The Importance of First-Generation Immigrants’ Education

Abstract

The overall purpose of this study was to research educational equality for first generation immigrants. I interviewed five first generation immigrants with the purpose of finding out which factors contributed and withheld these students from achieving higher education. These factors included their educational exclusion, the obstacles faced throughout their school years, and their resilience in educational settings. Some major findings were that all the participants had very similar experiences as first-generation students. All of them struggled with the language barrier, ESL (English as a second language) classes, socioeconomic status, and lack of parental help with school. My findings are that schools, high schools in particular, need to implement more programs for first generation immigrants, because although most grew up in the country they immigrated to, they still have parents at home who do not speak English. Most immigrant students do not get the help they need in school and most definitely do not get that help at home from parents.