figure out where everything is is intimidating, not just for first generation, but for everybody. I would agree with you. Do you have any found memories President Nichols?
Laurie Nichols
Okay, I have a funny memory. But first I have to establish I'm older than everybody else.
Carissa Deming
(laughs) okay!
Laurie Nichols
So my memories go back further. So you have to keep in mind that we're going back in time, but I still distinctly remember going to campus- moving to campus, move in weekend if you will. And I didn't have a car so my mom had to take me and that was very common back then where freshman- actually I don't even think they were really allowed to have cars, or they certainly were not encouraged to have cars. And, my mom drove me to campus and I lived very close, it was only about 20-25 miles away so this wasn't a big trip. But I still distinctly remember getting there and my mother was so- I don't know if she was really nervous or embarrassed and I think it was a little of both- that she never went into the residence hall with me. She dropped me off at the curb and left. And I remember unloading the car and I had four boxes and a hamper, and that is what I unloaded and what I took into my dorm room. And I just remember getting in there and there were all these parents and kids and, you know, the hubbub of moving into the residence hall. And I just remember moving my stuff in myself and then unpacking myself. And I think at the time it just kind of all odd to me, but looking back on it now I realize that my mom- she was just so out of her comfort zone and I think she was very emotional about me going to college and it was the combination of those two that she just literally could not deal with it. Um, but anyways, that was four boxes and a hamper dropped off at the curb and I moved in myself. Now compare that to what you see today.
Carissa Deming
Right! A little bit different maybe right? People are like, "Oh here's- back at my u-haul right?" No, but that's, yeah. I think I know some of the students in our program have a similar experience and so it's definitely different. Everybody has a different experience coming to college.
(unknown voice)
right.
Carissa Deming
Wonderful. Okay, so what fears or concerns or reservations did you have about college before going? Like, think putting yourself back in your high school shoes. You know, what fears or concerns did you have or did your parents have if maybe you didn't have any, right?
Desi Shenowice
I'll go ahead and address this one. Um, so I actually signed up for my college classes a week before classes started at our local community college in St. Louis. I had no intentions of going to college.
(shocked laughs)
I didn't. It just was not something that anybody in my family did obviously. I was working at a grocery store when I was in high school and even throughout the summer. After high school, I was working full-time and all of my friends were going away to college, you know, two weeks before and I thought, you know, if I'm going to do it, I should probably do this. And I was terrified. I didn't have my- I come from a single-parent household, working class. My grandparents were poor, my mother was poor and so I had no way of paying for things. I had no way of really knowing what I was doing. So driving up to that community college campus, even though it was not a typical dorm situation or anything like that, was the hardest step. Getting in my car and just driving into that parking lot and walking in and seeing so many buildings, I didn't know were to go. But just like a mall, you kind of find the kiosk and you find the map right, and then, "Okay, there's admissions". So I walked in and I said I think I need to sign up for classes. I had not event taken the ACT or SAT. I had to take a placement test to get into my classes. It turns out I did really well, I always got A's in school. It just wasn't a thing. My parents and my grandparents and everybody accepted that I would just work at a grocery store and that would be my life. And so when I sign up for the classes, obviously I signed up for art classes since I'm an art professor. It was very scary. I had no idea what to do. Even the very first day I didn't really bring anything except for a spiral notebook, and I think I was supposed to bring like some drawing supplies even though we went over the syllabus the first day. But, I kind of told myself even on the first day, "I'm not going to make it. I'm not going to make it. I'm not going to make it." Like, I still had that self-doubt built in. But, I made it. I made friends. I connected with my professors, and here I am today. But yeah, it was the week before classes started.
Carissa Deming
Yeah, that's a lot. A lot all at once, but here you are. I love it. Anybody else have any fears or their parents were fearful or anything like that about college?
Trenton Ellis
I think one of the most major challenges is, something that you touched on, President Nichols, is the normal conversations that some folks might be having with their parents. Now I see it, then I didn't know any different right? It was just normal but, you know, being so used to having your parents-and not that, I don't want to like disparage my parents like they weren't there for me or anything because they were- but, they lacked a lot of the kind of cultural knowledge of like how to navigate the systems and, you know, so I think one of the maybe challenges I had was just not being able to necessarily rely on them in that capacity, and again, I'm not like trying to fault them for that. So, it was just really difficult and I didn't want to ask questions. I was afraid to sound uneducated, right. I was afraid, and I went to a community college in my hometown, and it was a very small community college. So, I was very fortunate that I had a lot of friends that were from my hometown that also went to the same community college. And, I think that really helped my comfort level. But I just remember like, you know, choosing classes, or applying for financial aid, or books. I had no idea that books cost so much money. I remember like going to buy my books and I had to borrow money from my parents, and thankfully I could do that, to buy my books. And they were shocked too as to how much they cost. But yeah, I just remember just feeling kind of like I didn't have a- like I couldn't speak up and this is going back to what you were saying, Desi, about communication. Like, I try to drag communication out of my students I think because of that, you know, this fear that like, you know, you can't be your own advocate or that I know best, right. and I think that a lot of students maybe especially first generation students assume that I know best, right. I know what the classes are that they should be taking. I know the professional path for them, like I'm going to give them the answers, but it has to be a conversation, and then I didn't realize that I just let whoever kind of pick my classes for me. I didn't really think too much about like what my schedule would be or anything like that. So, I really try to push my students to communicate, but also to be an advocate for themselves that this is their education and they're in the driver's seat really, and that we're all here to help, and I think that a lot of us across this campus, we really are here to help. We really do want students to share their experiences and their questions with us.
