First Gen 101

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of First Gen 101, Miguel interviews Katie Leiva about career growth, networking, and life after college. Katie shares how her mother’s journey from Cuba shaped her family’s commitment to education. She reflects on changing career path, pivoting into student affairs, and landing her first job at Vanderbilt after attending a professional conference. As a military spo...

Send us Fan Mail Financial Clarity Starts Within: Insights from Samuel Molina In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, Miguel interviews Samuel Molina, founder of the Academy of Financial Education, a nonprofit delivering practical and culturally relevant financial education.  They discuss his first-gen college experience and the key money lessons he learned from his mother. Samuel explains t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, Elizaveta Shafir, founder of Intentional Money, shares how becoming financially independent at 20 pushed her from month-to-month budgeting into long-term planning. She discusses moving from Russia to the U.S. at 27 and learning a new financial system, including how to navigate credit history, 401(k)s, retirement planning, and investing...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 Podcast, host Miguel welcomes Hasmik Vardanyan, a former legal intern at John Jay Legal Services and now a successful law firm owner of the Vardanyan Law Group. Hasmik shares her inspiring journey from moving to the USA at 17, gaining invaluable experience at Pace Law, to eventually opening her own firm. They discuss the importance of internshi...

Send us Fan Mail Miguel welcomes first-gen graduate Eustache Clerveaux to the First Gen 101 podcast to discuss his journey from Haiti to the U.S. Eustache describes working multiple jobs through school, completing an MBA in finance, and spending years trying to break into the industry before starting in life insurance sales and building credentials. Now a partner and private wealth advisor firm, h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, host Miguel sits down with Alex Embree, M.Ed., AFC®, a first-generation college graduate and Program Manager for the Office for Financial Success at the University of Missouri, where she leads a team of Peer Financial Coaches. Alex shares her journey into personal finance and breaks down the essentials every first-gen student should kn...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating Business and Education: The Story of GET 9 Welcome to the First Gen 101 Podcast! In this episode, host Miguel welcomes back Jacquie Carroll to discuss her journey in starting a business. Jacquie, who shared her first-gen story in Season 2, Episode 7, focuses on the business aspects of launching 'GET 9', an educational game designed to improve math skills and r...

Send us Fan Mail Mentorship and Growth: A Lawyer's Journey with Tyler Rutherford In this episode of the First Gen 101 Podcast, host Miguel welcomes Tyler Rutherford, a first-generation lawyer. Tyler shares his journey from a small town in Texas to becoming a corporate lawyer in New York. He discusses his educational background, the challenges of law school, and the importance of building a st...

Send us Fan Mail Overcoming Debt and Building a Future with Edward Disi Join us on the First Gen 101 podcast as we speak with Edward Disi, a Nigerian immigrant and college graduate with over 20 years in the software industry, who now empowers others through financial coaching at CLY Coaching. In this episode, Edward shares his inspiring journey from Nigeria to the US, his career progression in tec...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ New Episode of First Gen 101! In this inspiring episode, host Miguel sits down with Cesar Margarito , a proud first-generation college graduate and advocate for educational equity. Cesar opens up about his journey from his roots as an immigrant from Jalisco, Mexico , to navigating the U.S. education system and launching Fly Socks —a creative venture that funds scholarships for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, host Miguel welcomes guest Jacquie Carroll. Jacquie shares her inspiring journey from being the daughter of immigrants and a restaurant business owner to becoming a doctoral graduate. She dives into the challenges of navigating the education system as a first-generation student, the importance of mentorship, and the skills needed to le...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating College and Career as a First-Generation Student: Sarah Smyth’s Journey In this episode of the First Gen 101 Podcast, we dive deep with Sarah Smyth, a certified social worker and program director for Trio Student Support Services at St. Peter's University. Sarah shares her inspiring journey from being a first-generation college student to becoming a business owner....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, host Miguel Sanchez chats with Nick Moustakas, a recent graduate of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law . They delve into Nick's transformative journey through law school, from initial doubts and challenges to successful bar exam preparation. Nick shares his insights on what sparked his interest in law, the importance of mentorship,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, host Miguel Sanchez is joined by social worker Dashelle Disna. They discuss Dashelle's journey as a first-generation American, her path from high school at Spring Valley to Dominican University, and her transition to social work.  Dashelle shares the impact of extracurricular activities, such as Habitat for Humanity, and the value...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Ever wondered what it's like to navigate law school as a first-gen student? Join us on the latest episode of "First Gen 101" as Jonathan Campozano shares his personal experiences and tips for future law students. Don’t miss it! ⚖️ #LawSchool #FirstGenSuccess In this episode of First Gen 101, host Miguel Sanchez interviews Jonathan Campozano, a practicing immigrat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, Miguel welcomes Richard Mejia, who shares his compelling journey in the field of education. Growing up in Clifton, NJ, Richie faced numerous challenges, both academically and personally. He recounts his high school years, the pivotal moments that shaped his future.  Richie discusses his family's role in motivating him and the turn...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of First Gen 101 , Jessica Tursi, Director of Disability Services and Navigation at Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida , shares how her passion for psychology led her to make impactful changes in her community and how she's paving the way for more inclusive environments.  Jessica discusses overcoming challenges, redefining career paths, and the importanc...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Nia Adams, a first-gen student turned financial mentor. In our latest First Gen 101 episode, Nia openly discusses her path from uncertainty to financial empowerment, offering listeners practical strategies to conquer money challenges and pursue higher education. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to transform their financial habits and gain confidence in their d...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, Miguel interviews Anthony Surrat, founder, CEO, & President of the  National Leadership Society of First Generation College Students (First Gen Society). Anthony shares his personal journey from a lower economic background to becoming a successful academic and professional. They discuss the significance of mentorship, the holistic...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, host Miguel sits down with Joshua Pilgrim, a dedicated school psychologist.  He talks about his decision to study psychology, the initial challenges of college life, and how he navigated career decisions. Joshua also provides insightful advice for first-generation college students with anxiety about college selection and future career...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the First Gen 101 podcast, where first-generation graduates share their stories and career tips. In this episode, host Miguel Sanchez interviews Carlos Orbe Jr., a dynamic first-gen graduate. Carlos discusses his background, the importance of mentorship, and his impactful work with Maryland Latinos Unidos .  Carlos's story is filled with lessons on resilience, adap...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to First Gen 101, the podcast where first-generation graduates share their stories and career tips. In this episode, host Miguel Sanchez interviews John Manna, who shares his fascinating journey from being a performing musician to graduating from law school. John elaborates on his academic interests, the challenges of law school, the importance of networking, and how his p...

Send us Fan Mail Join host Miguel Sanchez on First Gen 101 as he interviews Miguel Lluesma, an inspiring first-generation attorney. In this episode, Miguel Lluesma shares his journey from the pivotal moments that sparked his passion for law to the challenges of law school and his impactful career in social justice. Learn about the profound influence of social events, the rigorous process of prepar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of First Gen 101, host Miguel Sanchez interviews Nelson Rodriguez, a first-generation college graduate. Nelson shares his inspiring journey from a dedicated high school student balancing work and academics to finding mentorship, overcoming financial challenges, and forging a successful career path. Learn valuable advice on navigating college selection, building net...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of First Gen 101, host Miguel Sanchez interviews Laura Valencia Gomez, who shares her inspiring college journey as a first-generation graduate. Laura discusses her experiences from moving to the US from Colombia, adapting to a new culture, navigating the college selection process, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the importance of mentorship. She also touches on h...