Dear First Gen,

​When I think about my journey, I am reminded that I did not arrive where I am today on my own. There were a few amazing advisors and mentors that guided me along the way. They offered me good advice that I share with my interns and others I believe would benefit from the information.

But it wasn't always easy to find a good mentor, either. There were instances when I sought someone to be my advisor/mentor and it yielded great results. Other times, I had to kindly distance myself from people because I no longer saw a benefit to our relationship.

When I was a student, my assigned career advisors served me well. I remain connected with a couple of them to this day. But there were several times I decided to venture out and speak to the head advisor.

In college, I attempted to meet with different advisors because they rotated in and out of the positions. I needed to meet with several of them so they would know my needs and be able to assist me when someone else was not available. In this case, I couldn't have a “regular” advisor.

I made it a point to meet with the Dean of the Career Development Office in undergrad because this individual was consistent and possessed invaluable information, like access to off-campus positions I needed for my field placement courses.

In law school, I scheduled advising appointments with the Dean of the Career Development Office as well. He had expertise about positions I was seeking and told me about the school’s reciprocity policy, which I used even after I graduated. My meetings with him were always helpful and I usually went to him even after I had met with the other advisors if they were unable to help me in the way I was looking for.

Whether I wanted to know how to work in a judge’s chamber or for a non-profit, locally or in my home state, my initial meeting with an advisor often clued me in how our working relationship would work. I became a good judge of not only who would be accepting of my numerous questions, but also who would give me a thorough explanation. I was looking for specific and actionable advice on the process or strategies to improve my chances of getting an internship or securing a job.

The common thread among each advisor I encountered was their willingness to help upon seeing that I was eager to be guided. They understood that I would not stop seeking their help until I obtained the results I was looking for. I sometimes learned after the fact that they talked with one another to find a different approach for helping me reach my goal.

Over the past 10 years, I have identified a key characteristic I look for in an effective mentor: their openness to serve as a mentor.

Dear First Gen,

​(This is a chapter from the book, "The Rise of a First Gen".)

For many years, I could not forgive them. I was too upset with them for what they did.

It began in 3rd grade when I was introduced to the violin. I had violin classes during my math class and I loved it.

I learned how to play the strings and reveled at the music I was playing. I was given my own violin to take home and practice when I had free time.

My enjoyment turned to sadness when my math teacher told my parents that my grades were slipping. They told me we did not come to America for a low academic performance.

My parents did not have a conversation with me or give me a chance to improve. I was simply removed from violin class and my violin was returned to the music store.

No longer could I learn the melodies that brought a smile to my face. No longer could I develop the skills to play a musical instrument.

Dear First Gen,

​I graduated from Hofstra University School of Law in 2012. In a previous blog post, Four Years Ago, I shared how I almost stopped after my first year of law school (1L). For those students who finished their second (2L) or third and final year (3L), here are some things I wish I had done, and others I am happy I did do:

• I wish I had used more resources like study guides and outlines for Civil Procedure, Contracts, and Real Property. It would have been part of my weekly or monthly routine. (Note: This can get costly.)

 

• I wish I had met with my professors on a regular basis, like my peers who came from families with attorneys did. My peers often practiced study questions and took their responses to discuss them with their professors. Not every teacher gives a midterm exam or practice questions, but they will walk through problems with a student to increase their understanding of a concept. This is a way to get a glimpse of how the professor grades their exams. (I especially advise this for students who have new professors because they do not have old exams for a student to review or practice with before an exam.)

 

• I wish I had reduced the length of my notes on a weekly basis because it is difficult to do toward the end when you think everything is important. This means a dual benefit for students: There will then be fewer notes to study from, and paring those notes down will reinforce the concepts and ideas you have learned. Even though you are shortening the notes, you should have a master list to refer back to in order to refresh your memory if you forget something. 

 

• I wish I had held fewer big study groups and done more small study groups instead. Two or three people in a study group is ideal because you can share your analysis of the practice problems or fact patterns/cases discussed in class, but isn't overwhelming with too many people offering their opinions. The conversations allow for different analyses to be shared and a more engaging study of the concepts. There would also be on-the-spot rebuttals of arguments so that you can have counterarguments if they are asked on an exam. 

 

• I am glad that I took advantage of career events and workshops to get to know the different paths I could take and have a contact if I had additional questions down the road. I was not aware of all the various practice areas and nontraditional opportunities for a student, so attending the events was helpful. This is also beneficial because the more people who know about your interests, the higher the likelihood of being contacted by them in the future if and when an opportunity arises. 

 

• I was happy that I pursued career opportunities that matched my interests rather than only pursuing the typical opportunities. This allowed me to enjoy and value each internship and externship.

 

• I would mention that I fully benefited from the law school reciprocity policy because I obtained my first job out of law school because of this system, and have been on many interviews since then because of it. I did not feel at a disadvantage because I attended a school out of state.

 
Good luck to all my #futurelawyers!

