First Gen: Inspiring Stories Of MBAs Who Beat The Odds - Poets&Quants

You don’t forget being homeless. You don’t shake the trauma that comes when you don’t know where you’ll sleep or how you’ll eat – especially when you’re just 12 years old. That was Yasmin Serrato-Muñoz’s fate. Before she was a strategy consultant and a Wharton MBA candidate, Serrato-Muñoz lived in a cramped motel room to stave off the homeless shelter. While she’ll always remember the sting of poverty, she’ll also never forget the example that her mother set for her.

“My mother is my biggest inspiration because she embodies scrappiness and perseverance,” Serrato-Muñoz shares. “For months, I witnessed my mother rise at 4 a.m. and work long hours. Every day, she laced up her shoes and did not complain. She always remained positive and inspired me to do well in school in order to make her proud.”

Her mother wanted more than just good grades. Like any parent, she dreamed of her daughter pursuing her passions and reaping the benefits of a good education. That’s why she set the expectation early that Serrato-Muñoz would be the first in her family to go to college. “It was seen as a way out of poverty and a path towards the American dream,” Serrato-Muñoz explains. “Even though I was young, I saw the contrast between people who had an education and those who did not. I decided that if I wanted to help my family, I needed to go to college because it opened doors to opportunities.”

THEIR STORIES PROVIDE A CONVINCING, COUNTER ARGUMENT TO DOUBTERS

The Wharton School’s Yasmin Serrato-Muñoz

Her inspiring story is just one of many in Poets&Quants’ debut look at first generation students. In all, 21 MBA candidates share their life-transforming journeys. Their stories demonstrate the enduring value of higher education to lift people from poverty, to open doors to a different world, to help them live more fulfilled and productive lives. They also provide a convincing, counter argument to the increasing number of doubters who believe that higher education often fails to deliver on its promise.

While there are no guarantees in life, the pursuit of a graduate degree almost always leads to a job where people can do their best work, a place where work becomes a passion and a calling and does not merely lead to greater income potential. And these benefits are especially true when it comes to professional degrees, particularly the most popular graduate degree in America, the MBA.

The first generation students we profile are an amazing group of individuals who’ve earned degrees from schools ranging from Princeton to Texas State. Upon graduation, they went to work for such organizations as JPMorgan, Nike, and the U.S. State Department. It wasn’t an easy path getting there as a first generation student, however. Many didn’t know people who had college degrees, let alone an understanding of how the system works or a means to pay for their education. As a group, they bore the intense pressure to excel – and the burdensome “why me” guilt of leaving so many behind. Some even faced the agonizing choice to either go to school or stay home to support their families. Once they arrived on campus, their world was often far different than what they’d expected. For these students, there was a bruising choice to make: Do I twist myself to fit in with everyone else – or stay true to my identity?

THEIR PARENTS COOKED MEALS, CLEANED HOUSES & FIXED CARS

The secret to their success? More than being brainy and bold, it stemmed from their parents putting them first. Each day, they rolled up their sleeves and performed the jobs most take for take for granted. Their parents are truck drivers, secretaries, bank tellers, construction workers, cashiers, and farm laborers. They are the unsung heroes who cooked our meals, cleaned our houses, fixed our cars, and delivered our packages. They gave up their time, foregoing life’s little luxuries – and even their health –with the hope that their children would someday be ‘pulling the strings’ from the c-suite and beyond.

Serrato-Muñoz wasn’t the only one who endured hardship on the way to business school. Xavier Vargas’ mother “crossed the desert” into the United States as an undocumented worker. Growing up, Vargas watched his mother care for his older brother, whose severe cerebral palsy required him to be “fed, bathed, clothed, and changed” every day for 30 years. While his parents never made it to college, they continuously “promoted the idea” to their son. Sure enough, their prodding paid off as Vargas earned a Gates Millennium Scholarship that enabled him to attend Georgetown University.

Once there, he discovered that higher education wasn’t quite what his parents envisioned. In fact, these new norms often diverged from their values. “Physical proximity for immigrant families means literal survival – to be able to “make it” in this country with those closest to you,” observes the MIT Sloan second year. “As I entered a world where 18 year-olds drove their parents 6-series BMWs to class, I was at a constant clash with my parents as to what our norms should be…To that end, I struggled during my first two years to acclimate to a changing world exposure – all while remaining true to my cultural upbringing. My parents came here to raise a family in America, but now their children were becoming American very fast. This was a scary dissonance for all of us.”

OBLIVIOUS TO WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN ADMISSION DECISIONS

UCLA Anderson’s Denice Gonzalez-Kim

Or consider Jeannette Paulino. Her immigrant parents urged her to “pensar en grande” or “think big.” It was more than cheap talk to them. When her father realized his daughter’s public high school would be inadequate, he moved his family to a district with better schools. Still, there was one area where her parents couldn’t help her. Despite earning straight A’s, playing sports, and leading several clubs in high school, Paulino was oblivious to what really mattered in many admissions decisions.

“I was not aware of all the available resources to prepare for exceling at college standardized testing,” writes the Columbia Business School second-year. “It wasn’t until much later that I learned that private tutoring for SATs and ACTs was a possibility. My parents certainly didn’t know about this. I felt as if I did not have much access to information until my senior year of high school, almost too late in the process.”

The stories of first generation students share many similarities. Their parents treated education – in the words of Michigan Ross’ Justin Long – as a “magic key that would open every door.” They personify the American can-do spirit, ambitious souls who crave “the same opportunities as her non-immigrant, better English-speaking peers,” says Paulino. To borrow from marketing theory, these first generation graduates are the proverbial early adopters, whose achievements often broke barriers and made them role models in their communities.

“My extended family would sometimes say that I thought I was better than them because I went to college,” says UCLA Anderson’s Denice Gonzalez-Kim. “I just tried not to take it personally. Now that I’m older, they respect me a lot because most of my younger cousins went to college after me, and I helped them through the process. I will never forget my uncle telling me that I’ve helped change the trajectory of my extended family. It feels incredible.”

Rice University’s Norma Torres Mendoza has also changed her personal trajectory. In Mexico, Torres Mendoza’s single mom worked three jobs to support her daughter and her parents. “Hungry for a better life,” they eventually escaped to Houston “in the back of an eighteen-wheeler.” Fast forward to now and Torres Mondoza, inspired by her mother’s example, is paying her blessings forward by supporting students through programs like Young Owls Leadership Program, Café College Houston and IDEA Public Schools. She doesn’t plan to stop there, either.

“In the next five years, I have political ambitions to represent Houstonians as we think about creative ways to provide interconnected social solutions that are nuanced in ways that cut across sector lines to expand opportunities,” she says.

HARVARD MBA LIVES UP TO PROMISE SHE MADE TO GRANDFATHER

Harvard Business School’s Ashley Terrell

The virtues of risk-taking, self-sacrifice, and perseverance were also central to the parents of Richard Tam, a first year at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. In fact, this management consultant still marvels at how his high school educated parents were able to navigate so many obstacles after immigrating to the United States.

“They left their home country with barely the clothes on their backs to a land where they didn’t know the language, culture, or geography, with no family to fall back on in search for a better life,” Tan says. “Knowing they were at a major disadvantage, my parents admitted they needed help and sought out resources around them. They were able to learn the English language from scratch, acquire jobs, and become contributing members of society while being able to send three children to college.”

It wasn’t just the parents who made the difference in the lives of these first gen students now streaming into MBA programs. Ashley Terrell grew up in Compton, California, a community she describes as being “plagued by drugs, gangs, and racial violence.” Whereas Terrell found her freedom through education, her maternal grandfather escaped Jim Crow oppression by joining the Air Force, where he gained the technical training to find work in Los Angeles’ burgeoning aerospace industry. While higher education “wasn’t an option” for Terrell’s grandfather, he made his granddaughter promise to go to college – even investing in Hooked on Phonics taps when she struggled with reading.

“He did not live to see me fulfill that promise,” Terrell admits, “but I know he’d be so proud to know that I not only fulfilled it by graduating from Duke, but I exceeded his expectations by graduating from Harvard Business School.”

Go to page 3 for in-depth profiles for over 20 first generation students who are studying in top-ranked business schools this year.

Northwestern Kellogg’s Katie Parks

HOT SUN AND HARD WORK MOTIVATES FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS TO HIT THE BOOKS

Northwestern Kellogg’s Katie Parks is most grateful to her grandmother, who only earned a third grade education while working her family’s farm in rural Poland. “After surviving unimaginable situations in Germany during World War II, she moved to the United States with my grandpa,” Parks says. “Not knowing English, she worked her way up in a factory while also caring for three children. She eventually saved enough to purchase a home in Chicago and later became a US citizen. In my mind, she is the definition of the American Dream. I contribute all of my educational opportunities to the groundwork that my grandma laid for my mom and in turn, me.”

These first generation students were also driven to pursue higher education by their formative experiences in the work world. At 13, U.C.-Berkeley’s Josue Chavarin-Rivas spent his summer working on a farm “in the blistering heat” alongside high school dropouts – a searing memory that reminded him of what awaited if he didn’t attend college. As a high school student, Izaak Mendoza watched helplessly as his father was passed over for promotions, never earning the pay and respect he deserved. From that, Mendoza took a lesson to heart: do something you love – advice that led him to study public policy and eventually enroll at the University of Minnesota’s MBA program.

Justin Long’s rite of passage also came during high school, when he joined his dad on a construction crew. While he found reward in turning an empty space into a dwelling, he also witnessed something else. “My father enjoyed his work, but it was also something he chose because his options after high school were somewhat limited,” writes the Michigan Ross first-year. “Watching his body break down after so many years of tough manual labor was very eye-opening for me. Working with my dad, I realized that pursuing a college degree would create so many more opportunities for me, so I really buckled down in school to make sure I had that option.”

NOTRE DAME PROF RECALLS HIS DAYS AS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT

Notre Dame’s Brad Badertscher

It wasn’t just today’s first generation students whose parents’ hardships made college so attractive. Twenty five years ago, Brad Badertscher was wrestling with the same decisions as his students. Growing up on a farm in southeast Nebraska, he watched the farm crisis unfold. Eventually, it claimed his family’s farm…along with those of many of his relatives. Witnessing the financial and emotional toll from these events instilled a desire to go to college in Badertscher, who is now a professor of accountancy and PwC faculty fellow at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

Like many first generation students, Badertscher also faced institutional obstacles that he couldn’t anticipate. For one, his high school, which had just 35 students in his graduating class, offered little support to college aspirants. For another, he wanted a college where he could excel, noting that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – which had over 30,000 students – would often “eat up” students from smaller communities like his. Eventually, he settled on the University of Nebraska-Kearney, a smaller program that offered the personal attention he would need to finish his degree.

