First Generation Voices

In this episode of the First Generation Podcast, host Alexis White sits down with Professor Tenenbaum, a lawyer and law professor at Northwestern University.

Born to Holocaust survivors, Professor Tenenbaum’s journey from struggling immigrant to courtroom success is one filled with hard work, resilience and mentorship. Discover how he navigated the challenges of being a first-generation student law student on his own… with little to no guidance. 

• Throughout the conversation, Professor Tenenbaum shares valuable insights on:
• The power of mentorship and how that began for him at home
• how he carved an uncharted path through motivation and confidence
• The value of a positive learning environment and the influence teachers have on students
• Overcoming imposter syndrome by not allowing himself to be intimidated by students from privileged backgrounds 
• Lessons on humility and growth…and why you don’t need to win every argument! 

Professor Tenenbaum’s triumphant story illustrates how perseverance and mentorship can shape the direction of one’s life. It’s packed with tips and wisdom for first generation students to embrace their authentic selves, trust their instincts, and get involved in their communities. 

This episode features an insightful conversation with KB, a 2023 law school graduate who overcame numerous challenges growing up in Chicago to become the first in her family to earn a high school diploma and college degree!

She attributes much of her success in life to having great mentors, from the coaches who helped her excel in speech and debate, to those who guided her through making challenging life and academic decisions.

KB emphasizes the important role of strategic relationship building, and how connections and networking are critical to career advancement.  She dives into how she pushed herself to earn top grades and a scholarship to a prestigious Chicago university. 

From adapting to new environments to defying expectations, KB’s story is a powerful reminder of resilience, grit, and the importance of having a strong support system.

In this episode of the First Generation Podcast, host Alexis White chats with Monica Llorente, a law professor at Northwestern University. Monica shares her experiences growing up in Puerto Rico, navigating cultural challenges, and heading down an unfamiliar path to enter the legal profession.

They discuss her incredible journey as a first-generation college graduate and lawyer.  Monica offers valuable insights on how to stay true to your values, the importance of curiosity in fueling success, and the challenges that come with balancing family, law, and personal growth. 

Monica also reveals how intuition plays a significant role in her life, and the importance of mentorship. She encourages listeners to be intentional about who they surround themselves with for support.

Discover her tips on how to balance work with family life, and why it’s important to her to help shape the next generation of lawyers.

This inspiring episode is packed with wisdom and practical advice for people looking to break barriers in their personal and professional journey. 

In this episode, we talk with Mariam, a first-generation law student. Mariam shares her inspiring journey coming from a single-parent home with no exposure to higher education, to pursuing her dreams of earning her law degree. We discover how she pushed past her fears to live a purpose-driven life.

 Mariam offers insights on: 

• Navigating the financial and emotional challenges of entering law school 
• How she leaned into her own authenticity to succeed
• Balancing academic pressure in a competitive atmosphere
• Her unique take on prosecutors advocating for change in the justice system
• Why students of color attending predominantly white institutions must advocate for themselves and make good use of all of the available resources.

For many first-generation students, fear is a common obstacle.  Mariam describes how she overcame her fears by embracing the unknown and promising to never let “what-if’s hold her back.

She also speaks to the value of representation and why people of color must secure a seat at the table to strategically advocate on their behalf. 

This is an inspiring episode that illustrates the importance of having the courage to follow your own path in pursuit of a purpose-filled life.