Dannielle is the founder of First Gen Money, a financial literacy company that focuses on the first-generation population, those who are first to graduate from college or build wealth in the U.S. Dannielle hopes to empower and educate Latinas in their money journeys.

Born and raised Jersey girl with Ecuadorian immigrant parents, Dannielle graduated from Rutgers University in 2015 with a Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies Degree, along with over $30,000 in student loan debt. As of December 2019, Dannielle lives debt-free, having paid off $26,385 in 26 months.​

The First Gen Experience and Handling of Money

I enjoyed my interview of Dannielle during the 2019 FinCon.
​She spoke about the various influences in her money decisions and reaction to #FinCon.

***Disclaimer: 2020. 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,

I had the esteemed honor of meeting Paul C. Brunson (@PaulCBrunson) in the flesh. So excited!

I am a proud email subscriber and have been for years. Paul's newsletters highlighted his latest projects and future coaching opportunities. In 2018,  I saw the announcement (finally had the courage to) submit by application, interviewed, and then accepted into one of his #Mastermind Groups. Unbelievable! And, since then, I have dutifully taken notes of his wisdom and teachings.

Below is a video of his advice on how to approach #publicspeaking. 

Fellow Riser,

Irnande

Dear First Gen,

The majority of college students graduating today have one thing in common, regardless of their degree: student loan debt. While some are fortunate enough to attend college without having to take out any loans, the majority of American college graduates end up owing seemingly insurmountable debt to lenders.

When I graduated more than 10 years ago, Sallie Mae was the leading lender. Today, Sallie Mae has been joined by Great Lakes, Nelnet, and Navient.

It seems that almost every day, there is a new article reporting that #studentloandebt is a factor in #millennials delaying buying homes, getting married, starting a family, or growing a business. Some have even chosen to put off saving for retirement to focus on paying their student loans.

The Good Ol’ Days
I will never forget a conversation I had with a former neighbor. She and her spouse had both graduated from a state law school in the 1990s, and their combined student loan debt totaled just $55,000. I was shocked to hear that number. I could never imagine a graduate today walking out of law school with such a low amount of debt.

She went on to tell me that they paid off their loans in just 5 years. The first few years, they kept their expenses low by living modestly. They also made the career decision to work in the public sector before moving on to work in “big law” for leading corporate law firms.

The Times They Are A-Changin'
On the other hand, when I graduated from college in 2007, I entered the “real world” with what I thought was a manageable $25,000 of student loan debt from my 4-year degree. Then I went to Georgetown for a 1-year master’s degree program and graduated with an additional $33,000 in debt. I kept my costs relatively low by living at my parents’ home, taking a carpool bus to school, bringing my lunch with me, and working a graduate assistantship.

Others in my master’s program cohort took out double my amount because they lived in Washington, DC, and needed money for housing and more. That meant that many of them graduated with at least $60,000 in debt from a one-year graduate program.

I figured mine was still a manageable amount of debt since it was a total of less than $60,000. However, I finished my program in 2008 during the recession and it’s not an exaggeration to say that no one was hiring. I worked two part-time jobs to pay my bills. But then I tacked on even more debt when I went to law school. I will be paying my student loans for years to come.

A Little Financial Planning Goes a Long Way
Why am I sharing this with you? I believe in getting as much information as possible to be sure you're setting yourself up for success down the road. It is important to know exactly how much you need to borrow to get your desired education. Then you can borrow the very least amount so you are not swimming in debt, do not have to delay future milestones like buying a house, traveling, or becoming a parent, if those will be priorities for you.

A little financial planning goes a long way in paying off student loans. A few young people I have recently met shared that they have not begun paying their public student loans back because they are paying for the private loans they took out first.

Another friend who graduated law school with me had more than $100,000 in student loans from two private institutions, yet paid off their #lawschool debt in less than 4 years. This person did make a six-figure income, but they also lived very modestly by limiting travel, shopping at discount grocery stores, finding inexpensive rent, and so on.

Luckily for this person, the amount of compounded interest was limited because of the timing of paying back the loan. In many cases, graduates pay a lot in interest before they can pay any chunk of the principal.