“The hardest thing is getting that sense that you fit in,” Badertscher notes. “You have never done this as a first generation student. You want to feel like you have a seat at the table when you go. As a first year student, you’re just trying to figure out where you belong.”

A HIGH-PAYING JOB…OR A CAREER I’LL LOVE?

Fitting in ranks among the biggest worries for first generation students who plan to pursue college. For Meron Tecle, a first-year at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, there is often a cultural divide that separate first generation students from their peers. “My biggest worry was that I wouldn’t be surrounded by people who could relate to me, or if I could bridge that gap,” he admits. “Understanding “the other side” for lack of a better term became second nature for me because assimilation and understanding were goals my parents instilled. Without a vested interest of where I came from or who I was, would “the other side” be able to relate to me?”

Not surprisingly, finance was another major concern. Harvard’s Ashley Terrell, for one, points out that she didn’t have anyone around her who could answer her questions. “As a first generation college student,” she says, “I couldn’t ask family or friends how to finance my education, how to apply for loans or financial aid, or for advice on a reasonable interest rate for student loans.” At the same time, these first generation students – who often grew up in poverty – struggled with the push-pull between choosing a major with a high payout or one that truly stirred their passions.’

“It took some time to realize that I was the only one in my life setting crazy expectations for how I would use my degree after graduation,” says Kellogg’s Katie Parks. “After taking a step back, I realized that everyone who cared about me would be supportive of whatever path I felt was right, regardless of prestige or salary.”

ASKING FOR HELP MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

University of Toronto’s Meron Tecle

Many first generation students also endured ridicule from classmates for pursuing college. Josue Chavarin-Rivas shrugged off such jabs…until they came from the most unexpected of corners. “When my high school counselor told me that she did not believe that I could succeed at U.C. Berkeley, those words stung,” he concedes. “For several weeks after, I reflected on her comments. These reflections prompted me to worry about proving her correct by failing and not setting a good example for my family. Before going for my undergraduate degree, I concluded that she was wrong and did not understand the strength of my character. I entered U.C. Berkeley determined to succeed. I graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors and a 3.8 GPA.”

The transition to college can be even rockier for first generation students. Wharton’s Yasmin Serrato-Muñoz is a case in point. After graduating at the top of her high school class, she expected to take Georgetown by storm. A year later, she was struggling academically and socially, with a GPA as low as her morale. Eventually, she swallowed her pride and did something that often separates degree-holders from dropouts: she asked for help. Reaching out to potential mentors and tapping into academic resources was the turning point, she says. “Being vulnerable in front of others allowed me to be genuine and to be a leader for others with similar experiences.”

For Jared Garnica, the toughest part of starting college was being unable to ask his parents for help. This sense of isolation was only deepened by how he expected his classmates to react if he came forward. “I had so many questions that I didn’t want to ask fearing I would be identified as someone who was there because of affirmative action instead of merit,” writes the second-year from Indiana Kelley. “I didn’t have anyone in my immediate circle in prestigious careers who I could reach out for help and support. I found it hard to relate to some of my peers since I felt there were so many differences – class, socioeconomic status, race, etc. It was difficult to see so many differences, yet try to assimilate for fear of standing out even more.”

WORKING 80 HOURS TO SUPPORT A FAMILY…AND GOING TO COLLEGE

Time management was another unforeseen issue for these first generation students. Notre Dame’s Stephen Meehan sums it up this way: “[I was] learning to manage my time in a less structured, less supervised situation. I was on my own, 500+ miles from my parents, and had no one telling me that homework was due tomorrow.” Some students slack in such situations. Others, such as Kellogg’s Katie Parks, “overextended themselves, saying ‘yes’ to everything for fear of missing out. She wasn’t alone. Rice’s Norma Torres Mendoza lived on coffee and little sleep while holding two jobs, operating a non-profit, and maintaining a high GPA. Stanford’s Patrick Despres-Gallagher was even hospitalized as a sophomore for physical and mental exhaustion.

In fact, Harvard’s Ashley Terrell believes this sudden freedom – and the wealth of opportunities it brings – is actually more difficult to maneuver though than the heightened academics. “I think the biggest challenge was that you’re learning “college” for the first time and making (often uninformed) decisions by yourself all at once—in terms of academics, life skills away from home, professional skills, networking, career choices, etc. In addition, you also think your choice of major and performance in school will dictate all other future opportunities in life (spoiler alert- it doesn’t!). It wasn’t until I reached out to mentors from scholarship programs and participated in summer internships to explore career opportunities that I really began to feel comfortable and confident throughout my college experience.”

Then there are those swift and devastating events that rock first generation students, who often lack the support network needed to dull the blow. That was true for Duke Fuqua’s Jeffrey Bonsu, who had to step up when his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in college.

“Because I felt obligated to help provide income for my working-class parents, I worked two full-time jobs while enrolled in school and often missed classes because I could not fully dedicate time to my studies,” he explains. Once my father returned to work, I was finally able to assess my decisions. I reduced the hours I worked per week from 80 to 30 and set clear expectations about my academic goals with my family.”

IMPOSTOR SYNDROME…EVEN IN GRADUATE SCHOOL

Now that these first generation students have earned their degrees and proven themselves in the workforce, they must be heading to business school worry-free, right? Not necessarily, says MIT Sloan’s Xavier Vargas, who still feels out of place – even in graduate school. He describes it as “impostor syndrome.” For him, this psychological barrier is all too real.

“I liken it to opening the door to a party that has been going on for generations before you arrived. All the people in the party know each other and received notice for what the dress code is for this party. For some of my classmates, their families have been at this party all along and knew what was expected for them. I am on “house money” – desperately trying to hide my inadequacies in fear of being disinvited to the party after catching a glimpse through the door.”

That isn’t the only disconnect that many first generation students still feel. For Norma Torres Mendoza, there was an “assumption” in her family that college meant that she had “made it.” In reality, says the Rice MBA, she was putting in even more hours. “Instead of working in the Houston heat for 60 hours constructing roads like my uncles, I would be working 70+ hours in an office attempting to solve a problem. I would often remind my family that the education piece would many times economically pay off.”

Go to next page for in-depth profiles for over 20 first generation students who are studying in top-ranked business schools this year.

Columbia Business School’s Jeannette Paulino

PARENTS LEARN COLLEGE IS MORE THAN A JOBS FACTORY

At the same time, many parents assumed that college was strictly an academic exercise. In reality, says Michigan Ross’ Justin Long, it is a journey – one where growth often happens outside the classroom. That can be a difficult concept for the parents of first generation students to grasp, many of whom often view the college experience in terms of careers and income.

“Since my parents did not undergo the American college experience, it was difficult to understand how challenging, competitive, time-consuming, and necessary it all was, says Columbia Business School’s Jeannette Paulino. “Questions that often arose included: Why are you running for leadership positions of student clubs if you’re just there to study? Why do you have to intern abroad in India? Why are you attending football games? Why are you studying so much? What’s the purpose of a “fun” networking event?”

As a result, Josue Chavarin-Rivas urges his first generation peers to make their own choices. “There can be tension between the opportunities you have in front of you and the perspective of your family. Because of the potential long-term payoff that some opportunities present for your career, you sometimes have to move forward without the full approval of your family.”

FEW FALL BACKS FOR FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS

The fear of disapproval can be a powerful force. As a professor, Brad Badertscher can often pick out the first generation students. They tend, in his words, to be more “timid.” That’s one reason why Badertscher relays to these students that they’re just as gifted as anyone else in the class. He also directs them to non-traditional tracks to ensure they’re following their passions and fully utilizing their talents.

“The more experienced students will go after the ‘Google’ opportunities in their field, while the first generations are just happy to be there. They’re more willing to accept a more traditional route when I think they deserve to try the other avenues as well. As a first generation myself, I try to help them navigate their careers so they’re not willing to accept something less than what they could achieve.”

Badertscher also believes first generation students enjoy a distinct advantage in business school over their counterparts. Losing the family farm taught Badertscher to persevere – and that made the challenges he faced later on seem less daunting. The same is true for many of the first generation students he teaches at Notre Dame. “I think they are harder workers than some of the non-first generation students,” he adds. “In my experience, they know what college means in terms of their career. There are fall backs for other students, but there are no fall backs for these students.”

“DON’T LET THIS ‘FIRST’ BE YOUR ONLY ACCOMPLISHMENT”

What other advice do first generation students have for those who follow their footsteps into business school? Borrowing from UCLA Anderson’s “Think fearlessly” pillar, Denice Gonzalez-Kim implores them not to let fear get in the way of their greatness. In contrast, Harvard’s Ashley Terrell warns against complacency: “Don’t let this “first” be your only accomplishment.” Adding to this theme, Columbia’s Jeannette Paulino sounds the alarm against making excuses. “Do not let your circumstances or zip code dictate what you can and cannot accomplish,” she counsels. “Know that anything is possible and within your reach. Dream big.”

Stanford GSB’s Patrick Despres-Gallagher

More than that, adds Wharton’s Yasmin Serrato-Muñoz, ask this simple question: Why not me? “Surround yourself with people who will cheer you on. I regret not pursuing opportunities because I did not think that I was qualified or that I would not fit in with the people. I think that mentality really closed some doors for me.”

Mentoring was also cited by several first generation students as a big boost to their academic and professional performance. “My mentors opened doors for me that I didn’t even know existed,” says Stephanie Jordan, a first-year at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. “Don’t be afraid to seek out others for help or advice. When I was younger, I often didn’t want to reach out because people are busy, and I didn’t want to be a burden. What I realized was that I was honored to help when people called me for advice, and others feel the same way.”

Just be careful in choosing a mentor, notes Stanford’s Patrick Despres-Gallagher. “For many students from non-traditional backgrounds, the natural and immediate mentorship networks are not sufficient. I have been given a lot of unintentionally harmful advice that masquerades as thoughtful perspective, but in reality, is an opinion rooted in a biased interpretation of a narrow set of experiences. Learning to understand underlying incentives and biases is important to filtering bad advice.”

At the same time, Yale SOM’s Giovanni Cruz reminds first generation students to pay forward their good fortune. “It’s better to serve than to be served. Make sure you help others along the way.”

A final piece of advice for first generation students? Izaak Mendoza doesn’t mince words. In the face of setbacks and loneliness, he advises them to “embrace the suck.” “It can feel like the cards are stacked against you, or that you don’t know who to turn to for guidance,” writes the Minnesota Carlson MBA candidate. “But learning how to adapt to situations, and figuring out how to respond to things instead of merely react gives you the life skills and the grit to manage anything that comes your way.”

