How to College: First Gen

In our final episode Shiv, Sandra, Luz, and Norma reflect on what the experience has been like being part of HTC, including lessons learned, key takeaways, favorite episodes, and what is next for the podcast.

In this episode, Shiv explores the inspiring journey of Mohammed Ahmad, MIT Sloan MBA student and First Generation/Low Income Club president, as they discuss his upbringing in India, his remarkable achievements in a top undergraduate program, and his transition to the United States for graduate studies.

In this episode Luz chats with college grads Brenda and Jennifer about their career journeys and what they have found to be fulfilling from the jobs and/or industries they have been working in and the reasoning for making changes along the way.

Get ready for an uplifting episode of How to College: First Gen. Host Sandra Fernandez sits down with the amazing Maria Ochoa-Chalico, a first-gen college student who has conquered incredible challenges and now shares her wisdom with others.

In this episode, Maria takes us on a journey through her own experience as a first-gen college student. She shares the ups and downs of navigating higher education as a single mother, and how she managed to overcome obstacles and achieve her dreams. Her journey reminds us that resilience and determination can lead to incredible success.

But Maria's story doesn't stop there! She also shares how she was able to apply the lessons she learned during her college journey to support her daughter through her own college application process. Maria emphasizes the importance of being there for your child and providing them with the guidance they need to thrive.

Maria shares the significance of understanding timelines, researching scholarships early on, and continuously seeking out resources throughout the process. Maria's firsthand experience and insights provide a wealth of knowledge for other parents who are embarking on this journey with their children.

Join us for this lively and informative episode as Sandra and Maria show us how the power of education and supportive parenting can create a brighter future. Whether you're a first-gen student, a parent, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode HTC intern Destiny chats with college student Layell about the importance of being able to pinpoint mental health resources on your campus and how it can potentially be essential to finding your new normal.

In this episode Luz chats with Madeline who shares her journey from college/trade school to becoming a radiology technician and eventually an entrepreneur and how her work-life balance has been challenged and adapted to each stage of her life.

In this episode, your host Sandra sits down with two high school seniors, Jaquelin Franco and Evelyn Hernandez, to talk about their experiences with the college application and selection process.

As first-generation college students, Jaquelin and Evelyn faced unique challenges and uncertainties throughout their journey. They share their perspectives on navigating the complex application process, from researching schools to filling out forms and finding financial aid.

Sandra also delves into the factors that influenced their decisions, including family expectations, financial considerations, and personal goals. Jaquelin and Evelyn offer valuable insights on how they weighed their options and made their final choices.

Join us as we explore the highs and lows of the college application process through the eyes of two remarkable young women. Whether you're a student or a parent, you won't want to miss this episode of "How to College: First Gen."

In this episode, Shiv sits down with Gurjinder Toor, a first gen Punjabi American from the University of Houston. We will dive into his experiences pursuing a degree in Psychology and then pivoting into the fascinating world of computer science.

Reaching life milestones can be both an exciting and stressful experience. This is especially true when doing so as a first-generation college student. However, when you allow yourself to embrace the experience and appreciate the process, you will succeed.

On this episode of ‘How to College: First Gen,’ HTC intern, Destiny McBurrough and guest, Ja’Nyah Hargrove discuss the topic of senioritis and advice on how to combat the issue. Join them as they cover Hargrove’s first experience with the looming anxiety to her current only two months from her college graduation.

We know college can be overwhelming, especially for first-gen students. In this episode of 'How to College: First-Gen,' join our host Sandra Fernandez and guest Sandra Martinez as they share their self-care tips to help you feel great, recharge, and stay motivated! From taking breaks to connecting with friends, we'll give you lots of ideas and inspiration to maintain your mental health and balance your college life.

In this episode Adnan and Collins talk through the transition from being a college student to a full time working young professional. They discuss things that they learned during this transition and things they wish they knew (what school did not teach them).

In this episode, Shiv chats with Mark Membreno about his family's journey from Nicaragua, his experience as a first gen American, and his passion for tackling affordable housing.

In this episode, Luz chats with Alex (one of our High School interns) about how she has navigated the college process and specifically, how she has prepared and done in her college admissions interviews. College interviews, which are often optional components of the admissions application, are a great way for students to showcase who they are beyond what has been submitted in the college application and can usually only help boost your application.

In this episode, Norma chats with Shiv about his professional sabbatical. They discuss personal choices taken, how they communicated with their coworkers, and the unique hurdles first-gens face both personally and socially when considering to take a break from work.

In this episode Norma chats with first generation college graduate Edgar who shares his journey of being able to leverage mentors, sponsors, and coaches in his educational and professional career. Asking for help is crucial for the first generation journey, but knowing what to ask and from whom is one of the most important aspects of succeeding in this journey.

For many, success after college can be influenced by their professional networks. In this episode, Sandra chats with Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson, about leadership and the importance of formal and informal networks for post-college success. They discuss how networks can be built from friends and family members and how professional networks can open opportunities.

Sandra and Dr. Cantu-Wilson both share personal experiences on the impact of networking on their personal and professional love, how people they met through their networks have helped them along the way, and tips on how to approach making the most of the networks you’re already part of.

Hear from first-generation college graduate, former college athlete, and current Process Engineer, Ryan Angelo. Ryan shares his journey of studying physics at a liberal arts college and the benefits his interdisciplinary education has had on his career development. While some employment opportunities are fully-remote, without an in-person option, this week's episode centers around working remotely for a company that does have an in-person option. Ryan shares his experience of transitioning from in-person work to remote work, and how working from home impacts his professional development and colleague relationships. 

In this episode, Shiv and Adnan discuss their undergraduate journeys breaking the traditional 4 year myth. They walk through their decision process to graduate in 5 years, share what they learned along the way, and provide advice for any first gens facing similar questions.

