First Generation

First Generation is a documentary that follows four high school students – an inner city athlete, a small town waitress, a Samoan warrior dancer, and the daughter a migrant field worker (with a deported dad) – each of whom wants to be the first member of their family to go to college. 

The movie is uniquely beneficial for non-first-generation professors. It offers insight into the tremendous hurdles faced by our first generation students.

And, of course, there’s the heart-wrenching immigration story embedded in there. Not to give too much away, but what’s an ambitious high school senior to do when the family is thinking about relocating to Mexico because of dad’s deportation?

There’s a three hour version of the film, and a one hour version. I’ll be honest, I took the 60 minutes route. It’s free. You can watch it here:

-KitJ