Xavier Vargas has a different take. “Keep plugging,” says the MIT Sloan second-year. “The misfit feeling never quite goes away, but your toolkit and horizons expand. Pay it forward – we each are testament that it takes a literal village and a whole lot of luck. Try to push through fears of what is “expected” and “safe” versus what you may enjoy doing. You may not be able to chase your passions 100%. If you can get to 50-75%, you’ve already more than accomplished what your parents struggled through the hot desert for. It gets easier.”

Which first generation student performed at the Super Bowl 52 halftime show? Who declined to hire a job candidate who later became her husband? Who win a trip to Barbados on a national game show? Find these answers, along with in-depth answers on why these students are pursuing MBAs and what they plan to do after graduation in over 20 in-depth profiles of these amazing first generation students.

Student	School	Hometown	Alma Mater	Last Employer
Josue Chavarin-Rivas	U.C. Berkeley (Haas)	Salinas, California	University of California-Berkeley	The California Endowment
Denice Gonzalez-Kim	UCLA (Anderson)	Los Angeles, CA	UCLA	Ernst & Young
Benjamin Strickhouser	Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)	Biglerville, PA	U.S. Merchant Marine Academy	U.S. Navy
Sean Roling	University of Chicago (Booth)	Clinton, IA	U.S. Military Academy	U.S. Army
Jeannette Paulino	Columbia Business School	Miami, FL	University of Florida	Nathan Associates Inc.
Stephanie Jordan	Cornell University (Johnson)	Moorestown, NJ	Princeton University	Beacon Accountancy and Business Services
Linda Horner	Dartmouth College (Tuck)	Kampala, Uganda	The Master’s University	Aetna
Jeffrey Bonsu	Duke University (Fuqua)	Dallas, TX	Texas State University	J.P. Morgan
Ashley Terrell	Harvard Business School	Compton, CA	Duke University	EY Parthenon
Jared Garnica	Indiana University (Kelley)	Chicago, IL	Brigham Young University	Lighthouse Academies
Justin Long	University of Michigan (Ross)	Yuba City, CA	University of North Carolina	Nike
Izaak Mendoza	University of Minnesota (Carlson)	Cheyenne, WY	University of Wyoming	U.S. State Department
Xavier Vargas	MIT (Sloan)	Los Angeles, CA	University of Southern California	Wells Fargo
Richard Tam	North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)	Rosemead, CA	University of California-Berkeley	Navigant Consulting, Inc.
Katie Parks	Northwestern University (Kellogg)	Chicago, IL	Northwestern University	Stephanie Izard Inc.
Stephen Meehan	Notre Dame (Mendoza)	Philadelphia, PA	Notre Dame	Beneficial Bank
Norma Torres Mendoza	Rice University (Jones)	Queretaro, Mexico	Rice University	IDEA Public Schools
Patrick Despres-Gallagher	Stanford GSB	East Templeton, MA	Johns Hopkins University	Deloitte Digital
Meron Tecle	University of Toronto (Rotman)	Toronto, Canada	Laurentian University	Electro-Meters Company LTD.
Yasmin Serrato-Muñoz	Wharton School	Orlando, FL	Georgetown University	Accenture Federal Services
Giovanni Cruz	Yale SOM	Carolina, Puerto Rico	University of Puerto Rico	Teach for America

Josue Chavarin-Rivas

University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business

Class: 2019

Hometown: Salinas, California

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I once participated in a nationally televised interview with the news station Univision. I also have an award-winning basset hound name Jefe.

Undergraduate School and Major: Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: The California Endowment, Program Associate

What did your parents do for a living? My father worked in farm labor. My mother was a homemaker.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? Trade school

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My father is my biggest inspiration. With his salary alone, he managed to financially maintain our seven-member household. With his perseverance and consistency, he set an example for my siblings and me. He never took a day off, he never complained. He would set goals, disregard negativity, and work hard until he accomplished his objectives. All of my siblings and I have followed this same example. We all set high aspirational goals for college. We all persevered and went on to universities (three of us to U.C. Berkeley).

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? When I was thirteen, I spent a summer working as a farm laborer. I worked alongside grown men and teenage high school drop outs in the blistering heat. After this experience, I realized that there was not much else to aspire to if I did not go on to college. At this point, I realized that if I wanted to drastically improve my life, I needed to go to a university. With this realization in mind, I entered high school with only one objective: perform exceptionally well academically in order to be competitive for scholarships to attend a university. For the next four years, I worked diligently in my high school and concurrently took college level courses in my local community college. My efforts were eventually rewarded with admission and scholarships to attend U.C. Berkeley’s undergraduate degree program.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? Throughout my journey to college, I often interacted with people who tried to discourage me from applying to college and attending. I would largely disregard these comments. However, when my high school counselor told me that she did not believe that I could succeed at U.C. Berkeley, those words stung. For several weeks after, I reflected on her comments. These reflections prompted me to worry about proving her correct by failing and not setting a good example for my family.

Before going for my undergraduate degree, I concluded that she was wrong and did not understand the strength of my character. I entered U.C. Berkeley determined to succeed. I graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors and a 3.8 GPA.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? Like many first-generation college students, I entered U.C. Berkeley lacking the social, cultural, or economic capital to succeed. I believe that the most challenging part of getting my undergraduate degree was not having someone from my background to guide me through the academic experience. To accomplish my goals, I often had to engage in a lot of trial-and-error to navigate the university’s bureaucracy, develop my own study strategies, and seek out mentors along the way.

Thankfully, my efforts were also aided by the resources and networking opportunities I was offered as an undergraduate at U.C. Berkeley like Summer Bridge, a college immersion program for incoming freshman, the Incentive Awards Program, a merit based scholarship to attend U.C. Berkeley, and the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship, a graduate school prep program for students interested in government and non-profit policy work.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you
wish they would understand better? My parents do not speak English. As an undergraduate student, it was often difficult to relate the experiences and opportunities that I had to their daily lives. For instance, as a freshman in college, I participated in a public policy and social impact program at Harvard. I struggled to communicate to my parents the reasons why I was traveling to Boston to learn more about public policy and what the program content was going to be.

Several years after receiving my undergraduate degree, I was admitted to the Fulbright Scholars program to conduct work in Brazil for one year. When I shared the news of this opportunity with my parents, I was encouraged to turn down this opportunity because, from their perspective, I was giving up a well-paying career to work for next to nothing in a distant country.

Perhaps this is more reflective of my struggles, but the reality is that for many first-generation college students, there can be tension between the opportunities you have in front of you and the perspective of your family. Because of the potential long-term payoff that some opportunities present for your career, you sometimes have to move forward without the full approval of your family.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? Having spent the majority of my career working to benefit marginalized communities through government and non-profit work, I realized that an MBA would provide me with the technical expertise to comprehensively evaluate budgets and to manage complex teams. I believe that these two components are among many that are critical for successfully effectuating change.

How did you choose your MBA program? I chose to apply and attend Haas because I saw clear alignment between my commitment to social change and Haas’s demonstrated commitment to social impact through their Institute for Business and Social Impact. Through the resources available in this institute, I have been able to further refine my technical knowledge of topics like accounting, finance, and statistics in the context of accomplishing positive large-scale social change.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? My lack of familiarity with the MBA application process and my non-traditional background, made me concerned that my prior work experience in government and non-profit work would not resonate with MBA admissions staff reading my applications. This was certainly the case for some of the MBA programs that I applied to. For others, my background was well received.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? I financed my MBA primarily through scholarships and part-time employment.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? My advice to other first-generation college students would be to aspire to become your own biggest advocate and an advocate for people like you. Whether you are a high school student or an aspiring MBA student, there are always circumstances that can derail you from accomplishing your goals.

Often times, people with parents and family members who went to college have the social connections, resources, and advocates to help them reach their goals. You likely do not have this luxury. You have to seek out individuals often outside of your immediate family who are invested in your development and advocate for them to play these roles.

Also, regardless of your current situation, it is your responsibility to work and advocate for other first-generation college students to also gain the opportunity to succeed. I myself am the benefactor of the Galloway Fellowship, a fellowship created by Scott Galloway, a first-generation immigrant who attended Haas, and wants to assist incoming first-generation immigrants in the MBA program.

It is also important to note that your contributions to other first- generation college students do not have to be financial. I most recently illustrated this advice in my MBA program when I worked to benefit other first-generation college students through the student-led Racial Inclusion Initiative. I conducted research about my program’s admissions practices and specifically recommended to admissions staff that they include socioeconomic status in their admissions application.

I followed this work up by co-leading a successful effort between MBA students and staff to change Haas’s admissions policies to now include socioeconomic circumstances in their general application. Haas is the first top MBA program in the country to do this. I advocated for this change on behalf of the first-generation college students that will come to Haas after me because I believe that one’s ability to overcome significant socioeconomic hardships should be viewed favorably as a predictor of future success in MBA programs.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I plan to use the skills that I have learned to address health in underserved communities through a variety of positions. Ideally, I would like to head a non-profit organization or foundation and potentially engage in policymaking and collaborations for social good with corporations.

Denice Gonzalez-Kim

UCLA, Anderson School of Management

Class: 2019

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: My husband is Korean-American, hence the hyphenated last name “Kim.” People always laugh when they find out that we met when I interviewed him for a nonprofit volunteer role—and voted not to hire him! Fortunately, my Executive Director loved his good nature and overruled me. I definitely owe her one.

Undergraduate School and Major: UCLA, Global Studies and Public Affairs

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: EY, Summer Associate

What did your parents do for a living? My mother was a seamstress and my father was a clothing delivery driver.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? My mother went up to 9th grade while in Mexico. My father studied up to the 6th grade in Mexico then completed 7th-8th in Los Angeles.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My parents are my biggest inspiration because they are hard-working, humble, and incredibly loving. My mother always taught me to reach for the stars and that I could be anything I want in life. She instilled in me never-ending hope for my future and made sure I never had a victim mentality. My father also taught me that I could be anything I want, but that I would have to work harder than anyone else to do it. Their combined advice has allowed me to be strong and confident while remembering that I always have to work hard and earn my stripes.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? I remember sitting next to my mom one night in a factory when I was about five years old. She always worked nonstop; that day she had been working hunched over a sewing machine for hours on end, and I could tell she was tired and sad. At one point she stopped, turned to me, and said, “Daughter, you need to work hard and get a good education so you can have a better future.” This memory still brings tears to my eyes. I decided I wanted to pursue a higher education for myself, but more than anything I wanted to help my parents and make them proud.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I was more excited than worried, because UCLA was a dream school and it was exhilarating to be the first to go to college. I didn’t think about the impending challenges then because I didn’t know to expect any. I was definitely naïve, but I’m glad in retrospect because worrying would have been a waste of time.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? The psychological challenges of being a first-generation student were what affected me most. I was fighting the challenges of financial instability and not knowing what I didn’t know, while always feeling out of place, like I didn’t belong. Since undergrad, I’ve realized that these fears of not belonging are usually self-imposed, but it’s hard to overcome impostor syndrome in the moment.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? My parents worried about my health in high school because I would often stay up studying for several days in a row to understand my AP Calculus or another challenging class. Fortunately, they did understand that the hard work was necessary for me to succeed. Then once I was in college, my mom struggled to understand why I couldn’t visit her every weekend—though I think most moms feel that way when their child goes off to college!

