First-Gen, Not Alone: Finding Belonging Beyond the Hidden Curriculum

“You don’t know what you don’t know, and you don’t know to ask what you don’t know to ask.” For many first-generation students, college and graduate school come with unwritten expectations that everyone else seems to understand. How do office hours work? How should you interact with faculty? What does networking look like in graduate school? And how do you begin seeing yourself not simply as a student consuming information, but as a scholar and professional producing it? In this episode, Marcy talks with Jay Rydell about the hidden curriculum of higher education and the pressure first-generation students can feel to succeed without a roadmap. Jay brings together his professional work with graduate students in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, his doctoral studies in counseling and counselor education, and his own experience as a first-generation student at every level of his education. They discuss imposter feelings, isolation, psychological safety, the experiences first-generation and international students share, and the power of finding people who understand without requiring an explanation. Jay also offers a practical reminder for difficult days: keep a folder of your accomplishments so you can revisit the evidence of everything you are capable of achieving. If you have ever worried that asking a question would reveal that you do not belong, this conversation is for you.Counseling Center: https://counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/Ombuds Office: https://facultyombuds.ncsu.edu/First Generation Student Organization: https://firstpack.dasa.ncsu.edu/A Guide to the Ombuds Office: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv23_mK04I4