SIFP hosts annual First-Gen Week with social gatherings, wellness activities

First-generation and low-income students celebrated last week with wellness events, social gatherings, and free food galore in the lead-up to National First-Generation College Celebration Day on Saturday.

Throughout the week, students attended events designed to build a sense of community and celebrate their identities, including professional headshot sessions, social gatherings with refreshments, and wellness activities.

“Most of the events for FLI week have been very social and very community oriented, just to show the strength of our community and have even more people join,” Arika Hassan ’26 told The Daily Princetonian. Hassan is a head fellow for the Scholars Institute Fellows Program, a program providing support and mentorship to Princeton’s FLI students.

“It’s been really nice to see old faces and new faces, and see people of different backgrounds and age groups and years come together for this,” Hassan said. “It’s a way to affirm our space in this university and affirm just how we feel about being here.”

Students emphasized the importance of the week in fostering connection on campus. “Sometimes it’s hard to find community here when all you do is p-sets,” Ky Dang ’29 said. “It’s good to just get out and enjoy ourselves once in a while.”

Shayan Alavi ’25, a former SIFP fellow and current graduate student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, echoed that sentiment. “Going to Princeton can feel overwhelming,” Alavi said. He expressed gratitude for SIFP week featuring events that “recognizes your background and allows you to celebrate just even being at Princeton in the first place.”

Participants also said these kinds of events — and the week overall — made them feel like they belonged at Princeton.

“It’s a reminder to be proud of your background, because I feel like it’s very nice to know that this part of your identity is celebrated here,” Brizel Martinez Cruz ’29, an attendee at the FLI Comfort event.

Cruz is a Sports contributor for the ‘Prince.’

“It’s important to recognize that first-gen, low-income, non-traditional students … they need to be applauded for their accomplishments and what they add to the University,” Hassan told the ‘Prince.’ “Because I truly do think we make this University a better place.”

Elizabeth Hu is a News contributor from Houston, Texas. She can be reached at eh9203[at]princeton.edu

Oliver Wu is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Stony Brook, N.Y. and can be reached at oliver.wu[at]princeton.edu.