By Josephine Robles Guzman, Fellow Class of 2019
Regis University
August 27, 2019. I remember the Fall morning like it was yesterday. I was up at 6am, with a nervous pit in my stomach. The morning consisted of simple tasks to getting ready: finding an outfit, doing my hair, and double checking I had all the materials needed for my first class, the first day that would start my four year journey at Regis University. Remembering how just a couple months ago I graduated high school with my friends, I realized they were no longer here. As I walked to my first class, Introduction to Business, I saw different faces. I realized I was no longer in high school and that this next chapter of my life was going to be a complete shift from what I am comfortable with.
Everyone always talked about the lack of diversity and “culture shock” when starting college or starting a career. Although I knew this to be a fact, I never experienced this “culture shock” in an environment like school. My whole life, I had gone to school with people just like me, children of immigrants. That Fall morning was the first time that realized that this culture shock many have talked about, was indeed real. Attending a predominantly white institution affected me in ways I never imagined. Even though I had gone through the application process just as everyone else, and I was even awarded a full-ride scholarship to attend Regis, oftentimes I didn’t feel like I belonged there. The student who always spoke her mind in class was now afraid to raise her hand, or ask questions. I did not feel confident in my intellect, even though I knew that I was capable. I felt intimidated by my colleagues whose parents were doctors, lawyers, etc. Being the daughter of immigrants, even though my parents and my background was even more impressive, in my opinion, I felt that I did not belong, and I was in the wrong place.
About two months into my freshman year, I began a work-study job in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence. Working here, I became enlightened on the work that faculty members and students do for students of color on campus, which resulted in my culture shock fading away, and finding my place at Regis. In the office, I work on first-generation student programming. This programming involves planning events on campus that raise awareness, support and celebrate first generation students. Later in the year, my team and I created a first generation student alliance, called 1LEADS (First Leaders Emerging and Defining Success). As Vice President of 1LEADS, my job has evolved to not only planning and organizing events, but also working with a bigger team. Being a first generation student myself, Ihave gained personal fulfillment from being a part of this work. Not only have I found a community to lean on that understands my experience, but I’ve also had the opportunity of being a leader and advocate for first generation students on campus. Through this experience of being a leader in my community, I have become appreciative of diversity work and I have come to find a passion in being a part in creating diversity, especially in a world where diversity isn’t seen in “higher up” institutions, like a university. I’ve been apprised on the power of advocacy and not only finding community in being supported, but also in supporting others.
