1. In the video “Ivy League Trailblazers” by Natalia V. Osipova, sensitive topics are brought to light as the students discuss race, social class, immigration, and the societal pressure they feel to conceal their identities as first-generation Ivy League college students. These students represent the strong and resilient backbone of American college students that not only have the opportunity to strive for more, but the grit and work ethic to change the course of their family history.
2. These students are in such a unique position that it can be overwhelming for the general public at Brown University. So much so, that they feel pressure to remain tight-lipped about the fact that they are the exception in their families. This is such an incredibly beautiful thing that they should feel proud to share with everyone right? Unfortunately for Anamaria, the answer is no. She conceals her first generation identity by not talking about her family, her job, or any of her personal life when she’s in the company of her peers and professors. Her story in particular stood out to me because she mentioned getting angry with fellow students that do not have jobs, yet complain about being busy. They get to spend time polishing their resumes and perfecting their chemistry homework while she is working hard to support herself financially. She has to clock out of work to begin the homework the others have by then finished. This story really put in perspective the vast difference between her college experience and that of her counterparts.
3. Destin’s (another first-gen student) willingness to admit that- as a white man- he holds a certain amount of privilege among the group of first-generation Ivy League students. He is technically a minority at Brown University, so I assumed he would use that as a crutch to gain pity and attention. In my experience, white men exist in a world where their thoughts and desires are constantly validated by society. Because of this, it is rare to hear white men refer to their race as something they must take into account when determining their identity in a group setting.
4. I can only imagine the pressure to succeed and the expectation to fail that the first-generation students have to deal with that the other students may never face. The other students more than likely have parents with Ivy League educations that are able to support them in ways that will better their chances to succeed. The first-generation students are at a disadvantage having to deal with family life and school life separately. Their chances of succeeding exist completely separate from any parental guidance, which has to be really challenging.
5. Don’t assume you know anyone’s story. This is a lesson I’ve learned from watching this video. In only a short amount of time, these students have exhibited extraordinary humility and also rigor in comparison to their classmates who have no idea about the personal and institutional struggle these first-generation students have to overcome. The ever-present coexistence on campus puts all of the Brown students in one classification to the naked eye. Because of the pressure students like Anamaria feel to keep quiet, it’s easy to assume that her story somewhat resembles theirs, even though it does not.
CommenTerry 
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