If you’re just starting to look into loans, I may be using terms that are new to you. Check out Student Loan Hero for more information, and do not be overwhelmed. I have come across many good resources that may be helpful to you.

Podcasts –
Brown Ambition

Paychecks and Balances

​Trailblazers.FM

Blog Posts –
Student Loans: Everything you Need to Know

Your Money Worth

​The Student Loan Debt Movement

Tools –
How to Create a Loan Amortization Schedule

As a first-generation college student or graduate, there is a lot of information we are not privy to because no one in our families has gone through it before. That's why I’m here. These resources will get you started on how to plan for the financial implications of a #highereducation.

Whether you are just starting the process of applying for grants and scholarships or you are debating whether to accept a job that offers student loan repayment assistance benefits, thinking about all of this will help you plan a little better.

Fellow Riser,

​Irnande


​

***Disclaimer: 2019. 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, 

​It’s hard to believe, but this November, I am celebrating one year since I accepted a position as a #MentalHealth advocate. As I began this new step in my career, I wrote posts for success in the first 30, 60, and 90 days on a new job. All of those suggestions are still relevant and I continue to practice them each and every month. As I look back, it's clear that I've come a long way, but I still have plenty to learn.


Top Things I’ve Learned –

1. Know what's expected of you, and use your existing skills: I knew when I accepted this job that it was going to require a lot of reading, but I was not aware of exactly how much. My role requires me to read as much as I can to keep track of the actions of various legislators and stakeholders who may develop laws or regulations that could impact the level of care and access a mental health patient receives. I am constantly reading news articles, reports, newsletters, and emails. Fortunately, my previous positions required me to read similar material and I have learned how to distill this information so I can relay it efficiently and accurately to coalition members and partners.

2. Know that you will make mistakes: As a first gen who strives for perfection, I have gradually become comfortable with making mistakes and learning from my errors and confusion. Growing up, my parents expected me to always be the best student, and I rise to the challenge of being a 5-star employee as well. My learning curve in this new position was short and it did not take me too long to learn the terminology and industry culture. But sometimes, I still struggle. Although I prepare for the meetings I lead, I often still need a pep talk from my supervisor beforehand and a follow-up to discuss what went right and wrong.

3. Learn from constructive criticism: I wish I could say that I followed my own advice about not taking feedback and criticism personally, but I had a difficult time separating constructive criticism about my work from remarks about me as a person. While there were times I received an honest critique to make me a better mental health advocate and to improve on my weaknesses, my passion and work ethic interfered with my ability to receive and implement the feedback objectively without seeing it as a personal attack. Luckily, I have a strong tribe that helps me remain calm and see the positives of having supervisors who take a considerable amount of time from their schedules to discuss the reasons behind their opinions. Our meetings create an open, honest environment where I can learn how to be better at my job and exceed expectations. As I am given information on how to improve, I am learning what they pay attention to the most and how to focus on those things a little more so that I can be conscious of if or when I might make the same mistake.

4. We all fight similar battles: Being a mental health advocate for this past year has challenged me and allowed me to become aware of the anxiety, depression, and fear facing first-gen professionals. You battle your own expectations every day: You may want to consume so much information to be successful that it intensifies your worry and takes you away from activities you enjoy. You want to be the absolute best, but when it does not happen how you envisioned it, you may doubt if you are qualified and capable. You want to present a solid product on every project, but when it does not end up that way, you wonder if you are in the right field or whether you should transition into a role that fits your talents and gifts better.

These thoughts and lessons cycle in and out on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. As a first gen, I contemplate these emotions at the beginning and end of each day, but I've realized that they may even be common among all young professionals, not just first gens.

What I have discovered is that it is important to acknowledge my thoughts and then reframe them so that they are helpful. Yes, I am worried. But it is a new experience and I am still adding value because of my experience that is different from others. My past experiences influence my current responsibilities and help reduce the time spent doing them so I can focus on my priority tasks. I belong here because I bring a different perspective and can shape a new way of thinking and set of procedures.

Listening to myself and the feedback from others has been key over the past year and I am grateful to have reached this juncture to recognize how it is essential to rise.

