Supporting Student Success through Student Voices
The Student Wisdom Project was created to help surface the lived experiences, strategies, and reflections of first-generation community college graduates.
These videos can be used in classrooms, advising sessions, and faculty development settings to spark conversation, offer practical advice, and normalize the non-linear path many students take through college.
You are welcome to share this website or individual links in Brightspace, embed them in lesson plans or assignments, or recommend a video to a student who might benefit from hearing that they're not alone.
Quick Links for Videos You Can Integrate into Your Course Now
This six-minute video tracks the stories of four City College students, showing the obstacles they encountered and how they overcame them. This is great to show to initiate class discussion about common challenges.
This two-minute video discusses how several students chose to use tutoring. This is great to show if you have a tutor visit your class or any time you want to encourage students to use tutoring.
This two-minute video shares why several students found the Wellness Center so useful. Showing this video in class is a great way to encourage students to use campus resources.
This brief “How To” video shows students how to make a Navigate appointment so they can take full advantage of college resources. This is great to post on Brightspace!
Explore the Full Video Library
First-day activities: Share a short clip to humanize the college journey and prompt conversation.
Essay prompts or reflective writing: Use a clip as a starting point for analysis or narrative reflection.
Small-group discussions: Have students watch a themed clip (e.g., time management, motivation) and relate it to their own habits.
Career or college success classes: Introduce themes like intentional path-building, academic identity, or self-advocacy.
Classroom Applications
Sample Essay Assignment: Exploring the Student Wisdom Project
This assignment asks students to write an extended essay using interviews and other sources from the Student Wisdom Project. Students choose from several prompts that encourage reflection on college success, support systems, and personal insight. The essay is designed to help students practice integrating source material, organizing ideas, and developing a well-supported argument. Along the way, students engage in key writing and revision strategies—including outlining, quoting and paraphrasing, using feedback, and working with tutors to strengthen their final draft.
Click below to get the unit plan, essay assignment, rubric and more.
Why Student Voices Matter
Research consistently shows that students benefit from seeing people like themselves reflected in academic spaces. These interviews validate the challenges students face and demonstrate that there are many paths to success.
By integrating these stories into our teaching—as well as sharing our own stories—we send a powerful message: your story matters, and you belong here.
Want to Share How You’re Using This Resource?
I’d love to hear from you! If you’ve adapted these videos in your own courses or advising work, please email me at jmeresman@ccc.edu.
Faculty Voices Welcome
Did you attend a community college or are you a first-generation student? If so, I would love the opportunity to interview you! Please consider becoming part of the project by adding your story and wisdom. Sign up on the “share your story” page or email me at jmeresman@ccc.edu.