Pictured: Ashley Peters '08 and Melissa Mesinas '12.
Melissa Mesinas ’12 discovered her Scripps College support network the old-fashioned way — she built it herself. Now, as creator of the innovative “First-Generation @ Scripps” program, she’s helping first-generation students — women who are the first in their family to attend a four year college — take advantage of the resources and faculty interaction Scripps College offers its community.
“I didn’t instinctively know how to ask for help,” says Melissa, a first-generation student herself, upon enrolling at Scripps. “I noticed other students facing similar issues, but weren’t sure how to address them.”
Melissa’s drive to bridge the communication gap quickly found support with students, President Lori Bettison-Varga, Career Planning & Resources, Admission, and other departments around campus. Ultimately, the program grew beyond simple meet-and-greets into a series of workshops and community-building exercises geared to young college women who might not have someone to relate to at home.
“It was as if I had been given all kinds of tools to navigate an inevitably difficult journey,” Anna Petkovich ’14, one of the participants, confirms.
Ashley Peters ’08, Assistant Director of Admission, was thrilled to participate in building the new program. “I was really proud of Scripps for supporting First-Generation @ Scripps. Diversity is such a buzzword at other colleges but here, it comes from a genuine interest for students to succeed at college.”
Seminars on roommate communication and personal finances blended nicely with social gatherings, talks with current Scripps students, and exploration of the greater Los Angeles area. One particular trip sticks out in Melissa’s mind: “One student was having her first Japanese dish while others were cheering her on, sharing food, and laughing about random things. It was a comfortable, intimate setting formed within 24 hours of their arrival in Claremont.”
Shane Zackery ’14, another participant, agrees. A Florida native, traveling across the country while “knowing at least two people were looking out for me comforted not only me, but my parents and friends back home.”
Melissa, Shane, and other participants look forward to continuing and expanding the program in the coming years. With a record incoming first-generation class of 34 students, the First-Generation Program will undoubtedly become an important part of the Scripps College experience, especially for students looking to make the most of their Scripps education.