Also, my extended family would sometimes say that I thought I was better than them because I went to college. I just tried not to take it personally. Now that I’m older, they respect me a lot because most of my younger cousins went to college after me, and I helped them through the process. I will never forget my uncle telling me that I’ve helped change the trajectory of my extended family. It feels incredible.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? A few years ago, I was mentoring high school students around South LA and teaching them about the importance of financial literacy and college preparation. They asked a lot of questions about my own goals, and that challenged me to think more about my future and what I was doing for myself. Really, they were my inspiration to pursue an MBA.

How did you choose your MBA program? There were many factors that led me to decide to attend Anderson. Mainly, I wanted a program with a reputable global brand and smart but humble students—plus I couldn’t do snow! Anderson lived up to all this and more.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? My biggest worry other than the financial risk was the concern that my impostor syndrome would come back. It was challenging during my first quarter, but my classmates are so humble and nice that I was able to quickly self-correct. It also helps that I’ve grown a lot since college, so I know more about life and my self-worth.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? I am financing 95% of my MBA through private loans.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? “Think fearlessly” is a pillar we have at Anderson that really resonates with me. This is the advice that I would give to other first-generation college students. Don’t let fear get in the way of your greatness.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I plan to pursue a career in consulting post-MBA. I also want to stay involved in nonprofit boards and my Anderson community, especially around the topic of diversity and inclusion.

Benjamin Strickhouser

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

Class: 2019

Hometown: Biglerville, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have SCUBA dived on ship wrecks from World War I and World War II simultaneously in Guam.

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Merchant Marine Academy – Logistics and Intermodal Transportation

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Navy – Operations Security Officer

What did your parents do for a living? Father – Feed Mill Supervisor, Mother – Nurse

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? Father – High School, Mother – Associates Degree

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My sister. She had her family first and then went back for her associates degree while having young children. I knew that if she could do it with so many obstacles, I could succeed in higher education as well.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? There was no one real moment. My family always assumed that I would go to college, although we couldn’t plan for it much financially. This had a lot to do with my decision to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where I could attend college at a very low cost in exchange for service in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? If I had been properly prepared in high school for the academic rigor of a military academy.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? It was a combination of an extremely rigorous academic program and a strict military regimen. It’s hard enough taking 21 credits in a trimester as a freshman. It’s even harder when you must get up at 6 a.m. every day and clean the barracks.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? There were never any issues with understanding. If I had to reach, I would say that they could understand better that every course has a purpose, even if they think it’s silly.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I had been working in fairly tactical roles since undergrad. I wanted to put myself in a position to be able to affect organizational change and strategy rather than just carrying out someone else’s plans.

How did you choose your MBA program?While I earned a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, I felt that I still had a lot to learn about the quantitative aspects of business. It’s well known that Tepper has an excellent MBA program, and one of the best when it comes to quant and analytics. I felt that it would be a great complement to the front-line leadership experience I already had and help round me out professionally.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? While I chose Tepper because of its quantitative rigor, it was also a bit frightening. It had been almost a decade since I had done college-level math.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? Graduating from undergrad without debt had a lot to do with being able to go back for my MBA and be comfortable with the expense. I started saving money as soon as I started working after undergrad when I knew my expenses would be low. I also ended up volunteering for some active duty time through the Navy Reserve and am fortunate enough to be partially eligible for the GI Bill. Lastly, Tepper was generous enough to offer me a merit scholarship.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Don’t be discouraged or worried about being first-generation. There is significant value placed on those with diverse and interesting perspectives, both in education and the workforce. Being the first person in your family to go to college is certainly something that gives you a unique perspective compared to your peers who aren’t in this situation.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I am hoping my past leadership and operations experience, coupled with what I’m learning from Tepper in the concentrations of technology, finance, marketing, and strategy, will allow me to pursue a career where I can make meaningful strategic decisions.

Sean Roling

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Class: 2020

Hometown: Clinton, Iowa

Fun Fact About Yourself: I met my wife of nine years when she was unluckily sent as a foreign exchange student from her small town in Tlaxcala, Mexico to my small Iowa high school. We recently welcomed a baby boy, not long after I was accepted to business school – it’s been quite a year!

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy at West Point; B.S. Spanish and French

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: United States Army, Captain

What did your parents do for a living? My father is a self-employed semi-truck owner and operator, formerly contracted to a major moving company for 20 years, now to an enclosed-trailer car hauling company. My mother was a stay-at-home mom for my childhood; she has travelled with my father since my brother and I graduated high school.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father? High school diploma

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? Without a doubt, my father is my biggest inspiration. Merely striving to emulate his faith, work ethic, and selflessness has served to guide my career path thus far. Though his occupation meant regular periods away from the house during my childhood, he superhumanly crammed in invaluable interactions with my twin brother and I during his time at home, while managing to fix, build, or recreate just about anything that one could imagine.

He inspired intellectual curiosity by appreciating the uniqueness of a rock or a tree while on a hike with us, analyzing the craftsmanship of anything he thought well-built, and by daringly undertaking everything from car repair, to plumbing, to masonry, to myriad uncharacterizable tasks that required determined trial-and-error. The respect and gratitude of others toward him have served to inform my understanding of success more eloquently than any formal lessons. He and my mother instilled in my brother and me the value of hard work and honesty – embodying the maxim “If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right” – while offering unwavering support and encouragement to ensure that we both strove to realize whatever ambitions we might have.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? Honestly, I could not identify any one moment that led me to pursue higher education. I was lucky to be raised – both at home and at school – in an environment that not only valued learning, but which made me aware of and fortunate for the opportunities that lie ahead – should I choose to take advantage of them. While I never felt pressure to pursue a college degree, I was certainly encouraged to set goals and to strive to discover my full potential. Personally, the attacks of September 11, 2001 echoed in my mind throughout the remainder of high school and motivated me to pursue a military career, eventually leading to my application to West Point.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? My biggest worry before my arrival to West Point was that I would not be able to pass the rigorous military, physical, and academic requirements. With no prior military experience and minimal interaction with members of the military before arriving, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? The requirements on West Point cadets are pretty significant. I probably averaged less than 5 hours of sleep on weeknights during my first couple of years there, though largely because I found myself genuinely interested in too many subjects and couldn’t stop reading and investigating more.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? While the experiences of entering the military and attending college (in my case, a simultaneous undertaking) were unfamiliar to my family, I think they would be most surprised by my opinion that they prepared me well. A sense of personal responsibility and a desire to seek out challenges instead of evading them was more valuable than any academic preparation. Additionally, I think my mindset has changed significantly from when I left home to enter college – something they may or may not have noticed. Specifically, I find myself much less certain of the way things should be done (perhaps I didn’t learn what I was supposed to as a cadet…) and more critical of the information I take in.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I would not characterize myself as either business-savvy or particularly strong at math. Therefore, when considering graduate school, I prioritized quantitatively demanding MBA programs. I want to use the opportunity to address this perceived gap in my personal skillset and refine my understanding of global issues shaped by the decisions of private enterprise, markets, and human incentives. I hope to gain increased fluency in the activity of the private-sector and its interaction with the public sector, and to compare methodologies for analysis, problem solving, and management that I have refined during my military career with those experienced by my classmates. For the long term, I hope to acquire additional tools to be a more effective senior Army leader and to seek opportunities to empower private-sector solutions to social issues about which I am passionate.

How did you choose your MBA program? When looking at MBA programs, I needed one that was flexible enough to allow me to focus on academic expectations of the Army, as well as one that was willing to work within the constraints that the Army has established for active-duty students. Furthermore, I sought an institution that had a reputation for thorough analysis, encouragement of inquiry, and world-class faculty. Finally, I hoped to take the opportunity to be near my family in the Midwest after years of being stationed away from home and deployed overseas. Chicago-Booth not only met these criteria, but more than exceeded my expectations for professionalism during the application process and in their welcoming support to incoming students.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? Just as when I was preparing to begin a new adventure as an undergraduate, I once again find myself excitedly facing the unknown. I have never been a civilian college student… nor worked in a non-government civilian environment since high school. I think that my biggest challenge will be balancing study with the new baby and everything there is to do in Chicago!

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? I was extremely lucky to have been accepted into the Army’s Advanced Civil Schooling program, which sends active-duty Army officers to civilian graduate schools to pursue advanced degrees for specific follow-on assignments. Booth generously worked with me to provide a scholarship that allowed me to meet the tuition constraints necessary to the Army program.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Value the life experience of the generations before you – non-academic lessons may prepare you better for success in college than you would expect. While going to college can set you apart, it should not be an end state but a catalyst for reaching your full potential; take advantage of the opportunity to be inquisitive and challenge assumptions!

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I will remain on active duty and return to West Point as an instructor. I hope to positively influence the next generation of leaders by fostering critical thinking and encouraging informed decision-making through skills refined at Booth. Then, as a field grade officer in the Army, I hope to address operational and strategic issues faced by a military ever more affected by global markets and private incentives.

Jeannette Paulino

Columbia Business School

Class: 2019

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Fun Fact About Yourself: I learned how to kitesurf in the Red Sea in Egypt during a holiday weekend on a work trip.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Florida, Political Science with a concentration in International Relations

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

MBA Summer Internship: Inspiring Capital, Social Impact Consultant
Prior to MBA: Nathan Associates Inc., Associate (International Economic Development Consulting)

What did your parents do for a living? My dad has worked in the travel and hospitality industry. For over 25 years, has owned a small travel agency in Hialeah, Florida. My mother has worked in administration all her life in multiple industries including construction, health, and retail.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father? My father has a high school degree and my mother attained a secretarial diploma from a vocational technical school.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? It is difficult to choose just one because, I believe I have benefitted tremendously from every relative that has been an integral part of my life. Nonetheless, I believe that living with my father in my formative teenage years taught me principles that I carry with me today.

