Spotlighting First-Gen Stories on National First-Generation College Celebration Day
Fifteen percent of students at Grinnell College are first-generation, meaning neither of their parents has earned a college degree. On this National First-Generation College Celebration Day on Nov. 8, we are recognizing the achievements of the first-gen community and their contributions to Grinnell. First-generation students display an extraordinary set of qualities — they are often resilient, resourceful, and creative — and shift the landscape of higher education for the better. Get to know some of our first-generation students, staff, and faculty who help make Grinnell go round.
Monica Reyes Ramirez ’26
Monica Reyes Ramirez ’26 is currently a biology major living on South Campus. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas, to parents who immigrated to the United States from Mexico and Honduras.
In her first year, she enjoyed her tutorial class, The Cult of Grinnell with Professor Henry Rietz ’89, who showed her that reaching out to alumni is not as scary as it seems. On campus, you can find her spending time at the Humanities and Social Studies Center (HSSC) and the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center. She also attends Student Organization of Latinx (SOL) events with her friends and enjoys monthly first-gen lunches with fellow first-generation students, faculty, and staff.
Q: How did you know you wanted to come to Grinnell College?
A: I wanted to go somewhere with a small community and class size, as well as somewhere I could afford. When applying, I wanted to go somewhere outside of Texas since I was tired of being in such a busy place. I liked Grinnell’s open campus and how it was surrounded by nature. One of the main reasons I chose Grinnell was that someone mentioned they could see a lot of stars and constellations, something I could not enjoy back home.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give other first-generation students coming to Grinnell?
A: I would say take advantage of all the opportunities provided by the College and take advantage of your free time. Use it wisely. I can’t believe three years have gone by so fast — I still feel like a first-year student. Think about the future while in your first year and write a goal about what you would like to achieve by the time you graduate. Do your research on what Grinnell has to offer.
Finally, I would emphasize getting to know your professors. They really matter when it comes to networking, especially in a small college. If it is too awkward, there are always jobs on campus, which is a great way to get to know some folks.
Q: What do you love most about your studies at Grinnell?
A: I like how there are a lot of courses that somehow interconnect. Last semester, I was taking an introductory anthropology class with Professor Owen Kohl, which had lots of connections to my biology class.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: In my free time, I work around campus at the dining hall, Spencer Grill, and Harris Center. I like to find ways to be involved with the community, so I often volunteer at Suds for Love and recently helped out with a local town community meal. I also work and volunteer at Grinnell’s Mid-Iowa Community Action Food Distribution Center with the help of the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS).
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Designer Bruce Yang
Bruce Yang is a designer at Grinnell’s Office of Communications and Marketing. He was born to Laotian immigrant parents and grew up in Pella, Iowa. Yang’s father, who deeply valued the power of education, highlighted it as the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. For Yang, “college was always the expectation.” Eventually, he would graduate as a first-generation college student at Iowa State University in 1999, where he received a degree in graphic design. While there, Yang was a member of the Iowa Asian Alliance and worked as a resident assistant (RA). He currently lives in Des Moines with his wife and two daughters. In his free time, he likes to garden, landscape, and watch sci-fi and fantasy movies. You can spot some of his work at the Des Moines Airport, the Student Affairs Office, the Charles Benson Bear ’39 Recreation and Athletic Center, and in The Grinnell Magazine.
Q: How did you know you wanted to work in the creative arts/as a graphic designer?
A: Art has always been a natural talent. Growing up in a poor neighborhood, my brother and I spent countless hours drawing to escape our surroundings. Inspired by The Lion King, I initially aspired to become a movie animator. Serendipity led me to graphic design, a field I’ve been passionate about for over 25 years.
Q: Do you remember the moment you graduated college?
A: I’ll never forget the day I graduated. It was a whirlwind of emotions — a mix of excitement for what lay ahead and trepidation about finding a job in my field.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give first-generation students, whether for their time at school or as they prepare to enter the workforce?
A: Stay focused. Remember your goals. The fun is in the journey.
Q: What do you love most about your work at Grinnell?
A: I’ve felt so welcomed by everyone at Grinnell. The people here are truly special. I also love that my work allows me to be creative and innovative.
Q: You’re a self-described movie buff. What are some of your favorite movies? (And bonus: your favorite shows and books?)
My favorite movies are Braveheart, Lord of the Rings, and Gladiator. As for TV shows, I enjoy CSI, 24, and Star Trek. My favorite books are I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov, and Dragon’s Heart by Jane Yolen.
