Higher education institutions today have two million fewer students than they did in 2009. Despite an increased push by high schools in tracking students into Advanced Placement and College Prep classes, the amount of students going directly into college is declining. This presents a generational challenge for students coming from homes where neither parent completed their college degree. Monica Pinier is a counselor in the TRiO Program at Thomas Nelson Community College. The federally funded initiative offers academic assistance and mentoring to first-generation college students. She discusses the challenges first generation college students face.