In this episode Luz chats with Navea about some of the benefits of being part of ERG’s in the workplace, including a sense of community and opportunity to learn leadership skills.

In this episode, Adnan has a chat with Monica Floyd about the UH challenger program, its origins, and how it helps the first-generation student population at UH. They also talk through the first gen student experience and why Monica chose her career path.

In this episode, Sandra chats with Myrna Galan about how her 30-year career in graphic design, how she built her successful business, and the advice she gives up-and-coming designers.

First-generation immigrant and college graduate Maria shares her journey about why and how she learned the importance of financial wellbeing and how she now helps others begin their own journeys towards understanding how to manage their finances.

In this episode, Luz chats with Maria about how and why she became interested in financial literacy and how her relationship with money has changed along the way. As first gens and/or immigrants many of us may not always have the most solid financial education and know-how to make sure we are setting ourselves up for a healthy financial future so it’s key to take a step back and make sure we evaluate where we are in our financial journeys and where to go from there.

Our guest, Angie ponders about the tradeoffs of going back to school after 10 years to finish her degree; she has an honest conversation about the “why” and how she defines success and her north star.

For our 100th episode, Adnan, Amanda, Sandra, and Shiv talk about what they wish they could have told their high school selves about the college application process and their college journeys.

We are excited to introduce our newest co-host, Adnan. In this episode, he will introduce himself and talk about his journey and a valuable life lesson he learned while graduating!

We are excited to introduce our newest co-host, Sandra! In this new episode, she will introduce herself and share a little about her own first-gen college journey.

In this short episode, get to know Amanda as she takes listeners on her journey to, through, and post-college as a first-generation college student. Amanda discusses how the intersection of her experiences and her hometown led her to a passion for community building + engagement. 

In this episode, Shiv invites the Jikaria Sisters to share their experiences becoming social media influencers while managing their individual careers in business, law, and engineering.

In celebration of our second anniversary our hosts Norma, Luz, and Alejandro sat down to chat about the presence their parents have had during their college journeys. They chat about how they were able to involve their parents in this new journey, the challenges they encountered in getting their parents to understand their new lives, and how they navigated wearing different hats at home.

From consulting to entrepreneur, our guest Angela shares her journey finding her purpose, learning about living an authentic life, and how she now helps others realign with their own purpose.

In this episode, Shiv chats with Urvi (Binita) Patel about whether she believes her  journey through law school has been worth it; especially given the significant investment and sacrifice her family took to make this goal possible. Bini has an honest conversation about how she is maximizing her opportunity at law school and her future career aspirations.

In this episode, Norma chats with Alejandro about his journey to, through, and post business school; Alejandro tells an honest narrative about being a first generation college student and his rationale for taking debt for business school.

In this episode, Alejandro chats with Francisco about how he leveraged his skills and experiences as a high school Spanish teacher to break into the tech industry.

In this episode Luz chats with Daniel about what his journey has been like to become a physical therapist, what his job entails, and what his experience was like paying for it.

In this episode, Shiv invites Shukan to share his experiences pursuing undergraduate internships and navigating the full-time job market as he graduated mid-pandemic.

In this episode, Ginny chats with author and financial aid counselor Trae about the financial aid process and FAFSA, including questions like what happens if my financial aid gets denied or can I appeal my financial aid?

In this episode, Alejandro chats with Antoinette about how she drew from her strengths in financial literacy, academia, and career preparation to build her side hustle in college.

In this episode we hear from Angel who reflects on what it meant for him and his family to take on approximately $80,000 of parent plus loans. Angel very thoughtfully discusses how and why he made the decision to transfer out of art school before incurring any more debt. He ultimately answers if it was worth it for him and his family and if he would do it all over again.

In this episode Luz chats with our very own intern Destiny who transferred schools after her first year in college into a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). She tells us about why she made the decision and how the experience at a HBCU compares.

In this episode, Ginny sits down with junior student Tati to discuss her journey transitioning from a two year college to a four year university.  Tati discusses how she felt before and after her transition and whether she would choose the same path again.

In this episode, we delve into the world of health and medicine. Pursuing medicine can feel like a long and nebulous process, especially for first-gen students. In today’s episode, Shiv welcomes current medical student Sanam Bhakta to the show.

In this episode Norma chats with fellow first gen and parent Blanca who reflects on her educational journey and how that led to her life’s mission of helping other parents understand the college journey.

In this episode, Alejandro invites Iman to share her experiences attending a predominantly white institution and how she found spaces where she felt seen. Today’s episode covers a topic that a lot of first-generation students experience - attending a predominantly white institution–commonly known as a PWI. For a lot of people of color, but especially Black people, attending a PWI can feel like a very isolating experience.

In this episode, Ginny sits down with freshman student Kristy to talk about the adjustment for high school and college and how she has changed her study habits from first to second semester.

In this special partnership episode with First Gen Support, guest hosts Itzel and Alex chat with Yeleni about what it was like to prepare a list of colleges to apply to, including considerations to take, recommendations for a thought out list, and challenges that can arise. 

Meet Shiv, one of our new co-hosts. He is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Houston. He shares his story growing up in his family’s motels, understanding his personal/cultural identity, and his continuing journey of self-discovery.

In January many people set goals, but how do we sustain these goals over time so that they become habits? In this episode Norma chats with Lilian who talks about some habits that will help first gens make their journey enjoyable and sustainable post every January.

In this episode, Alejandro chats with Zafar, an HBCU graduate, to discuss his journey to building his career in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and how first-generation students can enter the profession.

In this episode, Ginny sits down with Florida Consortium executive director Michael to discuss how being involved on campus can benefit a student during their college journey. The college experience and getting an education is more than what happens in the classroom.