Carissa Deming
Yeah, I would agree with that. I mean I hope they know that, but if they do, right?
Trenton Ellis
Can I ask, Hayley, was that kind of- did you have similar experiences to kind of what we're discussing here?
Hayley Houck
Well, for me growing up I've always had the mindset that I was going to college. I didn't know where, but like that's just always been my mindset because it's just like more common now for like my age, and everyone I went to high school with, like almost everyone was planning on going to college, so. I think my parents had more fears than I did. They were just scared that I wasn't going to adjust well because they didn't go to a four-year, so like they didn't know how it was going to be for me. And so yeah, they were just scared I wasn't going to adjust well and it was going to make me want to quit and go home.
Carissa Deming
But, here you are. And you're graduating when?
Hayley Houck
Next fall.
Carissa Deming
So you're almost there. So close, so close! I love it. Did you have anything you wanted to add?
Laurie Nichols
You know, I would just say probably like many, many students here, I grew up in South Dakota and I went to a very small school. There was 25 in my graduating class, so I graduated from Colman, which is a little town, population 500. And, I just remember my greatest fear was- it wasn't so much the first gen, you know. I don't know back then if first gen was even a thing, so I can't say that that was terminology that we ever talked about. But, what I do remember is just making- and I will tell you I did my undergraduate at South Dakota State, so I was going up the road to Brookings and that's were I did my degree. And, I have to tell you that making the jump from a high school of about 100 kids, class of about 25, to a university that- I don't know what they had at that time, but probably starting to push almost 10,000. It was a big jump- size, scope, scale- and I think for me the greatest fear was just can I make that jump, you know? And, will i fit in? How will I make friends? Because I knew everybody in Colman and everybody knew me, and then how do you go somewhere where, quite honestly, you really don't know anybody.
Carissa Deming
Right. It takes time to establish that community.
Laurie Nichols
Yeah, so that was my greatest fear. Just how do I make that jump in size and then will I fit in. I think those are my two greatest fears.
Carissa Deming
I think in South Dakota that's definitely something that in a more rural setting you see- that's something that maybe students in a more urban area don't experience or don't even about, but in South Dakota there's a lot of small towns that- you're right- the graduating class is 20, 30, even 100, you know, is still pretty small compared to what you're coming into as a freshman. So, that's a really good point. How does it feel or what is it like to be the first member of your family to attend college. So, Hayley, obviously you know, you're still in it. You're still kind of in the midst of it, but how is that for those of you who have graduated? Like how does that feel? And you can speak to this too, Hayley, but I know maybe you're not quite there yet, so maybe you don't know, right?
Desi Shenowice
For me anyway, I kind of feel like a little bit of a trailblazer in some ways. It really felt a little but like I was the black sheep of the family for awhile, and you know my family just did not understand college at all. You know, so many of my family members actually didn't even graduate high school. And yet, here I am going to college. And so once I kind of started to explain the necessitates of college to my family, they became more and more supportive as the years went on. But what I'm really proud of is the fact that I see the next generation going to college. You know, first my- a couple of my younger cousins went to college. Now I have a niece here at Black Hills State that I- she's a freshman here. And so, it's great to see that this next generation is looking at college as a necessity for doing great things with their lives. You know, moving forward and finding great careers.
Carissa Deming
That's awesome. Anyone else want to add? You don't have to if you don't want to, but..(laughs)
Trenton Ellis
I think that, for me, I wrote down that it kind of feels like, kind of mysterious in some ways or- it's almost like, you know, sometimes like a double life? I don't know how to explain that. Like, when I'm with my family and with my parents and whatnot, and I don't mean this to be in a negative way or anything but, it's very much a different world. Like, academia, you know, I eventually went to graduate school and got a PhD in sociology, which you know is somewhat- it should be easy to explain but it's somewhat difficult to explain like- why would you get a PhD in sociology, right? And, you know, that's kind of an abstract thing relative to like people who maybe get their MD and become a, you know, general practitioner or physician. So there's just a little but of mystery there, and there's kind of a gap or a bridge i guess- or a gap between like kind of my life here and what things are like for me as an academic and then like kind of what things were like with my family. I hope that doesn't sound like condescending or too odd or anything- I don't mean it that way. But, so it's a little bit mysterious and I feel like sometimes I have to work to kind of unravel that mystery a little bit. You know, the thing that's been nice is that I did have a younger- two younger brothers who eventually did go to college. And it's been nice to have had this experience because I can help them navigate a little but, and I want to be, you know, wanted to be that person who was there for them to help them, and because I think I remember sometimes what it felt like to kind of do that alone or whatever. But, it feels good. I mean I'm happy that I did what I did and I'm proud of it, and my family is very proud of it. But then again sometimes it's just- it's like- like I had to explain what an assistant professor means because-
(unknown voice)
Yeah...tenure.
