Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams

Descendants of African-Americans often feel the enormous burden of representing their entire race as well as propelling their families to success. They are often instructed to attend institutes of higher learning without proper guidance and support which contributes to a decrease in retention and graduation rates. Six years after first entering postsecondary education, 56% of first-generation college students and 40% of continuing-generation students had not earned any postsecondary credential.(RTI International, 2019). Unlike traditional bridge programs, Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams (OAWD) engages First Year and First Generation College Students in a crash course experience specifically focused on how to navigate the higher education experience. Through the “What you should have known experience” students discuss common damaging and invalidating experiences as first year and first generation college students who are tasked with knowing and understanding how to traverse higher education although they have no prior experience.