Fellow Riser, 

​Irnande

***Disclaimer: 2017. All rights reserved. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. No reproduction of any content on the website without the express permission of the author. The text, pictures and videos are the sole property of FirstGenRise. ​​​

Dear First Gen,

There is lots of reading in college and continues to be even more voluminous in graduate school.

​The final year of college was an interesting time for me. I was a pre-med student, but I was not headed to medical school. I suddenly found myself wondering, “Where do I go? What do I do now? Should I find a job or attend a graduate program?”

During winter break, I began to map out my next steps. I spoke with my mother about my options since I was not going to be a medical student the following year. She could not give me an answer during our conversation, but reassured me that an opportunity would present itself.

I was unaware at that time that she planned to do some research on my behalf, and she later shared what she found. She came across several master’s programs that created a path to help me enter medical school, as well as several policy programs. She assisted in the only way she knew to help relieve my feelings of despair.

After I reviewed the list of programs she had found, I applied to several and visited their campuses during orientation. I sat down with my mother again and told her about my likes and dislikes for each of the programs. She primarily liked Georgetown University’s M.S. in Biomedical Policy & Advocacy Program because it was close to home, while I liked the courses and the fact that it was a one-year program. This program matched my interests in policy and the sciences.

I was impressed that my mother picked this program, and proud of her for having listened to me for several years and researching programs that would enhance my qualifications and pique my intellectual curiosity.

Prior to graduating from college in 2007, I received an acceptance letter for the Georgetown program and was beyond ecstatic. This was the bridge I needed to connect me to public policy while enhancing my passion for the sciences.

During the program, I developed my writing skills for a non-scientific community, deepened my understanding of communications of emergency situations and emerging public health issues, and learned how science could revitalize the U.S. economy.

When I was at that crossroads my senior year, my parents did not know how to advise me. But my mother knew she had a resource…the internet! She sat at the home computer until she found results that might work as a “filler” before I went on to medical school. My plans for medical school ultimately changed, but my graduate education was a springboard for the doctorate program I chose.

In graduate school, I learned two main lessons:

1. You can connect to the next phase in your life or transition into a new industry by studying history, terminology, and trends. I made sure to look into new perspectives on existing knowledge and explored new information on the industry I plan to join.
2. It's important to build the necessary networks to obtain a job in the field. I did this by shadowing professionals, securing internships, and attending workshops and events. I also enrolled in courses where adjunct professors worked in the field, and engaged with classmates that sought the same path so we could exchange information.

These steps helped me to interact with my peers who were uncertain about the opportunities beyond an undergraduate education by linking up with professionals that sought to help us rise up or provide insight on how we could maximize our master’s degree to enter different positions.

Tell me: Which program are you considering and why haven’t you said yes?

Fellow Riser,

​Irnande


***Disclaimer: 2017. All rights reserved. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. No reproduction of any content on the website without the express permission of the author. The text, pictures and videos are the sole property of FirstGenRise. ​​​

Dear First Gen,

When we were growing up, my brother and I were reminded consistently that we were expected to perform extremely well in class. One of my friends told me a story of her upbringing that may be familiar to you. When she came home from school and showed her parents her good grades, they would ask, "Did another student receive a better grade than you?" If she said yes, the next question would be, "Why are you not at the top of the class?" My friend is brilliant and skillful! But in her parents eyes, being second, third, or fourth in a huge graduating class was just not “good enough.”

Immigrant parents often have very high expectations for their children, and as First Gens, we work overtime to meet or exceed them. But there is more to it than having the desire...there are situations that sometimes derail us. It is commonly unacceptable among foreigners to acknowledge feelings of guilt, insecurity, and doubt; rather it is expected that you will overcome them and never discuss the difficulties you faced. I can attest that there is a positive side to being raised to always find solutions to each "surface" problem, but what about the inner problems?

Tell me: How have you coped with your emotions when feeling depressed or pressured?

Dear First Gen,
​
​People often talk about their organization skills when they're on job interviews. But this becomes important well before that pivotal first opportunity for income. Because of that, we’ll be discussing organization in two parts. Part 1 will detail the reasons and methods for staying organized, and Part 2 will detail some of the tools and products you can use to do so.
 
The motto at my college was “Educating Women to Transform the World.” Really?! Me?! Tall order for someone starting out at a new place, and I certainly wanted to meet that challenge and move mountains.

Dear First Gen,

First Lady Michelle Obama launched the "Reach Higher Initiative" to motivate every high school student to further their education at a community college, four-year college or university or professional training program. April 26, 2016 was designated as "College Signing Day" in the U.S. for all to declare where they plan to attend in the fall, or wear college gear from the school they currently attend or graduated from. 

Recently, I had a conversation with a young person who sought my advice on the best college that would make them more attractive for a Staffer position in a legislator's office. The importance of selecting a college cannot be overstated; it is the prime location to connect with the right people who can teach you the precise steps to become the professional you aspire to be. This particular student narrowed the college choices down to two institutions. They would deliver different outcomes, but they were having a hard time determining which one would lead to achieving the ultimate goal. Here's what I recommended for them.