How to College: First Gen

In this episode Adnan and Collins talk through the transition from being a college student to a full time working young professional. They discuss things that they learned during this transition and things they wish they knew (what school did not teach them).

In this episode, Shiv chats with Mark Membreno about his family's journey from Nicaragua, his experience as a first gen American, and his passion for tackling affordable housing.

In this episode, Luz chats with Alex (one of our High School interns) about how she has navigated the college process and specifically, how she has prepared and done in her college admissions interviews. College interviews, which are often optional components of the admissions application, are a great way for students to showcase who they are beyond what has been submitted in the college application and can usually only help boost your application.

In this episode, Norma chats with Shiv about his professional sabbatical. They discuss personal choices taken, how they communicated with their coworkers, and the unique hurdles first-gens face both personally and socially when considering to take a break from work.

In this episode Norma chats with first generation college graduate Edgar who shares his journey of being able to leverage mentors, sponsors, and coaches in his educational and professional career. Asking for help is crucial for the first generation journey, but knowing what to ask and from whom is one of the most important aspects of succeeding in this journey.

For many, success after college can be influenced by their professional networks. In this episode, Sandra chats with Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson, about leadership and the importance of formal and informal networks for post-college success. They discuss how networks can be built from friends and family members and how professional networks can open opportunities.

Sandra and Dr. Cantu-Wilson both share personal experiences on the impact of networking on their personal and professional love, how people they met through their networks have helped them along the way, and tips on how to approach making the most of the networks you’re already part of.

Hear from first-generation college graduate, former college athlete, and current Process Engineer, Ryan Angelo. Ryan shares his journey of studying physics at a liberal arts college and the benefits his interdisciplinary education has had on his career development. While some employment opportunities are fully-remote, without an in-person option, this week's episode centers around working remotely for a company that does have an in-person option. Ryan shares his experience of transitioning from in-person work to remote work, and how working from home impacts his professional development and colleague relationships. 

In this episode, Shiv and Adnan discuss their undergraduate journeys breaking the traditional 4 year myth. They walk through their decision process to graduate in 5 years, share what they learned along the way, and provide advice for any first gens facing similar questions.

In this episode Luz chats with Navea about some of the benefits of being part of ERG’s in the workplace, including a sense of community and opportunity to learn leadership skills.

In this episode, Adnan has a chat with Monica Floyd about the UH challenger program, its origins, and how it helps the first-generation student population at UH. They also talk through the first gen student experience and why Monica chose her career path.