College Advising Corps Program Coordinator Ruben Watson said he's been trying to show the film on campus for the past three years.

“What we wanted to do is make this, number one, a film to open up discussion about the challenges, successes, and things of that nature, for first-generation students," Watson said. "But also we wanted to make sure that the students that attend the session, the faculty members that attend this session, are well informed as to what opportunities and resources exist here at Michigan State University.”

Watson said the film points out the difficult decisions first-generation college students face and how stress can come from them.

“Leading the way for yourself, leading the way for your family to obtain better opportunities in the workforce and to obtain a better lifestyle, it’s a beneficial challenge but the stress is well worth it,” Watson said. 

In addition to showing the film about first-generation college students applying for college, the event also promoted the College Advising Corps Program.

Second-year adviser in the College of Advising Corps Kelsea Solo visits area high schools and encourages students to apply for college.

“It was my senior year and I was a student in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities,” Solo said. “I saw postings just regarding the College Advising Corps and the informational sessions and I just asked current advisers… it seemed like an interesting program.”

Solo said the two-year program is similar to Teach For America.

“I’m placed to work in a very rural area and work in two schools,” Solo said. “I split my time and help them apply to college, take the ACT or retake the ACT. As advisers we take them on college tours. We do everything we can just to encourage everything that is out there.”

Founder and CEO of the College Advising Corps Nicole Hurd said students from underrepresented populations are increasingly pursuing higher education.

“Our data has seen an increase anywhere between five to eight percent in high schools for students who have been accepted to college,” Hurd said. “Seventy percent of our advisers are from underrepresented populations.”

English freshman Arzane Neely was surprised by the lack of support students in the film received from advisers, which was much different from her own experience. 

“It was pretty inspiring,” Neely said. “I’m a first-generation student I could just kind of relate to just some of the things they're going through.”

Neely said she hopes first-generation college students should never feel neglected.

“You have to have your goals set,” Neely said. “Just be involved applying to college it’s nothing after you do all that, and never be scared to apply.”

Hurd said students, universities and programs like the College Advising Corps need to work together to support first-generation college students. 

“We’re making sure they not only get in college but get through college,” Hurd said. “We have to take advantage of this incredible talent and make sure the doors of higher education are open to all of them."