A team of students from College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Principles of Promotion (MRKT 203) class are teaming up with Counselor, Yanet Nunez, to promote the College’s new first-generation support group, I’m First.
I’m First is a support group on campus that aims to give the tools and resources to help first-generation and new students navigate college. Being a part of this group can provide practical advice on financial aid, class planning, course loads, studying tips, Blackboard, and more. It can also be a place for emotional support from like-minded people experiencing similar things as you.
Nunez was inspired to create the group because of her own experiences in college.
"I am a first-generation college graduate, the first in my immediate and external family to go to college to get a bachelor’s and master’s degree," Nunez said. "I didn't think that going to a four-year university was something I could do. I needed to do something, though."
Little did Nunez know she would go on to do something huge, and now she wants to help first-generation students, just like her, achieve that significant career opportunity as well.
Nunez believes the help and advice the I'm First support group can give to first-generation students can make the college experience a lot more fun and make one feel like they are guided instead of overwhelmed and on their own.
"My dream is they feel supported, they feel like they belong, and they are capable of doing what they want to do,” Nunez said.
The partnership between I’m First and the Principles of Promotion class was sparked by an assignment given by Marketing and Communications Instructor, Dan Garrity. Each semester Garrity, presents eager Marketing students with opportunities to get practical experience in the world of promotion, while also making a difference in their local community.
“I've always loved challenging students with real-world experiences, but this one is extra special,” said Garrity. “This group took on this assignment, made it their own, then took off running. They've come up with so many creative, unique ideas to apply to their work — ideas that I certainly didn't give them and that didn't come out of a book. They're extra happy to be applying their hard work toward a worthwhile effort. This talented, motivated group of CWI Marketing students is proving what I want the whole community to know about our program: our students are creative, courageous, and ready to go to work no matter what challenges they come across.”
The students selected I’m First because many are first-generation students themselves and understand the struggles of starting a new journey with little practical advice from family.
“We all resonated with the importance of recognizing different stories and journeys in a college experience and helping to make every voice heard,” said team member and student, Micah Schaufele.
For those who are first-generation college students and need guidance, help, or even just want to connect, and would like to connect with I'm First, contact Nunez at yanetnunez@cwi.edu or 208.562.2451.