Trenton Ellis
Yeah, tenure. And it's this like, you know, this thing where it's like- it doesn't mean that I'm like a professor's assistant, like this means that I'm still a faculty member, you know. But, you know, this is just my rank. And so it's like a little bit of a different world. But, it's fun. It's fun to talk about those things and to, you know- my family, like I said, is just so proud and that really makes me feel good.
Carissa Deming
I think academia has its own language that-
Trenton Ellis
We do.
Carissa Deming
-is a little bit different. You know, than the colloquial language that we usually speak in so. But it's fun because you get to share that knowledge and it's something new to learn, right? Awesome. Anybody else? Sure? You don't have to if you don't want to. No? All right. So were- during your time in college and thinking through that, were there any specific people or resources or offices, or maybe a specific person that were really helpful to you as a first generation student that helped you make it through.
Hayley Houck
For me, the admissions office was like, very helpful when I had questions like about classes or campus. And then each advisor I've had, which, you're my third one, so.- I've always had like good experiences with them. They've always been very helpful, like helping me register for my classes, making plans on what classes I need to take for which year and semester. And then, I would also have to say like my parents, too, just because of how supportive they've been. And it's kept my motivation up because they always like to remind me like how great I'm doing.
Carissa Deming
That's awesome. Yeah. Anybody else have another particular person or office when you were in school?
Trenton Ellis
I think faculty were really important to me. It took me awhile to figure out what exactly my major was going to be. I think for some students it's difficult for them to see the link between what they're doing here and then what they might go on to do. And so for me, I kind of bounced around to a few different majors and it was really when some faculty started to take notice about, you know, my thinking, how I was thinking, my ideas and my assignments, you know, my participation in class and whatnot, that really kind of steered me toward sociology ultimately. And so for me I think some of the most important people that I interacted with and that really helped me along to kind of find my path were faculty members.
Carissa Deming
Awesome. Yeah, I think they're an invaluable resource to students.
(unknown voice)
I would agree with you there.
Desi Shenowice
Yeah, I think I can piggyback on Dr. Ellis's comment as far as talking to faculty, especially- I mean, obviously, you know, had to learn to be a little bit resourceful and kind of learn okay what this office is for, what that office is for, et cetera. But I also learned, too, that I wasn't bugging my professors. I always kind of went in sheepishly, "I don't- sorry to bother you, but..." And one of the things I always tell me students now is you're never bugging me. My door is open, come on in. And I certainly, like, I have extra chairs in my office. I'm like "Have a seat! How are you doing? How are your classes going? Do you have your-are you signed up for classes for next semester?" Just because I know that feeling of , you know when they approach my office, are they feeling like are they bothering somebody. You're not bothering us at all, like you know, definitely come and approach. And so you have to kind of learn to step out of your comfort zone and approach people, but people are willing to talk, so yeah.
Carissa Deming
Yeah, and I think our campus does a great job of having faculty who have really open door policies and are so welcoming, and advisors as well with our new student success center that we have set up, and with our Trio program, and I think that we definitely try to be really open and give students that opportunity if they're willing to be a little bit courageous, you know? You definitely invite them in I know bribe- Hayley can attest to this- I bribe my students to come into my office with candy.
(unknown voice)
I do too!
Carissa Deming
It works. I think it works pretty well, so.
Trenton Ellis
Yeah, and if I can just add just real quick to what Hayley was saying, this idea that students are bothering you. I get that in my email. I get that sometimes when they come by my office. And I just want students to know that this is our- one, this is a job. And two, like we want to know what's going on with you because it helps us to know what we need to do or how we need to- what path we need to take to help you to be more successful. And you're not bothering us, you know, by sending us an email and asking questions, you know. We need that. So don't ever feel like you're bothering us. Be an advocate for yourself. Don't be afraid to ask, you know, sometimes students thing that they're going to ask a dumb questions or ask the wrong question or something like that. And I think that like, you know, it's unfortunate when you don't ask a question, you know, because sometimes it's, you know, it's important to help you get to where you need to be, so.
Carissa Deming
I know when I was a student, Dr. Reznikov was one of the professors I took classes with, and he always told me there's no such thing as a stupid question- there's just a question and I think that's kind of the attitude that I definitely try to approach too, because really, there isn't so.
