Long Beach City College’s first Samoan Niuean student trustee and other first generation students shared their experiences during a luncheon held at the T Building on Nov. 19.
Student Trustee Pise Leiataua said being a first generation student is central to her goals as both a current student and future college graduate.
“It’s everything, it’s my identity, it’s one of the biggest achievements of my life. Being the first is a reminder that I will not be the last,” Leiataua said.
Leiataua’s parents immigrated separately from Samoa, but both landed in Compton, where they eventually met at church.
Leiataua said her parents’ resilience and hard-working lifestyle are what inspired her to attend college.
“My parents could have gone to community college, but instead they chose to work in order to raise their family. It’s about recognizing the sacrifices that they made for me, and taking advantage of the resources they didn’t have,” Leiataua said.
Leiataua initially attended Compton College and Cerritos College before making LBCC her home.
“LBCC says ‘You belong’, and I feel like they bring that feeling to its students. Sadly, the other schools did not help me reach my goals for a higher education,” Leiataua said.
Leiataua began her educational journey as a pre-med student, but changed her mind after getting involved with on-campus organizations.
“I started working for the MANA program, which is what led to me applying for student government. I noticed that there was a lack of Pacific Islander representation. I love science, but I realized that it was never about the medicine. It was about access and representation. It became more than just giving someone a diagnosis,” Leiataua said.
Now triple-majoring in sociology, political science, and psychology, Leiataua plans to major in both public policy and ethnic studies when she transfers.
Her ultimate goal is to support her hometown.
“My end goal is becoming superintendent president of Compton College so I can give back to my community. Compton College does not have the resources that LBCC does, so I want to make it what our school is today. I hope to one day sit on city council and move my way up in politics to uplift future Asian and Pacific Islander generations,” Leiataua said.
LooLoo Amante Tupua, Career Pathway coordinator and fellow first-generation student, spoke about the importance of community during the luncheon which offered Italian food and board games to attendees.
“When I think about my journey, I think about the friends and educators that helped me along the way. Many of our own community members are the first in their family to pursue a master’s degree, which ensures that our first-generation students are taken care of,” Amante Tupua said.
Amante Tupua said she wanted first-generation students to be able to sit down, enjoy a meal and get to know one another.
“Most of our on-campus events have grab-and-go food for students to eat while they’re going to their next class, but we really wanted to be able to set aside time for our students to build community,” Amante Tupua said.
Hayarpi Nersisyan, first-year experience counselor lead, said first-generation students should not be afraid to pursue their dreams.
“Always aim higher, take bigger risks, and remind yourself that it’s ok to fail. You have to pave the way for your family to then encourage your siblings or other loved ones to do the same,” Nersisyan said.
Overall, the event served as a way to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of LBCC’s first-generation students.
“At LBCC, first-generation students are an essential part of our community. They bring unique perspectives and determination to our school. We break barriers and open doors for the generations that come after. We want every first-generation student to know that you belong here,” Leiataua said.