Fellow Riser,

​Irnande 


***Disclaimer: 2018. 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 was a time when I did not get so ANXIOUS about writing.

There was a time when I was confident about my writing skills and yearned to learn different styles of writing.

There was a time when I wrote poetry.

Then, I slowed down and no longer was excited.

I still write....for work and message cards, but with great TREPIDATION.

However, recently, my #self-doubt slowed down when I discovered #grammarly. @Grammarly has helped me to feel more confident when I send emails, drafts, newsletters, etc.

If you would like to learn more, click here.

In the recording below, I share a few stories from my youth and adult years that continue to remind me of my WRITING FEARS. My writing has developed and  Grammarly has helped to identify errors and offer suggestions to improve the flow. I recommend this tool if you are looking for a proofreading source and some CALMNESS to your nervousness.

Tell me:

Do you have moments of discomfort when it comes to your writing?
Do you agonize over every word and sentence before you hit send or share your writing with others?


Fellow Riser,

Irnande
​

Dear First Gen,

My whole life, I have not stopped to heal.

What does it mean to heal anyway?

Every choice or decision I have made in my schooling and my career was for a reason beyond my own self-interests. I excelled in school because it was necessary for my family. I put in long hours at work because I had a reputation to uphold. I sacrificed taking several days off work despite many days feeling under the weather or overly committed.

I have been going and going, like a nonstop flight, and I have not taken time to check in with myself. Maybe I need to be making time to heal.

You may be wondering what I need to #heal from.

Well, I never took time to heal from the instruments that I was prohibited from playing. Or the birthday celebrations I didn't have. The vacations I didn't take and the summer camps I didn't attend. The “normal” childhood I missed out on.

Or how about healing from being seen as someone accepted into school or offered a job under #affirmativeaction policies rather than for my own merit? Or the countless hours I spend rewriting emails in fear that I'll come off as “another incoherent person with immigrant parents”?

It can be exhausting having to defend myself if I use an accent when saying certain words, speak to my parents in their native language, or have my credentials questioned even after putting in the work to be seen as a qualified applicant.

Individually, these instances may not leave a lasting mark. But built up over decades, being continually questioned and having to prove myself, it's possible that I need some time to heal.

It is rare for me to share this publicly. I was raised to believe that there were certain things I would not be afforded, so I had to be strategic and intentional when pursuing each and every goal in my life. It was always reinforced that nothing was going to come easy for me. I was not born into any privilege, and I would always have to work for what I wanted.

When I wrote my first blog post, I started to heal from the various #unapologetically first-gen moments I have lived. How? Other people reached out to me to let me know they went through the same things, or would share their own story with me.

After I posted “Hard Knock Life of a First Gen,” my cousin who is in high school told me that his mom took him out of trumpet class to focus on science. We spoke to my aunt about how it made him feel and she said that he can take trumpet lessons when he is older.

It is possible that it's too late for this cycle to be broken, but my cousin did not harbor any ill feelings about his mother's decision. Just like me, he understood the bigger picture that all first gens learned at a very early age.

Our families came to the United States to achieve The American Dream. But often, this constant reminder can be hard to swallow and doesn't give us the time we may need to heal those wounds of what might have been in our childhoods.

As an adult, I have been reminded of the importance of healing. Now, I make it a priority to find space and time to heal because it has helped me to recognize why I may act a certain way when something is withheld from me or when I feel “robbed” of certain moments.

For me, healing was and is necessary. I just wish I'd learned that sooner in life.

Tell me: Have you made time to heal? If so, how do you heal?

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 Gens,

Several #collegeapplications were due last month and the next steps in the college admissions process is underway. You may be going on interviews, college visits, or speaking to alumni, but you should also consider the advantages and disadvantages of attending a school where you live or away from home before "signing day". Is your unique obligation as a first gen telling you to stay home? Or is your unique identity pushing you to go away? Given that I come from a close family and receive great support by living close to them, this was a tough decision for me to make when I was in your shoes.

On March 13, 2017, at 3:00 p.m., I will be participating in a joint #webinar with a fellow first gen who possesses a Ph.D. and specifically coaches first-generation college students. The topic of conversation is "The Pros and Cons of Attending an In-State College vs. an Out-of-State College".