(unknown voice)
I would agree.
Carissa Deming
So how would you guys say that you found your path to your major currently, you know, or maybe what you want to do post graduation. Or, you found your path to your career that you're in right now. How did that process work? I mean, I know you guys have mentioned faculty were really helpful in kind of directing you or giving you some direction, but how'd you get to where you are right now, I suppose?
Laurie Nichols
I'll jump in and start. I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I think I figured that our when I was in fourth or fifth grade, and I never ever strayed from that. So unlike students who kind of struggle to find a major, and my heart goes out to them because I've worked with many many of those students, I was not one of them. I just new from a very early age I wanted to teach. So when I went to college I immediately went into a Teacher Ed program. I did have to kind of figure our what I wanted to teach, but I knew I wanted to teach. So, I vacillated between elementary and secondary, and ultimately landed in secondary, but that was a long-term desire of mine to do that. So I would say, for me, you know, just knowing that I wanted to teach, and getting into that program immediately and I never changed majors, and I got through in four years. And, you know that you often don't see that today so it's really nice that that did work out for me. But I do have to say I only stayed a high school teacher for about five years and then my path just took a drastically different turn. And there is absolutely no way that I ever dreamed when I was in college that I would A, be a professor, work in higher ed, and ultimately be a president. I mean, people ask me that all the time. "Did you always think you would do this?" Absolutely not. So, you know the one thing I would just say is, you know, find what you do want to do out of college. That's critically important, and be passionate about it, but be open to possibilities because my guess is most people's careers will go in directions that they never thought they would.
Trenton Ellis
Yeah, absolutely. Plans change. They can change so much. I was just going to say that sociology was so- so I was a history major and I wanted to be a history teacher I thought. And then people told me I wouldn't make money being a history teacher, so I listened to that.
(unknown voice)
Which probably is true.
Trenton Ellis
And so I said, okay like, what else? They said, "You should go into business." Right? And these were just people who I was listening to, who were around me, who were educated. You should go into this, so I was a business marketing major and for me, like school was never something I was super jazzed about. In high school, I just wasn't- I was intellectually curious but I felt like people were making me be somewhere, you know? And I think maybe I had a little, I don't know, rebellious side of me or something like that. But eventually, I realized that I would only succeed in college if I were to have a major that I felt like kind of passionate about or intellectually engaged with. And sociology was that. I had a social problems class and, um, shout to professor Maher, if he's out there listening somewhere. I had his social problems class and when I was a teenager kind of angsty and I think Desi and I had these conversations before about our respective teen years.
(Everyone laughs)
And I was, you know, I knew that there were problems that I saw around me that there were all kinds of, you know, difficulties and challenges I saw in my community. But I didn't really have a language to really describe those, and when I took that social problems class, I thought, "Oh my goodness, the world is suddenly making sense to me." And so I knew about a year later that sociology was going to be my path. I didn't know 100% what I would do with it. I had no idea that I would teach in higher education. But I knew that if I were going to get a college degree, it would have to be something that I was just 100% intellectually invested in, and sociology was that for me.
Hayley Houck
I've always been kind of like into the business side. Like, my freshman or sophomore year of high school I started watching the show Shark Tank.
(Everyone laughs)
That turned into one of my favorite shows, and I actually took an intro to business class my senior year of high school and I really liked it. And, when I was looking through the majors on the BH website, I was looking through the classes that I would have to take for business. And I just- every one of them seemed very interesting. And ever since like getting into them more, like after getting through my generals, like I've noticed how much my motivation and my interest in school has changed because I'm actually doing the things that I want to do.
Carissa Deming
Yeah, I think that can make all the difference in the world. It can feel like torture or it can feel like a joy to get up and go every day, right? Yeah, I think that's so important.
Desi Shenowice
Yeah, I think it's important how- to also know too just if with each day kind of brings new information. And it is really strange how when you talk to different people who they landed in their job or in their field. And it's not always something- maybe it's connected. But things do always kind of take a little but of a turn, twists and turns, you know. All of our paths, life's paths do go down windy roads, don't they? For me, it was- I knew it was art. You know, I knew I'd do something art related. When I was in high school I won a number of different, like art- significant- art awards. I just didn't think that I would go to college, right? And so when I did sign up for the classes it just made sense to sign up for art classes. And I was also pushed in a direction of teaching by my professors but also by another fellow student in my classes. When I- after I had completed my two years of community college and I went to another local college in St. Louis, she was an art teacher, an elementary art teacher who was going and working on her, you know, professional development and graduate credits for her master's degree. And she said, "You're going to be a teacher. Come and observe my classroom." And I thought there's no way there's no way at all. And I kind of walked into that expecting to be making like, you know, fluffball snowmen project kind of things, you know. But when I saw her classroom, she was teaching things like Picasso and Miro and Modigliani and Georgia O'Keeffe, and all of these like famous artists, and these students were doing just these amazing works of art that I wish I was even doing when I was in elementary. And I just fell in love with the concept of teaching art and sharing art skills with young people. And I immediately signed up for the Ed program and became an art teacher. I've taught elementary, I've taught middle school, I've taught high school, and now I'm teaching college so. But teaching has always been kind of that core of the path. But yes, that path has definitely taken a lot of different turns.
