Dear First Gen,

The #coronavirus turned the world upside down. Academic institutions were rocked by a sudden public health emergency and were encouraged to shutdown to mitigate the spread of the virus. Colleges and universities canceled in-person classroom instruction and switched to online/distance learning. Students who never took an online course were forced to learn in this way and communicate with professors through online platforms.

The coronavirus pandemic also changed the structure of graduation ceremonies, summer placements, and athletic trainings. The lives of ALL students were abruptly altered. Students reacted in so many ways by changing how the process new information, study, organize, connect with fellow classmates, apply to internships, interview, and etc.

We interviewed three students and asked them to share their perspective on how they are reacting to #COVID19. Our guests and topics were:

• ​#MentalHealth & Student Athletes with Shelbi White, Masters of Social Work, Class of 2021
• Summer Education Opportunities with Nkechi Amadi, School of Pharmacy, Class of 2023
• Official #Graduation Celebrations Canceled with Adam Gilmore, Bachelors of Finance & Entrepreneurship, Class of 2020

At the end of the interview series, the conversation weaved into a theme of balancing school obligations and personal needs. Click on the images below to watch the interviews. Enjoy!

Fellow Riser,

​Irnande

Hi First Gen,

History is happening for all #Haitians, #HaitianAmericans, and supporters of #Haiti Mens' Soccer! 

For the first time in history, the Haiti National Football Team is in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup! WOW! In the first half the team was down by 2 goals and in the second half there was a comeback. I enjoy a good comeback story and Haiti's was on display for all to watch. Listen to my opinion of the result. You are never down unless you stay down. 

As a former #soccer player, I understand the tremendous effort it takes mentally and physically to achieve this outcome. I applaud Haiti's National Men's Football Team. #CaribbeanHeritageMonth

Fellow Riser,

​Irnande

Dear First Gen,

To succeed in higher education, studying and getting good grades is not going to be your only responsibility. When you attend a university or college, you will need to interact with several administrative staff.

The most obvious of these will be your academic advisor and the career counselor. But to expand your network and to gather more information about the world that awaits you after graduation, it is to your benefit to speak to a few more people that have a specific focus on student success. Let’s talk about the discussions you should have with each of these people.

1.Academic Advisor: When you select your major, you will be assigned an #academicadvisor to help guide you through the requirements of your major, including the mandatory course sequence to earn a degree, as well as optional or elective courses that may be more tailored to your specific career goals. You and your advisor may become acquainted quickly through regularly scheduled meetings to ensure you are on track to graduate on time. Occasionally, the requirements for your major could change from year to year, so you want to make sure you are referring to the correct course catalog and do not encounter any surprises from not regularly speaking to your advisor.

2.Career Counselor: This relationship could be very necessary for a first-generation student looking to increase their opportunities for employment or acceptance into a program that would further their education. Career counselors are specifically trained in this area, and I elaborate on the value and urgency of this visit in another post.

3.Students Affairs: Most students won’t visit this office unless they have an urgent situation that needs to be addressed, such as a request for a disability accommodation or a conflict at the institution. However, this office is often responsible for assisting with student organizations, hosting events on campus, and inviting special guests. This office delivers a #global experience to you, often without even leaving the campus. This office’s goal is to support your learning, growth, and development. Engaging with the staff in this office will help shape your experience at that institution.

4.Board of Trustees: The idea of meeting with the Board of Trustees was suggested to me by a colleague who is also a first-gen student. He explained that he learned about the opportunity for his current job after securing a meeting with a in his industry. During that meeting, he had a candid conversation about the path he should pursue to become a key decision-maker. That conversation helped him chart his course to become his company’s chief government affairs spokesman quickly. Members of most college’s boards of trustees are frequently high-profile, influential individuals. Not only can they bring in a considerable amount of money to the university, but they are often change agents in the community and have a wealth of knowledge to share. When possible, forging a relationship with a board of trustees member can help you gain access to expertise that may benefit you when trying to plot your own path to success.

