I grew up on a farm in the Missouri Ozarks. Neither of my parents went to college. My dad was a union ironworker and my mom was trained as a nurse before one needed a college degree to practice. I went to a small school, Grinnell College, which I thought would feel like my rural hometown. I was wrong! I worked several jobs as an undergraduate, often waiting tables in restaurants and serving my wealthier classmates. I learned a lot about social class and navigating higher education. As a faculty member, I really value the experiences that first gen students bring to the classroom--they often have a lot of "real world" knowledge that their classmates benefit from. I want first gen students to know that they belong and that I am glad they are here!