Photovoice Project

Photovoice: First-Generation Students' Sense of Belonging

This photography exhibit provides a window into what it means to belong on campus as a first generation student (i.e., students whose primary guardians did not attain a four-year college degree).

This project used a photovoice approach, a photography-based participatory research method, where students were invited to take photographs of things that contributed to or took away from their sense of belonging at Lehigh. Groups of students discussed their photographs in order to uncover common themes and opportunities for positive change within our community.

The photos you see here represent the final stage of this photovoice project. First-generation students worked with the research team to select the photographs and reflections. As you explore the exhibit, we invite you to reflect on your own experiences of belonging at Lehigh, how your various identities have shaped your experiences of belonging, and learn more about the experiences of first-generation students at Lehigh.

"I am studying during work. I am forced to juggle obligations and responsibilities. I have to support myself while here at school."
"I remembered how beautiful it is and feeling like all my hard work let me here, and I deserve it."
"Fancy cars. Rich students (in) contrast to lower class students. I feel under represented."
"Student in need of financial help reaching out but is told they cannot be helped, leaving them to figure it out on their own. Some first gen students end up dropping out because of costs, no fault of their own. They may not be from a family of wealth and
"The masks are symbolic of different "faces" I have to wear depending on who I'm with. Growing up my parentss sacrificed what they could to get me an opportunity to go to school and be a first-gen student, but along the way I made getting into college my
"This road serves as a main crossway between calsses that all students take, representing the metaphorical/literal crossroads betwween varying cultures. The moon in this picture serves as a depiction of communities not always highly represented in the gre
"The character at the bottom has to climb a staircase of books and notepads, with obstacles like a pencil sharpener, and a stapler, an eraser. A Lehigh snow globe represents the goal. Starting college is a constant uphill climb with obstacles along the wa
"The embarassment of having beat up shoes at a school where people own beach houses."
"I am not able to focus on my classes/extracurriculars because I have to devote my time to working. My parents will not financially support me, so I must work to pay my own tuition."