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.
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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. 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, Joy Weber (a featured first gen) shared a piece of advice for first gens that want to meet people outside of their network: Consider reaching out to people via LinkedIn, even if you’ve never been introduced to them before. This is a great idea! You may have met someone at an event that you have finally found the courage to attend, or overheard someone else talking about this individual. In either situation, this person piqued your curiosity and you want to learn more about them, but you do not have a way to contact them. When it comes to individuals you don’t know, reach out to them for an in-person informational meeting. If the person has a busy calendar and you are unable to coordinate a meeting time, then you can opt for a phone conversation. When that’s the case, LinkedIn is a good place to start! A friend called @LinkedIn, "Facebook for Professionals". Log in to your account (or create an account), and then perform a search of the person’s name to find out if you have mutual contacts. If you don’t, that’s OK—you may still be able to network with that individual. It is scary and you may not know where to begin but let me suggest two approaches. "Women do not belong there," can you imagine a time when women were denied admission to law school?! (I recently watched a movie on the Suffrage Movement and was shocked by what they lost to fight for their right to vote - families, children, friendships and employment!) This featured first gen is a young, outstanding attorney who is rising in her firm. She is the only female member of the Legislative and Government Relations Group in her office and amazes each person she meets. 1. What is your name? Joy Weber 2. What is your current occupation? Government Relations Attorney 3. What is your education background? Bachelor of Arts in Art/Psychology from Penn State University and Regents University School of Law. (Any and all passions are welcome in the field of law.) 4. What is your family background? Mom, Dad, and two younger brothers. I am now married with one son. 5. Do you have any "firsts" recognized by your family? First to attend and graduate from law school. 6. How were you able to achieve them? Hard work. Willingness to take risks. Support of my family. 7. What was your biggest obstacle or challenge to become the first in your family? I remember being bummed that my mom and dad could no longer be the authority on the law school process. I reached out to my extended family and used them as a resource. 8. What advice would you give to a first-generation student who is seeking to become a first-generation professional in the U.S.? Utilize LinkedIn! Don't hesitate to reach out to people who are where you hope to be. Buy someone a coffee and ask them to tell you how they got to where they are. ***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. CHALLENGE COMING BACK NEXT YEAR! Dear First Gens, Join me in living your dreams! CHALLENGE COMING BACK NEXT YEAR! I am offering a free email challenge titled UBelong. This challenge will help you face and conquer your fears of feeling out of place at an event that you view as an ideal place to meet and connect with people that could propel you to higher levels. I was inspired to create this challenge after I almost allowed my doubts to deny me the opportunity to attend the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA - today marks two months since that #onceinalifetime moment. Have you done the same thing I almost did? Have you passed on a lot of events simply because you were afraid? Have you disregarded the value you would bring by being in the room? Have you felt like you do not belong? It’s time to put those thoughts to bed. Where have you longed to go? Forbes Women's Summit? Sundance Film Festival? The Olympics? Industry Conference or Gala? What has been on your list since the beginning of your student or professional journey? I am certain you thought of making an appearance at a few events, but then dismissed the idea. This mentality stops today! Sign up now for my free 5-Day UBelong Challenge and learn how to show up with confidence and leave proud. The challenge begins in October! CHALLENGE COMING BACK NEXT YEAR! Fellow Riser, Irnande ***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. 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. Dear First Gen, Part 2 of "Staying Organized in College" - “Congratulations, we would like to offer you acceptance…” At that moment, you experienced a wave of emotions and realized you were about to embark upon a monumental journey: College! As a first-generation college student, you have set the bar high not only for yourself but for your family. And let’s be honest, that can be stressful because you want to ensure you succeed and don't disappoint anyone. On the other hand, you realize you have made it this far and have vowed to prepare yourself for this new academic challenge! Daniela Tamayo is a first-generation college student. Her parents do not speak English, so she acts as their translator. She has been able to stay motivated despite those challenges. Watch the video to hear her story. This is her first week of college classes. Please join me in congratulating her and wishing her the best of luck in her first semester. Click the resources tab for a checklist that will give you some tips on what First Gens should do before they go to college. I recommend revisiting this sheet a few times during your first semester. 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. |
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