First Generation Documentary Reflection

Based on the topics it covers, the documentary The First Generation is intriguing. The video, which is narrated by Blair Underwood, details the difficulties four high school students face when applying to colleges. The four students are committed to alleviate family poverty by enrolling in college because they believe it will give their towns and families hope. The hardships that the youngsters face as they attempt to get into college are the inspiration for the documentary. Some of the topics covered in this semester’s sociology lessons have also been documented in the First Generation documentary. The documentary portrays complex problems that surround the lives of the four high school students as the first generations of their families attempting to make it to college (Caldwell). The First Generation documentary shows the social struggles that they have to go through since they come from low-income families as the case of Cecilia who lives with nine people in her house which she refers to as crowded. The life if Cecilia and that of the others three high school students reflects the issues that we have covered in the Sociology class regarding the social problems that are facing low-income people in society. I agree with the sentiments that Cecilia has regarding living in a crowded house which can be a bit hectic. I bet it makes it hard for her to read and even to do her assignments which might contribute to difficulties in passing her exams.

The documentary has adequately shown the disadvantages that the high school students from low-income homes experience when it comes to the college application. A disadvantage such as lack of finance to do the test preps is a major hindrance to the progress of students from low-income families. I think that the lack of finance is a major reason that hinders most of them from realizing their dreams as the four students in the documentary seem the share the opinion that lack of money is the main reasons as to why they might not join college.

In the documentary, Richard Kahlenberg who is senior fellow states that “low-income students don’t have access to these test preps classes, and they tend to do worse on the SAT on average” (FirstGenFilm) which is an indication of how being low-income student makes one have various struggles in realizing their college dream. It is an aspect that I concur with based on what we have covered in Sociology class regarding the fact that those who are from low-income families have limited access to opportunities because of financial constraints.

Financial aid is one of the key actions that has been captured well in the documentary as a way of ensuring that students who are from low-income families get the opportunity to go to college which I agree with. It is something that has also been echoed by Jess’ Assistant Principal John Brown when issuing financial aid to students like Jessica.

The First Generation documentary has been an eye opener to me regarding the struggles that students from low-income families experience when they want to join college. It has also helped me to understand further the concepts that have been taught in the Sociology class relating to societal problems and the challenges that they pose to people.

Works Cited

Caldwell, Tanya. “First Generation’ Chronicles Students’ Difficult Path to College.” The New York Times, 13 April 2013, https://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/first-generation-chronicles-students-difficult-path-to-college/comment-page-1/?_r=0 Accessed 13 June 2017.

FirstGenFilm. “First Generation - 1 Hour Version.” YouTube, 3 September 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72AWeUd_06k&t=531s