FGLI & HEOP at Barnard: Adiba’s Story
The label of being a “First Generation, Low-Income” student was something that quickly became synonymous with attending college. It became my meal ticket to the education I sought after throughout my high school career. This was where being a first generation student proved to be an obstacle. I had no clue how to prepare for the SAT, what extracurriculars to do, what was my college fit, how in the world to write my life story in a 650 word essay, or how to fill out my FAFSA. I remember thinking, “if it is this hard to get into college, what am I going to do when I actually get there?” I was lucky enough to have been a part of multiple college success/college ready programs that were geared towards providing the same educational opportunity for FGLI students. Without these programs, I am not sure I would have been able to navigate through the college process and dare I say, have a chance at getting into Barnard.
Having a support system laid a foundation for me to be able to succeed in unfamiliar environments. It exposed me to resources that I would not have been able to utilize and taught me how to advocate for myself. When applying to colleges, this was a major factor in choosing the right school for me. I wanted the same support system that I had throughout high school to guide me through the intimidating college life. I applied to Barnard through its Opportunity Program: HEOP. Not only does this program provide some financial assistance by giving a grant and helping to pay for your books, but they also have a summer program before your freshman year. This summer program exposes students to resources available to them on campus while building a support system. I came out of this program with a friend group already and feeling comfortable on campus when arriving in September.
My fears of not being able to navigate and find my community have subsided as I am finishing up my first year at Barnard. While it is still difficult at first to adjust to an environment where everyone is from a different background and financial status, Barnard is improving on its inclusion of FGLI students. For students who are not a part of Barnard’s OP, there are various events throughout the year for students of these identities through FLI to come together and discuss any obstacles they may be facing. The Milstein Library also has the FLIP Library for students struggling to pay for books.
Throughout the campus, there are various resources available to FGLI students to help them as much as possible, and they’ve helped me find my own place at Barnard.
- Adiba Hussain