As a dedicated father to my brother and I, he not only worked hard to provide us with many privileges like moving to a district in suburban Miami-Dade County to be able to access a better public-school system, but he also made time for us to ensure we were raised in a harmonious loving environment. To him, I owe my intrinsic compassion and kindness towards the world and humanity. His entrepreneurial persistent spirit with managing his travel agency taught me to never give up. In an era when traditional ways of doing business is transitioning to online services, my dad has managed to maintain and scale his travel agency as a result of his unyielding attention to providing high quality customer service. His clients treasure his advice and trust his management of business operations. I have also observed my dad’s implementation of innovative revenue-generating strategies.  While some have failed, his optimism and perseverance kept him going. Having this exemplar businessman, as a father, keeps me going. His creative way of thinking, his positivity, and his self-confidence has helped me navigate tough times and empowered me to achieve my vision of a successful future.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? Going to college was always part of the conversation at home. My immigrant working class parents always encouraged my brother and I to “pensar en grande” or “think big.” At a young age, I became thirsty for knowledge. My mom wanted me to have opportunities she didn’t have growing up, and ever since she helped me learn vocabulary words at a higher level, I knew that becoming a good student was aligned with a higher purpose. As I became enamored by the possibilities of becoming a doctor, a lawyer, or a diplomat, I quickly learned that no matter what dream I pursued, it would require a college degree and possibly additional years of studying. However, I despondently became aware how much a zip code can affect one’s chances at success. When I was supposed to go to my designated public high school that was assigned an “F” grade, I not only worried that my growth potential would be limited to the quality of education I received, but I also worried that eventually colleges wouldn’t even glance through my application when it would be time to apply. So, I pleaded to my father to move to a better district. After he spoke with several members of my middle school faculty, he learned the gravity of the situation. My father found a new home that he could afford in the district with a better public high school.

While in high school, when I had the choice to decide which classes to take, I understood that in order to get into college – especially a highly respected institution – I needed to be a well-rounded stellar student. I constantly had to explain to my immigrant parents why it was so important to balance my time between academics, sports, and extracurricular activities. They often didn’t understand the stress, effort, and time that came with taking AP courses, becoming a varsity cheerleader, and being involved in student clubs. I justified that all the effort – the all-nighters, the exhausting practices, and the never-ending hours of studying – would serve to guarantee my mobility up the ladder of academic success. It was certainly my hope.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? Paying for tuition was my biggest concern because I could not rely on my low-income parents. I didn’t even think of asking if they could spare any funding. The guilt of imposing this burden upon them was not an endeavor I could ever imagine. Therefore, I spent the second half of my senior year in high school incessantly and desperately applying to FAFSA and private scholarships. I did not know that taking out federal or private loans was even an option. I didn’t talk to anyone about this. I didn’t know I could.

I received several acceptance letters from in-state and out-of-state colleges. In the end, I decided to take advantage of Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship program, which offers scholarship awards based on GPA and SAT scores. This generous financial assistance relived anxieties and concerns for my family. This opportunity allowed me to pursue a career in international economic development, an industry I knew would not offer salaries of the same competitive level as other industries. Without the financial encumbrance that many college graduates experience, I was able to move to Washington D.C., without the concern of a burdensome monthly loan repayment bill on top of other expenses, and pursue my dream job.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? The most challenging part was understanding what it takes to apply to college. Sure, I had taken the hardest courses offered in my high school and gotten straight A’s; I was an athlete and a contributing writer to my school newspaper; I assumed leadership positions in several student clubs; and I had volunteered over 100 hours outside of school. But I questioned whether that was enough to “make it.” Besides taking Pre-SATs in my junior year, I was not aware of all the available resources to prepare for exceling at college standardized testing. It wasn’t until much later that I learned that private tutoring for SATs and ACTs was a possibility. My parents certainly didn’t know about this. I felt as if I did not have much access to information until my senior year of high school, almost too late in the process.

I also worried about my chances of being accepted into top colleges including Ivy League schools. Attending a 94% Hispanic high school and growing up in a Latino-dominated community, I wondered if we had access to the same opportunities and the same visibility in college applications as other Americans. I am, therefore, thankful for my AP course teachers, who encouraged me to apply to my dream schools and who graciously guided me in the months leading to the college deadlines. I am thankful to the one career guidance counselor, who was responsible for guiding approximately 800 senior students in pursuit of a higher education.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? Most non-first-generation students, whose parents attended college, have the esoteric knowledge and possibly the safety net to support their higher education path. This is not so much the case with first-generation college students. Most of us have to find and define our own path through pieces of information that we discover through instructors and peers along the way. Since my parents did not undergo the American college experience, it was difficult to understand how challenging, competitive, time-consuming, and necessary it all was. Questions that often arose included: Why are you running for leadership positions of student clubs if you’re just there to study? Why do you have to intern abroad in India? Why are you attending football games? Why are you studying so much? What’s the purpose of a “fun” networking event?

When I announced that I was going to pursue a graduate degree program, again, some family members (particularly my mother) questioned my reasons for going back to school. Some could not understand why a master’s degree in a well-known top institution was required for a particular career path. Any graduate institution sufficed in their mind. Some thought it would it be a waste of time and money. But I had bigger dreams in mind. Unfortunately, it was the more expensive, arduous kind: pursuing an MBA degree.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? Prior to business school, I worked for an international economic consulting firm, managing development projects overseas for over five years. My pursuit of business school embodies a vision to initiate change towards constructing effective business-minded solutions to pressing global issues. I believe that an MBA degree will empower me with the skills and network I need to equip governments, organizations, and individuals with the tools and resources required to achieve growth and economic advancement.

How did you choose your MBA program? Initially, I thought about continuing to work full-time in Washington D.C. and pursuing a part-time MBA program in the evenings. However, a part of me yearned to relive the full-time student experience and gain from the benefits of a two-year program. I applied to several schools within and outside the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. And when it came down to making a decision, “making it” to a top 10 business school and an Ivy League was such an important feat for me to accomplish as a first-generation Hispanic-American. I felt like I owed it to my immigrant hard-working parents. I owed it to the little ambitious Jeannette who wanted so much to have the same opportunities as her non-immigrant, better English-speaking peers. I owed it to the millions of Hispanics in this country looking for a chance, an opportunity for a better life.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? Unquestionably, finances again. Accepting my offer to Columbia Business School was a decision that caused much anxiety. My parents still could not assist me in funding this expensive endeavor. My savings up to that point were not sufficient enough to even reduce 1% of the tuition fee. Forgoing my D.C. salary and pursuing a full-time program at a top business school in a more expensive city seemed overwhelmingly daunting. I, therefore, dedicated months before school started to applying to private scholarships and learning as much as possible about the different options around financing this costly yet valuable degree.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? I am grateful to Columbia Business School for offering me a generous scholarship package. This was a deciding factor between staying in Washington D.C. or moving to New York City. I am covering the rest of tuition, living expenses, fees, and books through substantial federal loans. I am hoping that the compensation package of my post-MBA job will help me repay my loans in an efficient and timely manner.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Do not let your circumstances or zip code dictate what you can and cannot accomplish. The academic and professional vision that you hold dear in your heart is possible with perseverance, discipline, and some assistance. There are people outside of your immediate circle who are willing to help, but you cannot be afraid to ask. Seek out information and resources. Ask a lot of questions. Know that anything is possible and within your reach. Dream big.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I aspire to work for a global management consulting firm where I can leverage my international economic development background and my MBA degree.

Stephanie Jordan

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University

Class: 2020

Hometown: Moorestown, New Jersey

Fun Fact About Yourself: I won the Straightest Drive award at a golf tournament in Southern California. My team and I were shocked because I had one of the shortest drives at the event and likely one of the highest handicaps.

Undergraduate School and Major: Princeton University, Bachelor of Arts in Politics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Director of Planning and Business Development, Beacon Accountancy and Business Services

What did your parents do for a living? My father is a realtor; my mother is his assistant.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? My parents both graduated from high school.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My father was the oldest of eight (with two sets of twins!) with a Greek immigrant mother. His father died of a heart attack when he was only 10 years old. Despite these hurdles, my father helped his mother raise the family and eventually established a great career. He is hard-working and a great negotiator, and also loves playing in a rock band. My father taught me a lot about balance in life and being grateful.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? My parents always encouraged me to apply to college because they wanted me to have access to as many different opportunities as possible. Also, I was intellectually curious and craved that collegiate academic experience. Together, we really pushed for that dream, and my parents were the most incredible support system.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? The most amazing aspect of my undergraduate experience was the people – and I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to keep up.  Regardless, even among some of the most talented and intelligent people I’ve ever met, everyone supported each other.  We shared notes, job interview tips, studied together, and helped edit papers.  That sort of giving, learning environment is really important to me, and I actively try to help create it and seek it out in all spheres of my life.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? There were so many opportunities, classes, and activities that I always felt I was missing out on something.  I was constantly assessing the need to be deliberate and follow my passions versus taking a chance and trying something new. It was difficult to achieve a balance where I felt I could deeply study something, but also be exposed to the breadth of a liberal arts education.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I had reached a point in my career where I had begun thinking, “What’s next?” That urge to keep learning and growing propelled me to research new educational opportunities. The MBA is an incredible opportunity to receive the formal technical financial training, leadership development, and business acumen necessary to be a better financial advisor.

How did you choose your MBA program? It was all about fit. When I started visiting prospective schools, I was blown away by my visit to Cornell. First and second years were already offering advice and sharing contacts and the school administration welcomed us with open arms and smiles (despite the unconventional snow storm in April!). I felt instantly that Cornell was a place with an earnestly supportive environment. A lot of programs spoke to their community, but I really witnessed it in action at Johnson.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? I felt the clock start ticking as soon as I received my acceptance to business school.  I spoke with alumni who advised me to take advantage of every opportunity in the program, and I’m determined to make the most of my time while recognizing how quickly those two years will pass.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? Johnson has generously named me as a Forté Fellow, which in addition to the scholarship, also assists women in their efforts to pursue the best graduate management education possible.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Mentorship is one of the most powerful relationships. My mentors opened doors for me that I didn’t even know existed. Don’t be afraid to seek out others for help or advice. When I was younger, I often didn’t want to reach out because people are busy, and I didn’t want to be a burden. What I realized was that I was honored to help when people called me for advice, and others feel the same way. Just remember that mentorship is a two-way street.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? It’s important to have a career that constantly challenges me to learn, think more creatively, and grow, but also one that centers on helping people. Financial advisory represents a significant challenge – using knowledge and experience in complex and specific scenarios in true partnership with clients to help them meet their goals. Finding the right corporate environment fit to provide comprehensive financial planning will be my focus as I start the MBA program.

Linda Horner

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College

Class: 2020

Hometown: Kampala, Uganda

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have fallen so in love with Spanish Reggaeton that my YouTube ads all play in Spanish now. This would be fine, except that I don’t currently speak Spanish. I am ambitiously adding that to my to-do list during the two years of business school.