Carissa Deming
You never know what's around the next corner. I think you just have to approach it with an open mind. Awesome. What if anything would you have done differently? If you could go back to know your 18 year old self, you know, and give yourself maybe, you know, it's a little but of advice and say, "This is what you should have changed." What would you do differently if you could do it again? And if nothing, that's okay too.
Desi Shenowice
Confidence. Confidence for sure. For sure. The only thing I would change is I would tell myself, "you can do this!" more often. That's it.
Laurie Nichols
Quite honestly I probably would have changed almost everything, and I'm being honest, absolutely honest. When I say that like, I never did a campus visit at all. I never visited one campus. Even the one I went to I didn't do a campus visit. So, I would do that. I would go to lots of college and lots of universities and I would check them out and see. In fact, I wished I would have given myself the opportunity to look at a smaller college like a BH versus a larger one because I think I actually would have probably chosen the smaller one, but I didn't so that. I just- I only applied to one place. My application literally went to one university, and that was it, so, you know I would do that differently. And, I would be better academically prepared. I was academically under prepared for college and it was very apparent to me my first semester of my freshman year. And back then, I mean I know this is going back in time, but we didn't have tutoring programs and there was no trio, and that stuff just didn't exist. You were kind of doing it on your own. So I struggled and it was because I didn't prepare enough in high school for what the rigors of college would give me. And I struggled because of that, so I would just say I would have been better prepared. And you know the other thing I remember very much and it was kind of back that first year and it was in math- college algebra. And I really was struggling and I saw this so often in students as I became a professor and then eventually a department chair and a dean and a provost, but you know when you're struggling, then human instinct is to pull back or withdraw. And I bet I've seen it seriously thousands of times now. But, what actually students need to do is dig in more, and I did exactly what everybody else did and that's- I starting withdrawing from class. And so that meant that I studied less, I spent less time on the content. I started skipping class. I did everything that the traditional, you know, withdrawing kind of thing was. And if I had it to do over again now, I know I would dig in, you know. So, I mean I would do a lot of things differently because I've just learned so very much since being a college freshman.
Carissa Deming
Well, I think hindsight is 20/20 right, so?
Laurie Nichols
It is, yeah.
Carissa Deming
I think that's what makes it so hard is-
Laurie Nichols
Yeah.
Carissa Deming
It is 20/20. Well, I know now, but sometimes you just have to go forward, but.
Trenton Ellis
Yeah, I really like what you said with digging in because, you know, I think that one of that things that I had written down in terms of my fears was failure- that I'm not able to do this. I'm going to go back, you know, to my, you know, hometown and, you know, just- a failure, basically. This is what's going to happen to me. And I think that sometimes the decisions that I made were guided by that fear rather than digging in. You know, it changed how I selected classes, and you know, steering clear of certain- especially mathematics, I wasn't very inclined or good at math, at least that's what the story I told myself, right? And I think that unfortunately kind of shaped my path a little but and I think that's why, also why, maybe I bounce between these different majors is just the fear of failure. But, yeah, I think that also one of the things I would do differently is I would invest more. I look back on myself academically and now I have such an appreciation for learning that I didn't have then. I think that eventually it took me to get into sociology and to kind of pull that intellectual curiosity out of me, or at least give it a place where it could, you know, thrive. And now, like, I just think about some of the classes that I was in where I wasn't invested and some of the things I could have learned, and things I enjoy learning about now. I remember I had two economics classes when I was a sophomore and I just, you know, I thought, "Oh this isn't for me. I'm going to change my major anyway, like-", but now as a sociologist I see how important economics is and how it shapes a lot of our behaviors and our society in some really significant ways and going back I'm like, "Man, I wish I would have been more invested in that class and doubled down-
Laurie Nichols
Right.
Trenton Ellis
-versus kind of pulling back and just kind of "Ah, this isn't for me. I'm not going to get it, so you know, I might as well not try" or something, so.
Carissa Deming
I think that's one of the biggest lessons I'm learning as a recent grad is everything you take, no matter if you think it matters or not, relates somehow to what you're going to do later.
Trenton Ellis
Yes, absolutely.
Carissa Deming
You know, even the little things that you're like, "Ah, you know, do I really need to remember this?" comes in handy later on even though in ways you might not expect, so.
Laurie Nichols
I have to just say a little spin-off to what Trenton just said. You know, I really struggled with math in college and we had to take two college math classes, and I got through them, but barely. And I just remember is self-talk, but you know, "I'm not good at math. I don't like it. I'm not going to do any more than I have to." You know, all that stuff. And then I eventually, quite a few years later, I ended up in my PhD program. And in my particular program, I ended up taking five statistics classes.
