A new program at Pocono Mountain West High School is preparing first-generation college students for life after high school not just academically and financially but also emotionally and socially.
“We just want them to be passionate and really want to work towards building their future with the added support of creating these networks in these spaces where … it's okay to be in the unknown, but we'll help you get through that,” said Timera Toppin, coordinator of Generation Next.
At the high school in Pocono Summit, 30 students — 21 juniors and nine freshmen — are participating in Generation Next. The program launched this year through Pocono Mountains United Way. It's for first-generation college students who identify as students of color and who qualify for free and reduced lunch. A first-generation college student is someone whose parents or guardians did not attend or complete college, said Robyn Weaver, Pocono Mountains United Way's Equity Officer.
“Just looking at West in particular, it's one of the most diverse ... schools in the local districts," said Toppin.
According to Pennsylvania Department of Education data from the 2021-22 school year, of the 2,826 students enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the Pocono Mountain School District, 1,600 or 56% of students were identified as Asian, Black or African American or Hispanic. Statewide, around 33% of all students in those same grades identify in those categories.
To apply for Generation Next, the students went through a self identification process and application that asked about their interests as well as what drives them and inspires them to pursue their education.
“A lot of the responses kind of fit within the similar theme of 'I know from my experience' or 'seeing what my family has gone through ... they've really pushed me to want to continue more'," said Toppin. "But it's the gap between 'well how do I get there? How do I find the resources, I don't have the resources'.”
Toppin meets with the juniors around once a week and the freshman once every three weeks. They follow a fluid curriculum that Weaver developed while working with Community Action Lehigh Valley.
“It's been a big focus on opening communication and in bridging kind of the gap between the traditional setting of a classroom as well as the informality of just recognizing that they're not always going to be 100%," said Toppin.
The pace of the class is determined by the students’ needs that day or week. They discuss future career paths, college entrance exams and essays and applying for financial aid, said Toppin. There’s mental health and self esteem lessons during the class where they learn social emotional skills like conflict resolution and how to navigate relationships. Their parents and guardians are also invited to get involved with the class.
"The beauty ... of this program is that because we are not confined to the expectations of a public school curriculum … we're really able to focus on relationship building, focus on creating an environment where the students are being seen and heard, and really tailoring that environment to how they do show up," said Weaver. “So they really do get a place where they're able to be themselves and show up authentically."
Generation Next started around 2016 in the Easton Area High School, said Weaver. It now serves over 500 students in four high schools in the Lehigh Valley area.
"The program has been incredibly successful with graduation rates," she said.
Toppin said because of the class the students realize they’re not alone in navigating the challenges of being a first-time college student.
"Sometimes they might have never known that without having a space such as the program," she said.
