First-generation students, often referred to as “first-generation students” or “first gen,” are individuals whose parents or guardians did not attend college.

As part of a photojournalism workshop tied to the course “Understanding and Combating Prejudice” (FPSE, University of Geneva), students were invited to reflect on what it means to be “first-gen”: What challenges do you face when you’re the first person in your family to pursue higher education?
What obstacles—visible or invisible—can influence a student’s academic journey? How can students find their place in an environment where the norms may sometimes seem far removed from their background?

But also, what resources, strategies, and successes enable us to chart our own course?