Carissa Deming
Oh my goodness.
Laurie Nichols
And- yeah it was very statistics heavy, And I absolutely loved it. And I thrived in it, I mean I did straight A's across all five statistics classes, and it was just like, "Wait a minute, I'm not supposed to be like this." And what I discovered later in life when I was in a different frame of mind, I had more confidence, I've had some more success. I actually have been pretty good in math, but it shows you the difference because by that point at least a good ten, if not even twelve years had gone by. And it just shows you how different my freshman year experience could have been had I had, you know, a little but more confidence, dug in, had a little bit more support along the way, I think I could have had a very different experience. So it was just interesting that that many years later I discovered in fact I really do kind of like math and stats, and I can do okay in it.
Carissa Deming
You have to give it another chance, right?
Laurie Nichols
Yeah, exactly.
Carissa Deming
Anything you have to add here? It's okay.
Hayley Houck
Maybe just something I wish I would have changed a little was being a little more invested in some of the classes like my econ classes or like psychology maybe, like. Just stuff like that.
Trenton Ellis
I think what's interesting sometimes, just to connect to what you're saying, like when we take some of these intro level classes and then later one we take some of our upper division classes, it's only apparent to us when we're in those upper division classes how those intro level classes kind of connect with what's going on right? It's almost like sometimes I wish I would've know some of these concepts and ideas from my upper level classes earlier because then I would have known in psychology or in sociology, or some of these other classes how much more that I needed to invest in these things or think about these things. So, you weren't alone in that. I had a lot of that in those fields.
Laurie Nichols
Not at all.
Carissa Deming
Sometimes it doesn't end up being the worst thing if you do have a general education class left to take in senior year-
Trenton Ellis
Yeah, yeah.
Carissa Deming
-because sometimes I think you appreciate it more.
Laurie Nichols.
Absolutely
Carissa Deming
Every once in a while that does turn out well, I agree. Is there anything else you want to share and are there any other experiences or stories about being a first generation student? If you don't, that's okay.
Hayley Houck
Something I learned just being at school in general, it's not really from a first generation, is that like there's always going to be someone there for you at all times whether that be like a professor, advisor, peer mentor, or like any faculty member really.
Carissa Deming
I like that. I agree. I think that's kind of something we know, but we don't always know it, if that makes sense.
Hayley Houck
Right, that's how I was.
Carissa Deming
So, awesome. Why- or, do you have something? Go ahead.
Desi Shenowice
I was going to say one of the things I think that would be important also is understanding time management. One of the things I share with my students is that the best gift you can give yourself is time because learning requires time. Learning requires grit, and you have to invest the time into doing these things, especially with art. Art takes time to build and to plan and to process, gather, and research your ideas, and put it all into practice.
Carissa Deming
You can't really cram, right?
Desi Shenowice
You can't cram. There's no cramming in art, that's right. And so, you know, giving yourself that gift of time and invest into your homework and such. And, you know, as first generation college students, I don't know about you guys, but I mean, I worked 30 hours a week in addition to taking classes. And so I had to learn how to really kind of manage my waking hours as best as I could so that I cold put in as much effort into the classes as possible while still trying to maintain a job and all of those things as well. So, time management is important for first generation- especially first generation students. But there are people that help and can help you with your schedules too.
Laurie Nichols
And I want to spin off of what Desi just said and say that, you know, often first generation and students coming from lower income families go together- they're the same. In fact, that's very common. And that was true for me. I came from, you know, low-income family as well. My parents were farmers and, you know, back in the 70s and 80s farmers were struggling big time. So, we didn't have a lot of money and I too had to work a lot. In fact, I put myself through school working summers and during the school year too. And I would just say one thing that I'd really recommend, and I think we've gotten so much better at this, is really take advantage of your financial aide office at your university and then lean hard on faculty to help with the scholarship component of it, and really dig in there because I think there's a lot more aid for students than often they realize and they don't always go for things that are available. In fact, a lot of aid sadly goes unawarded, so. That's one thing I would really say is lean on your financial aid and try to dig in and get as much aid as you can so you don't have to work, you know, 30, 40 hours a week to get through school.
Carissa Deming
Well, I think sometimes that's as simple as filling out the scholarship application every year.
Laurie Nichols
Yeah.
Carissa Deming
Just your first- it isn't always complicated or time consuming. Sometimes it's as simple as that and that's- it does take a little bit of time, but it's worth it in the long term. I really agree with you. Why do you think it's important for first generation students to attend college. Obviously, all of you have and, you know, have been successful in what you do now, but why do you think, you know, if you were to talk to a first generation student today, obviously through the radio, you know, why do you think it's so important?