Undergraduate School and Major: The Master’s University; BS in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Audit Project Manager for Delegation Agreements at Aetna

What did your parents do for a living? My father was an army officer in the Uganda People’s Defense Forces, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father? Both my parents graduated high school.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My mother.

Growing up, my father was not around because he was fighting the war in Northern Uganda. This was very challenging for my mother, especially because we often would not hear from my father for months at a time. I remember her strength, playing the role of a mother and a father, making sure we never worried about anything. Not only did she raise us, but she also raised my cousins during a financially and emotionally difficult time. When she helped people, my mother made sure that she also empowered them to better their lives.

She would say, “akwenda amate nomuha ente,” which means “if someone asks you for milk, give them a cow.” She made sure we attended the best schools, which was challenging. I remember her spending countless hours in my grade school’s finance office asking for a tuition extension.

Now that I too am a mother, I want to be that kind of role model to my children. I want my sons, Peter and Michael, to see me as a woman who empowers individuals to become the best versions of themselves.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? From the time I was a child, my parents encouraged my siblings and me to pursue higher education so that we could achieve what they desired but did not accomplish. I cannot recall a specific moment in which I decided to pursue higher education. It was an expectation that I always embraced.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I was worried that it might be difficult to go to college while adapting to American culture. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I adapted because I was in a very supportive small community.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? Because it was costly (international students do not get student loans), I worked hard to complete my undergraduate degree in three years, while also working. I took more than the average course load, which meant going on lots of “homework dates” with my boyfriend (now husband) and surviving with very little sleep.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? My family has always been very supportive of me pursuing higher education. While I do not think they understand every aspect of my experience, they always lend a listening ear. I have thrived on their wisdom and encouragement.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I had always wanted to pursue further education, but the death of my cousin in Uganda made it more urgent. My cousin had been sick for a while. What had begun as a seemingly small pain in his foot grew to prevent him from standing, walking, or even performing the simplest of tasks. I sometimes wonder if it was ALS, but he died undiagnosed. Losing him and other loved ones reminded me of how bad the healthcare sector is back in Uganda. One day, I plan to take the sustainable business insights learned from my MBA education to help already established organizations utilize intelligent affordable solutions to improve healthcare access and delivery—providing the care that my cousin did not get.

I knew the tools I’d acquire in an MBA would help me do just that. This degree will give me an opportunity to build upon the core skills that I have developed in my career thus far, and become the kind of leader that uses my education to make a difference in my community.

How did you choose your MBA program? The Tuck School of Business was a no-brainer because it fit with my goal of learning more about the healthcare industry. At Tuck, I benefit from exposure to the renowned Center for Health Care and the opportunity to learn from industry influencers like Vijay Govindarajan. The academics are just icing on the cake.

I chose Tuck because of its tight-knit community. I have the opportunity to get to know my classmates and contribute to the community in an intimate setting. I experienced the Tuck community outside the classroom when I was going through the application process and again after I was accepted. I saw the support my husband received from the Tuck Partners Club and the love my two “Tiny Tuckies” would feel living in Sachem Village with other Tuck and Dartmouth families. All of my hopes for my MBA have come true.

One program offered close knit relationships with fellow students, professors, and industry leaders; world-renowned academics; and the support and culture perfect for families: Tuck.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? As I contemplate the next two years, I am worried about remaining focused. The MBA comes with a lot of wonderful opportunities, but not enough time to explore all of them. It is a balance. I have written down a list of priorities and the reasons why I came to Tuck to help me remain focused while not being afraid to try new things.

How are you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? I am attending Tuck as a Consortium for Graduate School of Management Fellow, Robert Toigo Foundation Fellow, and Credit-Suisse MBA Fellow. These organizations are pivotal in my ability to cover the cost of my MBA education.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Do not be afraid to take the leap. When I started applying for MBA programs, I almost gave up because I thought I could not get into a top-ranked business school. I also worried about being able to afford the transition, since I knew it would require quitting my job and moving my family across the country to attend school for two years.

I would tell first-generation college students to think of the opportunities the MBA will present to them and encourage them seek financial assistance, if that is a worry. Never give up because of the obstacles you speculate that you may face along the way. In the end, the education we receive can be instrumental in changing the lives of our families and the communities from which we come from.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? Post-MBA, I plan to go into investment banking, eventually specializing in healthcare investment banking. Ultimately, I would like to either work for the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation or in a start-up doing healthcare-related venture capital. My hope is that the MBA combined with my post-MBA career experience will give me enough expertise to start an advisory non-profit organization that could bring innovative low-cost solutions to improve healthcare access in Uganda.

Jeffrey Bonsu

Duke University, Fuqua School of Business

Class: 2020

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Fun Fact About Yourself: I LOVE Pokémon Go! And now that the “bandwagoners” are off the platform, the phone app seems to run more smoothly! Please do not be shocked if you randomly see me on campus catching Pokémon while wearing a Bulbasaur print button-down shirt!

Undergraduate School and Major: Texas State University, Healthcare Administration

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:  J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Associate

What did your parents do for a living? My father’s highest level of education is a high school diploma, which he received from a Ghanaian high school in 1973. He immigrated to the United States in 1980. His first job was at Burger King as a line cook making minimum wage. After 5 years in the position, my father began a career as taxi driver—a role he still holds today. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1999.

My mother’s highest level of education is a high school diploma, which she received from a Ghanaian high school in 1975. She immigrated to the United States in 1986, starting her career that same year at a nursing home as a nurse aid. She has worked in a similar capacity, with the same company, for over 31 years. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 2000.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father?

• Mom – High School
• Dad- High School

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My uncle, who passed away in the summer of 2018, was an exceptional individual who served as the patriarchal figure of our family. He completed his first bachelor’s in Computer Science at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; his second bachelor’s in Information Systems at the University of Texas at Dallas; and his masters in Computer Engineering at Southern Methodist University. My uncle was a lifelong learner who would often doze off in the late evening with a technical engineering book by his side. This was empowering because his approach set the academic standard for excellence. Above all, what made my uncle so special was that he possessed an effortless balance between the bluntness that comes innately in Ghanaians and the southern charm that is synonymous with those from the southern region of the United States.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? Although the highest level of education my parents received was a high school diploma, they, along with my African community, mandated that I pursue higher education from a very young age. This helped make this decision much easier.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? Since I was the first in my immediate family to graduate with a degree from an institution of higher education, my family lacked the ability to help me navigate through difficult decisions. As a result, I felt that I would lack the tools necessary to address these future challenges accordingly.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer early in my college years. Because I felt obligated to help provide income for my working-class parents, I worked two full-time jobs while enrolled in school and often missed classes because I could not fully dedicate time to my studies. Once my father returned to work, I was finally able to assess my decisions. I reduced the hours I worked per week from 80 to 30 and set clear expectations about my academic goals with my family. In addition, since colleges put restrictions on the number of times a student can take a single course, I enrolled at surrounding colleges to replace lower grades on my transcript with either an A or B.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? While my parents understood the importance of higher education, they were unable to comprehend the financial burden that comes with being a college student. For first generation college students who don’t have an abundance of financial resources, challenges such as changing one’s undergraduate major half way through a program or repeating a class to receive a higher grade can be the difference between graduating or flunking out of school, as the margin for error is so small.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? In the short-term, I want to work either in health care, investment banking, or finance for a life sciences company. Given my undergraduate degree in healthcare administration, I have a strong theoretical foundation in health care. However, I lack the core financial competencies that are needed to transition to my intended field seamlessly. In order to close these knowledge gaps, I considered academic institutions that were equally strong in both health care and finance. The next two years and beyond will help me to build the competencies needed to create a positive impact for the economically disadvantaged while sustaining and creating economic profits for the firm where I will work.

How did you choose your MBA program? The 2017 Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) MBA Kickoff Seminar in March was held at the Fuqua School of Business. This seminar was not only an amazing experience, but also a great introduction to student culture, the Health Sector Management (HSM) program, and career opportunities. After witnessing BLMBAO’s swag surfin’ moment on stage, Crystal Brown’s (Fuqua Alum) presentation, mock classes with Dr. Purohit and Dr. Petranka, and a 90’s theme party and book harvest with admissions and other Fuqua students, it became clear to me that Fuqua cultivates a culture that aligns perfectly with both my personal and professional goals. As a Fuqua student, I am inspired to bring my background in finance, personal experience as an underrepresented minority, and my passion for health care (which stems from my father’s fight against prostate cancer) to Durham where I can contribute to Fuqua’s diverse environment in a meaningful way.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA?

• Financial Security – Will I be able to survive without a consistent salary during the duration of the MBA program?
• Authenticity – Am I willing to present ALL aspects of myself to my classmates?
• Recruiting – Will I be able to successfully pivot from private wealth management to health care finance?

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? I received a merit-based scholarship.  #SoBlessed!

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students?

• Be authentic! As Dr. Seuss said so eloquently, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

• Be honest about your challenges! Generally speaking, people will give you advice based on what you tell them. If you’re not willing to divulge your challenges, it will be difficult to receive the feedback needed to overcome those challenges.

• Find an accountability partner! Share your goals with someone you know will encourage and support you. If you’re slacking, as we all do from time to time, this individual will get you back on track. My accountability partner is my younger brother.

• Move at a pace that is suitable for you! Don’t let societal norms (e.g., the pressure to have a bachelor’s degree within four years of your high school graduation) dictate how you view success. Be comfortable with your truth. My expectations for a student who receives financial support and academic guidance from family will be much different from my expectations for a student who is paying her way through college while supporting her family financially.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? In the short-term, I would like to work either in health care investment banking or in a rotational finance program for a life sciences company. My long-term goal is to become a CEO/CFO of a biotech firm.

Ashley Terrell

Harvard Business School

Hometown: Compton, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I won a trip to Barbados as a contestant on “Let’s Make a Deal” (Season 8, Episode 35).