You can join by clicking the bar above!!! We will be sharing information on the student experience of attending a school nearby or away from home.

I was introduced to Dr. Eve via Instagram and have been inspired by her words of wisdom over the past several months. Last month, on my birthday, she published a post on her blog entitled, "The Decision".

Hello, #Decision:

I finally figured out what I was
Going to do today
I’m not sure if you’ll like it but
I know you’ll be okay
I did it for me
I did it for you
I did it for us
It wasn’t easy but
I did it

See, choosing which way to go
Wasn’t easy and I know we
Talked over this thing a thousand times
On some days I almost Iost my mind
But we both know
I tried to avoid doing anything for
As long as possible because
I didn't want to have to decide
Not this way
Not like this
At least not now

You should be proud of me though
No more going back and forth
No more wondering
No more long and sleepless nights
Of course I’ve had some doubts
But I know that this is right

We’ve stayed at this crossroad
Much longer than I imagined we would
But with clarity I know which way to go
I trust myself
So I am going to be on my way and
Journey on down this road

#Perspective:
Life is filled with decisions. Some may be harder than others; however, you have to be patient and trust yourself. At times, your choices may lead you to new and unfamiliar roads, but this doesn’t mean it’s the wrong choice—you just have to adjust your sail and go with the flow—be open to something new. As all of life is a process, you are in constant stats of living and learning. At the end of the day, no matter what, the most important thing is that you do what’s best for you.

Be Inspired,
Dr. Eve
​The Purpose Professor

Click on the link to visit her website and read other posts.

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, 

On December 21, @DeltaProtectiveServices posted a video to Facebook of their interview with @Simon Sinek, who presented on the challenge of working with millennials. After watching this video, I posted three reasons I didn't think it fully described first-generation professionals.

I will elaborate on my facebook post that addressed Sinek's comment on the first factor that describes Millennials. Sinek defines millennials as individuals born in 1985 and up, and says that they are difficult to manage at work, act entitled, are self-interested, lazy, and unfocused. Yet he also points out that they are motivated by wanting to work for purpose or make an impact. 

He credits "failed parenting strategies" for millennials being challenging to work with. 

Statement: "Told special, all the time".
Response: We are bred to believe we are special but not in the manner to make us feel entitled (or an amazing gift to the world). Our parents tell us that we have the tools and knowledge to learn and develop into the adults that will allow us to accomplish and reach our dreams. We are elevated to believe that we have the capability to succeed so long as we are determined and make an effort. 

Statement: "Can have anything they want in life, just because they want it."
Response: We did not grow up being told we could have anything we wanted because we wanted it. Many #firstgens wanted the basic necessities and wished for them. We were happy to have them. There are first-generation Americans that may have wanted their own room, toys or gadgets, or new clothes rather than hand me downs or sewed. 

Statement: "Some got into honors classes not because deserved it, but because the parents complained. Some got A's not because they earned it, but because the teachers did not want to deal with the parents."
Response: We received or earned our grades and did not have parents with clout to switch them. Our #parents generally trusted the teachers and worked with them to improve our grades. We were nervous to receive any bad reports from teachers because our parents did not think the teachers would mislead them about their child's education or progress so we were diligent with our studies. 

Statement: "Some got medals for participation, not for winning. They received it because it would make them feel embarrassed and did not want them to feel worse." 
Response: We did not get a pat on the back or a high-five unless it was complete and total win. Second place winners were rarely congratulated or even spoken of in the home. Feeling bad about a loss was not allowed, and we did not get time to mope. Rather we had to jump back in and work hard for the next victory. 

He also attributes "environment and surroundings" as a reason for difficulty interacting with millennials at work. ​

Jordan Thompson is a first-generation attorney and is in the beginning phase of living up to the phrase, "If you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere." She traveled to NYC for school and has built an impeccable resume since her move to the Big City! 

Her story of triumph and accomplishment is for First Gens looking to enter corporate America. You may be growing impatient or wondering when your time will arrive.  HOLD ON! 

I also invite first gens interested in learning an approximate timeline for job interviews to watch the video.