Trenton Ellis
I think social mobility, like especially if you're from a working class or lower income background. If you invest, it really can change your life in terms of your quality of life, your economic situation, you know. It is an expensive investment and it is a time consuming investment, but ultimately, you know, especially for first generation students who come from lower-income background, college still is that piece that can really help you kind of climb the social class ladder to an extent. So I would just say that that's probably one of the more important, at least from my perspective- and it's not the only way, but it is a good tool, a good resource to invest in in order to enjoy upward social mobility and a better quality of life. And there's an experience component there too. I mean- I have a lot of good friends who I met through college and my social network is- I still am friends with a lot of folks from high school and whatnot. But, it changed my social network and, you know, if I'm, you know, thinking about my career if I ever want to take it in a different direction, I have all these people who I met in college around me who are out there doing some of these really interesting, wonderful things. And, I'm able to talk to them about those kinds of things and I don't think I would have had that social network had I not gone to college.
Hayley Houck
I also think it's like important for the first generation students, like along with their parents or grandparents because for some of the first generation students it might have been like an opportunity that their parents or grandparents didn't get that they wish they had. So I think it's like also important to them as well.
Desi Shenowice
I find that I'm actually able to help my family navigate certain, just social systems better and be a better resource for my family now that I can look at complex forms and be able to say this is how this works, this is how that works, and so forth. And so it's kind of heartwarming in some ways I guess to say that I'm actually able to be a resource for my parents. You know, even though like, you know, and give back to that even though like they may have not- not necessarily been there for me during my college years, but I'm actually able to contribute back to my family in ways that I never really envisioned that I could have before, so. If that makes sense.
Carissa Deming
No, absolutely. No, I definitely agree with you. Alright. I know you have to take off, but we have one last question.
Trenton Ellis
Yeah, absolutely.
Carissa Deming
Okay. So, what do you wish that first generation stu- news. Oh my gosh. What do you wish first generation students knew before they came to BHSU specifically? Like what do you want them to know about BHSU? That was a hard one.
Trenton Ellis
I'd say, and this is something that we've already touched on but, that you belong here. That- don't second guess whether or not you belong here, and that there are genuinely people on this campus who have walked in your shoes to some extent, right? Maybe not the same exact experience, but who have walked in your shoes, who you can rely on, who you can, you know, reach out to for help navigating things. So you belong, and that people here on this campus are here to help you.
Desi Shenowice
I think specifically for BHSU there are so many more opportunities to do things because it is a smaller campus and because you have that opportunity to really shine bright. I think that first generation students especially can find themselves in a place where they are not going to get drowned out by the noise but actually hear their voices louder.
Carissa Deming
I think that is pretty unique.
Trenton Ellis
Yeah, I like that. I would agree with that, too.
Carissa Deming
Anything else on that piece? Noting?
Laurie Nichols
I would just say that, you know, I hope they know this by time they come, but if not, I wish they would know just how much faculty care about students here. It's really quite phenomenal, and I have watched time and again since I've been here faculty go the extra mile for students. It is a very personalized education, it really is. And I think that's pretty unique and it's really pretty wonderful. And there's a lot of campuses where they simply would not have that experience and I hope they know that and hope they take advantage of it.
Carissa Deming
I agree.
Trenton Ellis
I agree with like- it's such a good deal for students.
Laurie Nichols
Oh, I know.
Trenton Ellis
Like, the fact that, too, my office is in a hallway where you are walking to go get food anyway-
Laurie Nichols
Yeah.
Trenton Ellis
-And my door's open and I'm right there.
Desi Shenowice
Yeah, and you're saying, "Come on in!"
Trenton Ellis
Yeah! Well, absolutely. I just- I try to- when I meet with prospective students, I reiterate this point that you're making all the time, like-
Laurie Nichols
Yeah.
Trenton Ellis
This is a really good deal for you, like we're very, very accessible to you. And I think that's really important for students in general, but especially first-generation college students.
Laurie Nichols
Absolutely.
Carissa Deming
Well and I think that also professors are very hands-on at BH. They're, you know- you're not having teammates, you know. It is the professor that's there and that's whose office you're going to go to, so.
Trenton Ellis
Absolutely.
Carissa Deming
Definitely very hands-on. I agree. Anything else before I wrap us up? No? Alright. Well, that's all the time we have for today. Thank you so much for joining me. I really appreciate you guys, as I said before, taking the time out of your busy schedules and out of your afternoon. And to all of our listeners, thank you for tuning in. This show is brought to you by Trio Student Support Services. Student Support Services is a federally grant funded program that offers academic and financial support to 200 BH students at each year. Students can qualify for student support services if they meet at least one of three eligibility criteria: low income, first generation, or if they have a qualifying disability. If you meet at least one of these criteria and are interested in applying for the program, visit the Trio page at bhsu.edu and fill out an application today.