Undergraduate School and Major: Duke University, Public Policy Studies Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Marketing Manager for a large medical device company in Los Angeles

What did your parents do for a living? My mother worked as a hospital clerk.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father? My mother received her high school diploma.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My maternal grandfather instilled the importance of education in me at a young age and will always be my biggest source of inspiration. Growing up during the Jim Crow laws of the South, he had limited access to quality education and instead sought to develop working skills by enlisting in the Air Force. He recognized the value of education and took advantage of technical skills training and vocational education offered through his service. Eventually, he participated in the great migration, settling in Los Angeles with his family, and earned a technical job in aerospace. He supported my curiosity for education at a young age by buying me several Hooked on Phonics cassette tapes when I struggled with reading in elementary school. He was also the first to congratulate me when I was accepted into a prestigious math and science high school program. Because higher education was not an option for him, he made me promise that I would attend college and take advantage of as many opportunities as possible afforded to me through higher education. Unfortunately, he did not live to see me fulfill that promise, but I know he’d be so proud to know that I not only fulfilled it by graduating from Duke, but I exceeded his expectations by graduating from Harvard Business School.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? I wouldn’t say it was one moment in particular. Growing up in Compton, CA, an underserved community notoriously plagued by drugs, gangs, and racial violence, I had few mentors to emulate and a professional career seemed beyond my reach. Nevertheless, I put all my focus in school and as I began to excel, several teachers provided me with encouragement in the classroom and guidance to participate in college prep programs outside of class. I think it’s also important to note that while I performed at a high level, I do not think I am an exception. A number of the peers I went to school with in Compton were also high achievers. Instead of allowing my community to become an alienating factor, prohibiting my ambitions, I turned it into a self-reflective, internal force that I continuously carry with me. With this force and determination, I was able to overcome many of the barriers that often prevent first generation college students from underperforming schools in low socioeconomic communities from excelling and pursuing undergraduate and graduate level education.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? Financing my education was my biggest worry. Not only did my family not have the money to help pay for college, but I also wanted to go out of state, and I had very little money saved to fund my move. As a first generation college student, I couldn’t ask family or friends how to finance my education, how to apply for loans or financial aid, or for advice on a reasonable interest rate for student loans. I mitigated some of the financial risk by applying to merit-based scholarship programs and mostly to “no loan” schools for income-based aid.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? As a first generation college student, everything is challenging, because you really don’t know what to expect. Academics were challenging, but that was to be expected. I think the biggest challenge was that you’re learning “college” for the first time and making (often uninformed) decisions by yourself all at once—in terms of academics, life skills away from home, professional skills, networking, career choices, etc. In addition, you also think your choice of major and performance in school will dictate all other future opportunities in life (spoiler alert- it doesn’t!). It wasn’t until I reached out to mentors from scholarship programs and participated in summer internships to explore career opportunities that I really began to feel comfortable and confident throughout my college experience.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I knew an investment in my academic development would be an investment in my career development and financial future. While I came to HBS with years of marketing and product management experience as a marketing manager for a large medical device company, I was ready to diversify my industry knowledge to address a broader set of business and management issues. In addition, I wanted to further develop skills essential to entrepreneurship, including microeconomics, business strategy, finance, accounting, organizational behavior design, and general management. An MBA degree would also allow me to develop key soft skills required for leadership positions and a transition into consulting to help solve some of the most challenging strategic and economic decisions facing executives today.

How did you choose your MBA program? I based my decision on several factors, including strength of career placement, academic fit, curriculum focus, teaching method, and personal fit after visiting each institution.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? Being admitted to Harvard Business School became a reality only when I knew there was financial support available to make it possible for me to attend. My biggest worry before starting my MBA was the possible debt burden.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? I was able to finance my MBA through a combination of HBS-awarded fellowships and government loans. As a beneficiary of the School’s Forward Fellowship, which “helps support students from lower-income backgrounds who have carried significant financial burdens or obligations” and the Robert Glassman Fellowship, I was able to offset my debt burden. As a result, HBS became more accessible, allowing me to focus more on professional exploration and transformational leadership development opportunities at the School. I also took out loans to supplement the remaining costs of attendance not covered by fellowship awards.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Continue to exceed expectations— don’t let this “first” be your only accomplishment.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I graduated last spring and will begin a career in strategy consulting for Parthenon-EY based in Los Angeles.

Jared Garnica

Indiana University, Kelley School of Business

Class: 2019

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have repelled off a 40-story building

Undergraduate School and Major: Brigham Young University, Major: International Relations

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:

Prior to business school: Lighthouse Academies, Middle School Math Teacher

MBA Internship: Abbott Nutrition, Brand Management Intern

What did your parents do for a living? My parents still work. My father has been a blue-collar window washer his entire life. My father had spent over a decade with a window cleaning company when he was fired. Since that’s what he knew what to do, he decided to start his own window cleaning company – R.B. Mex, which translates to rich blessings for Mexicans. My mother’s job has been dedicating her life to raising nine children.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father?

My parents’ education was in Mexico. My mother graduated from the equivalent of high school (preparatoria), while my father completed the equivalent of elementary school.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? This is the hardest question to answer because each of my parents possess many admirable qualities. If I had to choose one, I would say my father has been the biggest inspiration in my life. My father has a heart of gold. He is a man of integrity and has shown me what it means to have a stamina for challenges.  After my father was let go from the company he had worked for washing windows, our family lived in extremely difficult financial times. I remember nights when my father would go to bed without eating, claiming he wasn’t hungry. He has sacrificed so much to provide for our family. He has worked hard in window cleaning and even when offered opportunities to engage in shady business dealings, he has always remained a man of honesty and integrity. I admire my father because he lives what he speaks.

My father is my inspiration because when I grow up I want to be like him. To this date, he stills plays soccer. I can’t imagine being over 60 years old and running after the soccer ball.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? Upon completing a two-year service mission for my church, one of my ecclesiastical leaders asked me about my future plans. He recommended I give BYU a one-year trial period to see if I would enjoy it. In my mind, I had two paths. I could help with my family business or go to college, which entailed not helping with the family business. I decided to pursue a bachelor’s to set an example to my younger siblings. I also hoped that upon graduating that I would be able to financially help my parents; those were the motivating factors that propelled me to go to college.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? Prior to starting at Brigham Young University, paying for tuition and living expenses was my biggest worry. I had been accepted to BYU, but didn’t know how I was going to pay for tuition or living expenses. I moved to Utah a few weeks before classes started. I would sleep on the floor in my sister and brother-in-law’s small apartment while I figured out my own arrangements.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? The most challenging aspect of getting my undergraduate degree was navigating college life. There was so much that was new to me, but I didn’t have my parents to ask for advice. I had so many questions that I didn’t want to ask fearing I would be identified as someone who was there because of affirmative action instead of merit. I often recall an English writing course where some of my classmates would say that they were going to have their “mom who is a lawyer” or parent or relative who is a doctor proofread their work. I didn’t have anyone in my immediate circle in prestigious careers who I could reach out for help and support. I found it hard to relate to some of my peers since I felt there were so many differences – class, socioeconomic status, race, etc. It was difficult to see so many differences, yet try to assimilate for fear of standing out even more.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? I wish my family better understood the sacrifices that were required of me to succeed. I had to make so many financial, emotional, and other sacrifices. Coming from a close knit family, it was emotionally difficult to be so far away from everyone. Luckily one of my sisters had just moved to Utah. Financially there were sacrifices. Let’s just say ramen and eggs became my staple foods. Intellectually, I felt prepared but college rigor was much greater than high school and I felt I had a lot of catching up to do to be in the starting line. I don’t think that they understood how lonely this process can feel. Despite being surrounded by classmates and roommates my struggles were my own.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? When my son was born, a fire within me lit to pursue more. To many of my relatives, graduating with my bachelor’s from a great university and having a professional career was a noteworthy feat. I had achieved so much already in the eyes of my family and friends. I had been lulled with my income when I was single and then even more with a double income with my wife working. However, when my son was born, I felt a sense to aspire for more. I had given graduate school some thought prior to his birth. But I had been complacent, busy, and comfortable. Planning for the future, I realized I need to earn more to live comfortably with my family, since my wife wanted to stay home with our son. I looked into different graduate programs and decided to take the GMAT to see if an MBA was in sight. My wife and I were making New Year’s resolutions when I decided to sign up to take the GMAT the following month. I would come home from work to study. After doing well on the GMAT I figured an MBA was on the horizon.

How did you choose your MBA program? Some of the factors that I considered when making a decision for my MBA program were ranked as follows: (1) location, (2) cost, (3) cohorts & group focus, and (4) post-MBA opportunities. I wanted to stay in the Midwest. Indiana University is close enough to home to visit when I want, but far enough away that I can focus on studying and not be distracted by so much that goes on at home. I looked for a program that wasn’t on the high end for costs. I also focused on finding programs that placed incoming students in groups and cohorts. As a career switcher, I felt I was starting behind so I wanted to have a structured support system to rely on for help. Additionally, I also looked at job opportunities and companies that the schools networked with.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? Financials were by far my biggest worry. I actually had to postpone starting graduate school for a year after being accepted to the Kelley School of Business. I paid my deposit to secure my spot and hoped that they wouldn’t rescind their offer in the year to come. After my son was born, my wife and I had many bills and had accumulated credit card debt that we needed to pay off before beginning grad school. We needed to start off in a strong financial position (mostly not having credit card debt) since we had no one to count on for financial help.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? The Kelley School of Business Fellowship covered just over one-fourth of the costs of tuition and living and the rest was financed through loans. I almost decided not to attend business school since it required taking out a substantial amount in loans.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? I could probably write a few pages on advice for first-generation college students. In short my advice is captured by the following: (a) network, (b) start the journey early of applying, studying, and saving money, and (c) save money! There are so many expenses along the way that seem unexpected. Lastly, share your story. The journey of each first-generation college student is unique and enriches the schools we attend and the communities we participate in.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I aspire to be in brand management. I hope to have some great brand and marketing experience so that I can run a business; either in management or my own long term.

Justin Long

University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Class: 2020

Hometown: Yuba City, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I won a dual-gender hula-hoop contest at the end of my junior year in college.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
Nike, New York City
Retail Marketing Specialist

What did your parents do for a living?