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Professor Albert Lacson
Professor Albert Lacson is currently an associate professor of history and department chair of American studies. He grew up in Chula Vista, California, 10 minutes north of the Mexico-U.S. border. His parents, who immigrated from the Philippines in the early 1960s, never attended college but believed a college education could bring financial security to Lacson and his sisters. Soon enough, Lacson would go on to graduate from the University of California, Irvine in 1991, with a double major in history and women’s studies. While there, Lacson was a peer counselor for the School of Humanities and participated in a public speaking program that allowed him to share the history of abortion in the United States with local groups. Lacson lives in Grinnell, Iowa, with his wife Patty Amador-Lacson, who works in the Grinnell College Office of Admission and “bleeds scarlet and black.”
Q: How did you know you wanted to work in higher education?
A: I did not go to college with the goal of becoming a college professor. I had intended to get into the world of finance and make as much money as possible — a radically different world from academia. But day one of Professor Robert Moeller’s European Women’s History sparked a change. Professor Moeller explained that we would be looking at history from the perspective of women, grappling with questions like, ‘Was the French Revolution a revolution for women?’ I found this approach to be quite intellectually stimulating — so engaging that I was highly motivated to work hard on the writing assignments for that course. In the context of a visit with the professor to discuss a paper I was writing, he asked me, “Have you ever thought about doing this for a living?” I had absolutely no idea what he meant until he clarified by asking if I had ever considered becoming a professor. This represented a major turning point in my life journey. Because Professor Moeller and my college mentor Professor Cornelia Dayton were so influential in my development as a young adult, I began thinking that I wanted to have a similar impact on young people.
Q: How did you feel when you graduated college?
A: I felt proud. And I felt scared. Even though I thought I might want to go to graduate school for history, I wasn’t totally sure. Between college and graduate school, I worked at the front desk of the housing office at my university.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give first-generation students, whether for their time at school or as they prepare to enter the workforce?
A: Instead of being solely focused on achieving a specific professional goal, direct as much attention as possible to the kind of life that you want to live. Where do you want to live? What kinds of people do you want to interact with on a daily basis? What kinds of daily activities and interactions bring you joy? When do you feel most energized and alive as a human being? Ask yourself these kinds of questions rather than being exclusively focused on your professional path.
Q: What do you love most about your work at Grinnell?
A: I love the privilege of working with young people who take seriously that college is an opportunity to grow and learn.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I spend much of my free time thinking about how love can animate my life choices and activities. Along with my children and wife, bell hooks has been a wonderful teacher of the meaning of love. So, I read and re-read her books, listen to podcasts when I run, and talk to friends and family about the most important thing that we do as human beings — love one another. Yes, I’m obsessed with understanding love — not a bad thing to obsess over. It has become crystal clear to me that if love animates my personal and professional choices — no matter what happens — things will be okay.
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Dayana Garcia ’26
Dayana Garcia, from Quincy, Illinois, is a third-year student living in French House. They decided to major in both gender, women’s, and sexuality studies (GWSS) and French after taking a GWSS class that introduced and sparked their interest in public health. Garcia’s Spanish-speaking parents from Jalisco, Mexico, instilled in her the importance of being bilingual in the current workforce; they aspired for their children to attend college and enter a field away from manual labor and service. Currently, Garcia is involved in organizations such as Queer People of Color (QPOC), the Student Organization of Latinx (SOL), Pagan Circle, the Wilson Center, and of course, first-generation programming around campus. She found Grinnell through the QuestBridge National College Match program and now enjoys time around campus with her cat and at the Stonewall Resource Center.
Q: Do you remember the moment you were admitted to Grinnell College?
A: I remember opening the letter with my mom when I got home from school. I was freaking out about it all day and it was the holidays so I was coincidentally wearing red and black — in other words, manifesting a Grinnell acceptance. I was really emotional and relieved, as this meant I didn’t have to worry about student loans in the way my siblings do. It was also a relief for the whole family to know I would be going to a small school close to home. Things work out in mysterious ways.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give other first-generation students coming to Grinnell?
A: Take the time to get to know professors and peers. It may seem obvious, but Grinnell can set up a social and professional network that can get you in the door. You can’t know about opportunities if you don’t forge those connections. Having a support network as a student is key and faculty and staff are invested in your success!
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I love to crochet and listen to music. I always need something in the background, so I also watch a lot of YouTube podcasts.
Q: Who is your current best friend at Grinnell and what is the story behind meeting them?
A: My roommate Jasiah and I met during a French course in our first semester. We got closer in our second year and just clicked. Now, we co-parent our kitten Juniper and have a nice cozy safe living space where we love to host our friends.
Q: What has been your favorite class and why?
A: My favorite class I have taken is Anthropological Approaches to Global Hip Hop, an anthropology seminar with Professor Owen Kohl. Kohl is one of my favorites — the energy he brings into a room is so energetic and full of enthusiasm. I liked the course because it was research-focused and I love being able to be academic about things that don’t feel inherently academic to me.
