Dear First Gen, 

April 9-15 is #NationalLibraryWeek! (Thank you Extra-Ordinary Birthdays for telling me.) I am an avid reader, and believe it is key for first-generation professionals seeking to increase their vocabulary, improve their writing skills and feel confident during conversations. Also, when I read different book genres and then share the stories with my family members, it exposes them to new phrases and words that they may use in their own work or social environments. Everyone benefits!  

"I have always imagined paradise as a kind of library." - Jorge Luis Borges

The theme for the week is "Libraries Transform" and the suggested books by @lupita.reads certainly meets the challenge. This is her message to you! 

                                                                                     ---

Irnande recently asked me to list the top five books that I am looking forward to reading in 2017. First I need to add that the book world (authors and publishing companies) has been killing it lately with some amazing books. It seems to me that every year brings about a set of new books that must be added to bookshelves everywhere. Here is my small list that was no small feat to compile: 

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. ​

Dear First Gen,

One of my favorite hobbies is traveling. My brother and I have a friendly competition where if either one of us visits a place before the other, the other sibling works overtime to avoid traveling to that location. (My parents are not fans of our "explorer" spirit.)

​I have met several first gens who do not own a passport or have used their passport to only travel to their family's birth country. Yes, it was shocking for me to hear, too! Recently, I returned from a trip and enjoyed the culture, the food, beach and also learned how two languages were simultaneously taught in a classroom and reinforced at home.

​For example, my friend and I were in the post office mailing postcards to our friends and family back home. My friend asked the postal worker how to say pen in their language and she responded. Another customer, older woman, joined the conversation and began singing a song that taught her certain words in both languages including the pen. Another customer overheard her and sang along and then the postal worker chimed in and sang along, too. The young postal worker confirmed a decades-old classroom instruction still being taught and had not been forgotten by the two older women.

A fellow first gen has written the guest post below:

Hi,

As a first-generation law student, I was surprised that so many of my classmates were children of attorneys. Many of them had worked at their parents’ law firms prior to starting law school and they had established connections. I, on the other hand, didn’t have the skills or a single connection to lean on when I entered law school. But I have found that a love for travel is a great way to connect with people.

There are so many reasons to study abroad. You will make friendships that last a lifetime, you will experience a new country as a local, and you will broaden your horizons more than you thought possible.

Your study abroad experience is also something that will enhance your ability to connect with people throughout your life. When you go on interviews or to networking events, many other professionals will have traveled extensively, and your study abroad experience will give you talking points and help you make connections with people who share your passion for traveling.

As excited as I was to study abroad in my second year of law school, I was even more excited to head to the “motherland.” My relatives left Italy in the 1920s, but their traditions remained strong and have influenced my life in many ways. Although I had been to Europe once before, I had never been to Italy.

​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. 
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Dear First Gen,

This past week, my family and I have been coping with the loss of my "great-uncle" (my mother's uncle) and planning his funeral. He planted the seeds for my family’s American Dream by legally bringing my mom's family to the U.S.  His actions were the catalyst that gave me an opportunity for a good education and unlimited professional opportunities.

As a child, I often heard the stories of his dream of wanting a lawyer in the family before he left this earth. I never imagined it would be me since my sights were set on being a doctor—Dr. Irnande Altema had a nice ring to it! Although I went to law school in the state where he lived, he was unable to attend my graduation because of his illness but I knew he was proud of me that day. 
 
I often wondered how my mother had so much optimism and faith in a world where I felt the odds were stacked against us. It was her uncle who instilled great values and resilience in my mother; but I did not appreciate (or tap into) that until I was faced with a very tough decision. 

Have you ever felt like the odd person out? Feeling as if you should understand the information or progress similar to your peers since you are just as capable, eager, and skilled, but you are not getting the same results? On numerous occasions—as a first-generation graduate and now a professional—I shared this same feeling. Thus, this blog came to be.

There is a unique population growing in America: first-generation students and graduates. Right now, our group is not usually discussed or recognized because our unique set of challenges and experiences often get mixed into the broad category of African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or European students. Our experiences are not given much priority, so being a “first gen,” I felt compelled to create a new forum for us. Here, our emotions and successes will be acknowledged and understood, and we’ll discuss strategies for how to best accomplish or overcome certain situations.

Our ancestry—regardless of ethnic background—has so many examples of our work ethic, commitment and drive. I have seen first gens rise to greater heights once we learn the rules of engagement. With this blog, I hope to introduce you to my experience and those of other first gens, as well as give you different resources and information that may help you achieve more success. Thanks for joining me on the journey.

Tell me: What topics would you like to see addressed here?


Fellow Riser,

​Irnande











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***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.