On November 3, 2022, the Harvard University Science Center sprang to life as students filled the lobby for churros and crimson “First-Gen College Student” t-shirts.

This kick-off event was the first in an exciting series of festivities planned as part of Harvard’s week-long celebration of the first-gen community at Harvard. 

This year, the Harvard Foundation and other offices and organizations across Harvard including Primus, FYRE, Office of Career Services (OCS), and Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) hosted the first-ever First-Generation Visibility Week in celebration of the first-gen identity, expanding programming in previous years from one day to a week. Every day, events ranging from LinkedIn headshots to social mixers were scheduled to take place across campus. 

The programming included a wide range of networking opportunities, professional development workshops, performances, student-led and office-led community empowerment events, wellness sessions, giveaways, social activities, first-gen meals, and even Instagram takeovers from Emily and Ana here at the Harvard First Generation Program (HFGP)! 

We at the HFGP were thrilled to check out all that the week had to offer. In this blog, we would like to share with you some of our highlights of First-Generation Visibility Week 2022. 

Kathleen 

For First-Gen Visibility Week, I attended the First-Gen Kick-Off in the Science Center! I received my “First Gen College Student” shirt and enjoyed the snacks they had at the event. They were giving out free shirts to anyone who stopped by the booth. Music was playing and it was a great time to meet other first-gen students across the College! 

Emily 

I attended the Alumni Brunch, Sunflower Giveaway, and the CampFYRE Social. Having a space dedicated to celebrating first-gen identities and getting to meet people with various first-gen experiences was incredibly rewarding. Meeting first-gen alumni reminded me of the importance of coming together as a first-gen community to uplift one another and celebrate our stories, our talents, and the barriers we have overcome.  

Seeing the most recent cohort of FYREflies at the CampFYRE Social was such a sweet reunion, but it was also great to meet some of the members of previous FYRE cohorts that I had not met before. Seeing the program’s legacy as a space for positivity and inclusion has always been one of my favorite aspects of it. 

Ana 

I got to attend the Sunflower and Red Book Giveaway. In front of Boylston Hall in The Yard, the Harvard Foundation welcomed students to get their flower bouquets, which included a sunflower. Additionally, they were handing out red books, which are compilations of narratives from first-generation Harvard alumni.  

Seeing the joyous looks among the first-gen students who were picking out their bouquets was a wonderful experience. More than that, it was a moment which strengthened a sense of belonging and community in a beautiful way. I hope you were able to stop by! 

Raymond 

It was wonderful to see so many fellow first-gen students coming together to celebrate! At the kick-off, I received a "First Gen College Student" shirt and learned more about the different resources available at Harvard from the student representatives leading the kick-off event. I also received “first-gen” pin and stickers! I knew many of those who attended, but I also got to see many new faces throughout the event. I was excited about all the other programming that would take place that week. 

I also visited the Harvard Foundation’s Sunflower and Red Book Giveaway, where I got a bushel of flowers and got a polaroid photo taken! There, I as well as many others answered questions about Harvard and our first-gen experience. I felt a particularly strong sense of community and belonging as I heard the stories of other first-gen students and their experiences both in-person and on Instagram @harvardfoundation.

During First-Generation Visibility Week, we saw hundreds of students at Harvard come out to support the vibrant first-gen community. Students from all backgrounds came out to celebrate, and the festivities brought the strength, diversity, and passion of Harvard’s first-gen community to life. Our very own Dean Fitzsimmons—who is first-gen—even came to give morning prayers at the First-Gen Breakfast! 

Needless to say, we think First-Gen Visibility Week was a success, and we at the HFGP are very proud to be first-gen at Harvard!

To learn more about First-Generation Visibility Week, check out the following resources: 

• First Generation Visibility Week | The Harvard Foundation
• The Harvard Foundation on Instagram
• First-Generation Visibility Week aims to empower and celebrate first-generation students on Harvard’s campus. (@harvard on Instagram)
• First-Generation Visibility Week - Meet Truong Nguyen '23 (@harvardcollege on TikTok)
• First-Generation Visibility Week - Meet Laila Nasher '25 (@harvardcollege on TikTok)