Emily Bates Transcript
Emily Bates
Hi, my name is Emily Bates, and I am a first generation student. I'm definitely very fortunate to have grown up here in the beautiful black hills. I plan on graduating in the spring of 2023. The positive message that I would like to spread is being compassionate on yourself. Be conscientious of what you have and are going through. This makes you proud of who you are and ultimately setting you up to strive and reach for new goals.
Clark Sayler Transcript
Clark SaylerHi, my name is Clark Sayler. I am a first generation college student. I grew up in the northeastern corner of South Dakota. I'm hoping to graduate in the spring of 2023, and a message I would have given myself my freshman first semester is that it's okay that you don't know everything. You're not supposed to know everything. You're here to learn and you're here to grow, so just have fun. Like, calm down just a little.
Ben Blake Transcript
Ben BlakeHey, I'm Ben Blake. I am a first generation graduate originally from the St. Louis, Missouri area, but went to high school in the northwest Arkansas region. I am a football coach at Black Hills State. One things that I would tell myself back then is just because no one else has done it before doesn't mean you can't go out and do something and accomplish your goals. Thanks.
Samantha Rider Transcript
Samantha RiderHi guys, my name is Samantha Rider. I am a first generation student here at Black Hills State University, which means I will be the first one in my family to graduate from a university. Now currently, I am a assistant manager at Loaf 'N Jug. I am the KBHU-TV station manager, and I am a student. I grew up in Pueblo, Colorado most of my life, but I've also traveled a lot throughout the United States. So I have also lived in Tacoma, Washington, Seattle, Washington. I've lived in Winder, Georgia, and I spent a good month in Las Vegas, Nevada. My anticipated graduation date is May 2021, which means my graduation is right around the corner. And a positive message that I guess I would have told myself or that I'd like to share with other people is that it takes time for success to get to its best. It takes time for things to build, so be patient with yourself. Don't rush things. Take a moment and enjoy what you have because there will be a time when you won't have it. And that's okay because it means that you're building, you're growing, and you're moving forward. It just takes time to get to be the very best. So I'll see you guys later, have a good one.
Jessie Gramm Transcript
Jessie GrammHey, I'm Jessie Gramm. I am a first generation graduate. I graduated from BH in 2017. I'm originally from Burlington, Colorado, but I'm currently serving as Student Engagement Coordinator here on campus. One piece of advice that I would give my freshman self if I could go back would be to not give up, and to believe in yourself because that feeling that you're going to get when you walk across the stage is totally worth it. I would also say to make sure that you get involved on campus because those connections that you make outside of the classroom will push you through and help you through your time here at BH as well as help you create memories that will last a lifetime.
Pam Carriveau Transcript
Pam Carriveau
Hi everyone. I'm Pam Carriveau, and I am a first-generation graduate. I grew up in Gillette, Wyoming and I have a PhD in political science and I am the assistant provost at Black Hills State University. The advice that I would give to my first generation self is to ask questions. It's highly likely that if you don't understand something at college, you can find another first generation graduate who can explain things to you. I didn't know what a syllabus was. I didn't know what office hours were, and I certainly didn't know what a PhD was or how you become a college professor. But, if you ask questions, you can get the information you need and open up a lot more possibilities for your future beyond the ones that you imagined when you started college. That's the advice that I would give.
Morgan Plucker Transcript
Morgan PluckerHi, I'm Morgan Plucker. I'm a first generation college student. I'm from a small town called Canton, South Dakota. I plan on graduating in March of 2023 and a quote I would give myself is you did something that the rest of your family didn't think was possible, so you need to be proud of yourself for that, and just keep going. You got this.
Bella ThunderHawk Transcript
Bella ThunderHawkHi, my name's Bella ThunderHawk. I'm from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. I'm planning to graduate the spring of 2022, and advice that I would give myself is change has to start from somewhere, so why can't it start with you?
Megan Koens Transcript
Megan KoensHi, my name is Megan Koens. I am a first generation college student here at Black Hills State University studying in elementary education. I'm originally from Faulkton, South Dakota and am currently a junior here at BH, so I will be graduating May of 2022. A positive message I would give to myself as a freshman is to always try your best and stay positive. And, don't be so hard on yourself because you are going to do great.
Travis Elmore Transcript
Travis ElmoreHello, my name is Travis Elmore. I'm a member of the Student Support Services Trio program, have been for about two years. I've been at BH for two years and I grew up in Rock Springs, Wyoming. I will be graduating in 2022 potentially. And if I have one positive message to share with future students it's that just keep trying and you'll get there eventually. If you need help, reach out. There's a lot of people here that will help you so, good luck!
Trenton Ellis Transcript
Trenton EllisHi, my name is Trenton Ellis. I'm a first generation college student and graduate from Canton, Illinois. Today, I'm an assistant professor of human services and sociology at Black Hills State University. If I could go back and give my first generation college student self a piece of positive advice it would be to speak up, ask questions, and you are in control. Too often, because I was a first generation student, I thought others should make decisions for me, but now I realize looking back on it that they were there to help, but ultimately, it's my education.
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