Biomedical laboratory diagnostics senior Momin Hassan felt that there was something he could do. He decided to open a chapter of Tri-Alpha, a national first-generation student honor society, at MSU this semester. 

Hassan is a part of the FLI program, and he arrived at MSU while Covid-19 regulations were still in place.

"It wasn’t like the movies I had watched. My first semester my first year, all of my classes were online," Hassan said. "I didn’t really have the chance to meet people and build those connections and those friendships that I saw other people making, especially being an out-of-state student."

This made getting involved hard and Hassan learned the full extent of the difficulties a first-gen student can face coming to MSU. He has since spent his time trying to make the experience easier for all MSU students. As a member of the Associated Students of Michigan State University general assembly, Hassan has worked hard to be a friend and a resource to other MSU students.

"I realized how many first-gen students are on campus," Hassan said. "We all come from such different backgrounds and different lifestyles and there isn’t really a space for all of us to gather together. I found out about Tri-Alpha through the student services building."

Hassan liked the idea of Tri-Alpha, which is on many other college campuses. The idea appealed to Hassan because it presented the opportunity to celebrate first-gen students, provide networking and leadership opportunities and recognize academic achievement.

After becoming the President of Tri-Alpha, Hassan began to look for his e-board. He started by recruiting through other students involved in FLI. Sociology junior Jacob Doss was one of those recruited, and he joined as the secretary for Tri-Alpha.

"I know I benefitted a lot from other first-gen students (and) first-gen advisors," Doss said. "I want other people and other students to be able to able to access those resources that helped me the same way."

Doss never expected to go to college. Growing up his parents told him they were "too poor" and wouldn’t be able to afford it. It wasn’t until one of his high school advisors told him they could see him going to MSU that a switch flipped for Doss.

"One of the biggest things I noticed when I was first getting to campus is a lot of people seemed to know what they’re doing," Doss said. "A lot of people whose parents did attend college know the next step… it was a big feeling of imposter syndrome but also I’m falling behind because I don’t know the next steps."

For Doss this is how the first-gen student resources helped him. His advisors and fellow first-gen student served as his guide, helping him find the next steps. Doss found his way and found value in being able to help other students do the same. Tri-Alpha will help him be another resource and support system on campus.

Being a resource for first-gen students is the driving passion behind Tri-Alpha. Criminal justice and psychology junior Selena Salinas is a living representation of this passion. Serving on ASMSU as a general assembly member and as the chair for academic committee, Salinas got the opportunity to write a bill advocating for a first-gen student center building on campus.

"President Guskiewicz, in this email when he first started, he had said a little message about how he wanted to advocate for first-gen people and make a first-gen student center," Salinas said. "And so I was like, if you’re gonna say that I’m gonna hold you accountable and I’m gonna challenge you."

Salinas' challenge proved successful as she saw her bill approved. Salinas was very grateful to receive that support from both MSU and from president Kevin Guskiewicz. Salinas has taken up a role on the planning committee for the new first-gen student center. Having just had their first meeting, ideas are being inspired by other campuses and by what first-gen students have voiced.

"I would advocate for Tri-Alpha to be housed there," Salinas said. "It would be even better for people to find us and find out who we are."

This semester being Tri-Alphas first, the e-board and 58 new members will be inducted into the national chapter on Monday Feb. 24. Seeing a student society like this may be intimidating to first-gen students who may not want to be a part of a large organization like Tri-Alpha, but Hassan still encourages all first-gen students to reach out.

"I hope there’s a more close-knit community for those students to build-on," Hassan said. "If you don’t feel like you want to be a part of the national chapter, please come to us… We are willing to help first-gen students throughout campus."