5.Faculty Advisor for a Campus Organization: If you’re involved in a campus organization like student government or campus media, there will be a staff or #facultyadvisor assigned to guide the students. Often, even if this person is a professor, they serve in a different capacity in these advisory roles, and are able to be a bit more and personal with the students in the organization. This individual may be someone you want to have more personal conversations with regarding classes, professors, administration, students, or your future, especially if the organization is related to your career goals.

Of course, these are not the only appointments you should schedule or people you should form relationships with at college. But they will give you a jump start on how best to approach your education. The more people you can speak to and learn from, the better your future outcomes will be in the field you aspire to work in. These conversations can be vital to obtaining the “rules of engagement” to succeed academically and professionally.

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,

​On July 31, I was invited for a "Meet the Author" event by one of the Assistant Directors of the #JohnsHopkinsUniversity Hop-In Program. In the audience, there were first-generation college students in JHU's class of 2022. Before this day, I was pleased to learn that the program assigned my book, "The Rise of a First Gen" as required reading.

The students asked amazing questions that centered on my mindset while navigating “two worlds”, adjustment to new environments, and strategies for certain transitions as a college student and professional.

Each of the students had a capstone project and one of them chose to create a video. She self-narrated her childhood up to her current life as a first-generation college student at a prestigious university. Watch the video below! #Filipina #Filipino

Tell me:
What resonated with you in her story?
​How would you tell your own story?

Fellow Riser,

​Irnande

​This month's featured First Gen has embraced her first year of living abroad. Read about her journey in becoming the first in her family to live in another country and miles away from her family.
​
1. What is your name?
My name is Bridget Lotoft.
​
2. What is your current occupation?
I am currently working as a Paralegal Specialist in Japan. My previous work experience involves advocacy work within law enforcement and volunteer work with survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

3. What is your education background?
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a concentration in Women Studies and Sociology minor. Also, I earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice.

4. What is your family background?
My mom and dad are both from South Georgia. My dad joined the Navy and as a result, I moved a lot. My parents divorced and we settled in Glen Burnie, Maryland. I grew up in single-parent home where my mother working overnight while I was in high school was normal. Seeing her work hard to make sure we had our basic needs met motivated me to want to help others in similar situations and further my education. I come from a family that has a lot of secrets and from that, it's pretty divisive. So I am working on recreating my own family traditions. Among my siblings, I am the first to finish school, but I have a few cousins who completed college as well.

5. Do you have any "firsts" recognized by your family?
I am the first of my family to move out of the country. ​

​This month’s featured First Gen is Delegate Alonzo T. Washington, who shares the benefits of strategic, organized college financial planning. Alonzo celebrates his birthday this month, and luckily, his responses also build on our recent posts about organization.

1. What is your name?
Alonzo T. Washington

2. What is your current occupation?
Maryland State Delegate

3. What makes you a First Gen?
When I graduated from the University of Maryland, I became the first person in my entire family to receive a college degree. I was then appointed to the Maryland General Assembly in 2012, becoming the youngest member of the Maryland House of Delegates.

4. What was your proudest moment as a First Gen, and why?
Of course, graduating from the University of Maryland debt-free and becoming the first in my family to graduate from college was an extremely proud moment for me. In 2014, I was also proud to win my first election to the Maryland House of Delegates, gaining the most votes in the history of my Legislative District.

5. What advice would you give to a first-generation student, graduate, or professional?
I have often found that many first-generation students—through no fault of their own—are not taking advantage of the resources and opportunities available to them, including scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial aid. We need to ensure that all first- generation students are fully utilizing all of these resources to graduate from college debt-free. I would also encourage first-generation students, graduates, and professionals to always be organized and prepared in all aspects of their life. Many of my successes, especially in my professional life, can be attributed to strong organization and preparedness skills. 
 
6. What is your favorite quote? And why? 
As we continue to fight back against racial and social inequities, I am constantly reminded of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he fought against similar injustices: 
 
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." ​


​***Disclaimer: 2016. 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. 
​