First in my Family

A faculty member told me I was brave for “admitting” I was the first in my family to go to college. I do not understand why this fact is an admission rather than a statement. Should I be “admitting” other personal circumstances over which I had no control such as my eye color or where I was born? Initially, I was proud of my academic accomplishments, but getting to Davidson taught me it is a stigma. Many exceptionally well-meaning individuals here expect first-gens will fail and struggle more, which is contrary to my demonstrated successes. I now try to hide my status from most faculty members, preventing at least one way for them to think less of me.