1. Mother – office secretary
2. Father – construction worker/framer

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father? They both graduated from high school.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My grandfather was my biggest inspiration, and somewhat of a hero to me. He led an incredible life because of his amazing work ethic and desire to provide for his family. At the age of 14, he hitchhiked from Arkansas to California to make money by picking peaches in the fields. The day he turned 18, he married my grandmother (whom he was married to for over 50 years) and joined the United States Navy. After serving in the Korean War, he moved back up to northern California to raise his family and settle down. My grandfather was not only a self-taught carpenter who eventually ran his own crew, but also started his own business selling light and ceiling fixtures. He was incredibly generous with his time and money, and always put family first. My grandpa helped raise me and had a big influence on my development as a young man. Having had the opportunity to be around him and see his passion for life is something that has continued to motivate me throughout my life.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? Growing up, I didn’t know many people who had gone through the college experience. But, for some reason, I always wanted to earn a college degree. That mindset was further solidified by my high school summers, during which my dad had me work with his construction crew. Although it was very rewarding to experience this sort of hard work and to see the project from inception to completion, I quickly realized that the lifestyle of a construction worker was not for me. My father enjoyed his work, but it was also something he chose because his options after high school were somewhat limited. Watching his body break down after so many years of tough manual labor was very eye-opening for me. After my first summer working with my dad, I realized that pursuing a college degree would create so many more opportunities for me, so I really buckled down in school to make sure I had that option.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I was really concerned about deciding what I wanted to study. I didn’t have a sharp focus on what a degree would help me achieve career-wise; I just knew that I wanted to go to college. I had always viewed it as this “magic key” that would open every door. As the first day of classes approached, I remember panicking about falling behind in comparison to all my classmates, who, in my mind, knew exactly what they wanted to do in life. However, once I got to school and was able to sit down with advisors, my concern started to slowly disappear, and I was able to pick a major that I felt really made sense for me: economics.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? The most challenging part of my experience was determining what I should be doing outside of the classroom to set myself up for future success. To lessen my college loans, I started at a junior college out of high school. Although this was a financially practical approach, it also meant that I would miss out on certain experiences that are critical for first year students. It was easy to know that doing well academically in class was a precursor to job opportunities. However, I knew nothing about internships, career fairs, networking events, or what clubs would make the most sense for my goals. I felt like I was lacking the understanding of how to make myself a more desirable employee.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? Some people in my family couldn’t understand that going to college was not just about taking more classes and getting a job, but that the entire experience helps teach you about yourself as a person. Every aspect of college is an opportunity to grow. My education took place as much outside the classroom as it did inside. I met people from parts of the world I had never been before, participated in events that were not prevalent where I grew up, and was exposed to different ways of thinking. I know it is possible to get a job without going to college, but the growth you experience as a person during those four years is something that is equally as important as the degree.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I have had the opportunity to work in several different industries: military, recruiting, and consumer products. I have also had the chance to work in a variety of functions within these industries: management, marketing, business development, and account management. Combining all the things I liked about these roles helped me realize what career path I wanted to follow, and led me to a choice: utilize my network and make that transition on my own, or try to switch careers through an MBA.

I ultimately decided on the MBA for two reasons. First, I wanted to continue to expand my network with people who bring new experiences, perspectives, and ideas to the table. The network I have built over the years will always be there, but the opportunity to add a network of a top-tier MBA program was extremely important. Second, looking back on my undergrad experience, it became apparent that pursuing an MBA was not just about the job at the end. The experiences that I could get while pursuing the MBA were just as important. Classroom discussions with business professionals from every industry imaginable, projects with real-world companies tackling different business challenges, exposure to global markets and social impact ventures: these are just a few examples of what I will have access to as an MBA student, as opposed to attempting to jump into a new career where these sorts of resources are not always available.

 How did you choose your MBA program? It was an easy decision for me: the people! I visited every school I applied to and got to interact with both students and faculty. I met great people at each school, but I felt most at home at Michigan. I knew going into the application process that any top 20 school would open doors for my career. Those schools all have great faculties, class offerings, and recruiting opportunities. For me, it boiled down to the culture of the program. The current students, the incoming students, and the admissions team at Michigan Ross were all so amazing because they were welcoming, down to earth, and fun to be around! It was easy to picture myself loving the next two years there. That’s why I made my deposit as soon as I got the official email.

 What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? My biggest concern was getting accepted into a great program. I had done so much research, had many conversations, visited every campus, and even talked to coworkers whose opinions I greatly valued. I was certain that the MBA path was the right one for me. At that point, it was just a matter of waiting to hear if any of the programs I had applied to liked me as much as I liked them.

As soon as I got my first acceptance, all the stress and concern went away. Since the day I got that email, my focus has been on preparation and proving that my future school made a fantastic choice in selecting me. Waiting on the decision was very stressful, but since that stage ended I have felt great and am excited about what comes next!

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? I was fortunate enough to make a smart decision when I was younger, and that decision meant the cost of my MBA will be covered. After college, I commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the Army. Part of that commitment meant that I could either choose to have the government pay off my undergraduate loans, or, participate in the GI Bill program that would pay for my pursuit of a graduate degree. Even though, at the time, I had no idea what advanced degree I wanted, I thankfully had the foresight to opt for the GI Bill program. That decision, made 8 years ago, means that my MBA degree will be fully paid for. It almost feels like I hit the lottery!

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Use your resources and don’t be afraid to ask questions. As a first-generation college student, I was very naïve about what questions to ask and where to go for help. Looking back on it, I know that was more a result of my insecurity than a lack of available resources. During the application process, I could have talked with more school counselors or done more research online (even though this was way back in 2003). Even once I got into school, it would have been very easy to sit down with my classmates, who seemed to have a much better grip on how to navigate school. However, I always felt a little embarrassed that I had these uncertainties that they didn’t seem to be experiencing. So, in hindsight, if I could change anything about my college experience, I would take more initiative to ask questions so that I could learn how to get the most out of my college experience.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? Post-MBA, my plan is to move into product management with a leading tech company. When I look back on the elements I have really enjoyed about each of my past roles––working on small and collaborative teams, understanding the market and consumer needs, working cross-functionally in an organization, and being at the forefront of innovation––it is clear to me that Product Management would be a great fit.

Izaak Mendoza

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management

Class: 2020

Hometown: Cheyenne, Wyoming

Fun Fact About Yourself: I performed in the Super Bowl 52 Halftime Show with Justin Timberlake, as a tuxedo-clad snare drummer in the drumline!

Undergraduate School and Major:

Undergrad: University of Wyoming (BA International Studies)

Other Graduate: University of Minnesota (Master of Public Policy) (Graduate Minor in Mindfulness & Restorative Justice Practices)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: (still working for both)

• U.S. State Department – Office of Public Engagement — Programs and Campaigns Intern
• Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs – Digital Communications Lead & Policy Fellow

What did your parents do for a living? My mother felt it was important to remain at home while my brothers and I went through school, so she stayed home and was heavily involved in classroom volunteering. My father has worked as an auto body technician since he graduated high school and also teaches automotive repair a few nights a week at a local community college.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? High school diploma.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My grandmother Sylvia is the one of the most selfless people I have ever known. The way she cares and embraces everyone she meets is one of the most powerful acts of love I’ve seen. She is devoted to taking care of her entire family, always putting the needs of others before herself. She finds joy in simple things, and always seems to embrace each day with a smile. She is my biggest inspiration because I hope to emulate her sense of unconditional love and positivity in all I do, in my both my work and family life.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? As I began high school in the international baccalaureate program, I realized I may have the opportunity to go to college and become the first one in my entire family to pursue higher education. I had always seen my father work so tirelessly in his manual labor job, while never reaching the levels of promotion or compensation he deserved. I knew that higher education was an avenue that could lead to better jobs, and I wanted to make sure my career was in something I truly loved doing and was passionate about. I also devoted a significant amount of time and energy into the marching performing arts. I realized that if I continued my involvement at the university level, I would have that same system of support and structure, which provided somewhat of a family atmosphere I could count on as I walked this new road.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I had always been an outgoing “people person” and knew I would thrive in a career where I could interact with others and think creatively — but I felt that I needed to pursue something with a more tangible outcome that would lead to better financial success. I was worried that my college career would be a waste if I didn’t choose a competitive field of study in the sciences. I began my studies in the School of Engineering, only to realize some time later that I should be pursuing something I was passionate about and could bring my whole authentic self to.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? Navigating the world of higher education all on my own, from figuring out financial aid to discovering the importance of taking part in internships and research opportunities. I did not have anyone in my family I could turn to for guidance on taking out student loans or which programs of study would be most marketable in the current economy. I had switched majors about two years into my degree. With an interest in many fields, it took me seven years to complete my undergraduate major and four minors.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you
wish they would understand better? My family knew that in college, you go to class and years later you graduate with a diploma. Yet, it was the all the microchoices that make up the fabric of a college student’s life that either seemed foreign to them or was just part of a world vastly different from what they had ever experienced: The balancing of academics and extracurriculars, learning to manage a budget, and working part-time jobs while enrolled in classes. It also seemed hard for my family to understand what jobs an “international studies” major could lead to. They were always incredibly supportive and proud of me, but I always felt that I was “leading the charge” alone.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? My desire to pursue an MBA is twofold. It has always been deeply rooted within me to address complex issues in a way that brings people together. Because of this, I wanted experience in various industries that helped me understand their role in our world, and to be able to relate to the different worldviews they may have. I went through job experiences in the food, banking, aviation, corrections, education, and media industries. I began to understand that the fabric of our society has both policy and business intricately interwoven into it — and in order to address complex societal issues, policy and business must work together as part of the solution. I began my dual degree program in both, and spent this summer working for the federal government in helping entrepreneurs across Latin America with leadership training and business resources that are helping them create more stable economies within their home countries.

Second, I knew that an MBA program would give me the strategic management skills I needed in leading myself, others, and organizations. Tackling issues like worldwide food security would not only require leading teams of passionate diplomats eager to make social change, but partnering with businesses who have a strong sense of social responsibility, as well as knowing how to tactically operate teams of NGO’s across the globe who are the ones often implementing the change. I felt an MBA was the best way to gain these skills, and so I was driven to pursue this opportunity.

How did you choose your MBA program? As my wife and I sought out which graduate programs best suited our passions, we both landed on the University of Minnesota, which was our top choice. We both fell in love with the culture of the University, the wide range of opportunities we were able to take part and be leaders in, and we both deeply connected with the faculty of our programs. I knew that the intimate cohort size and experiential learning model at the Carlson School were crucial in taking classroom lessons and directly applying them in real world settings that would provide me with industry experience and a professional network I could build upon.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? I was concerned that I did not have enough business experience to jump into an MBA program. I spent much of my free time listening to business podcasts I loved, yet I had not studied business in my undergraduate studies, and I didn’t know if that would impact me negatively. I knew I had achieved great results in delivering strategic messaging in my years of experience doing digital marketing, and I was known for driving results to those I provided consulting services for. However, I did not know if I would measure up to those coming into the program from a business background.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? Unfortunately, I have had to rely on federal financial aid thus far, in addition to working part time to make monthly ends meet. I was not awarded a merit aid package, but have been searching for graduate assistantship positions all of last year, and will continue to do so. Thankfully, my wife has an assistantship — and its spousal benefits do provide me with an in-state tuition waiver.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Three things come to mind as I think about what advice I would give other first-generation students.

Be persistent – If you’re the first one in your family to navigate this road, it is incredibly important that you are persistent about your goals. Be driven to achieve what you want and utilize all of your resources to position you best to do that.

Play to your strengths – Don’t try to be somebody that you’re not. Be self-aware of what you excel at, and learn to turn those strengths into the pillars of what you end up doing.

Embrace the suck – The road through higher education as a first-generation student feels lonely at times. It can feel like the cards are stacked against you, or that you don’t know who to turn to for guidance. But learning how to adapt to situations, and figuring out how to respond to things instead of merely react gives you the life skills and the grit to manage anything that comes your way.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? My dream later in life is to pursue international diplomacy and see how I can help create lasting social impact through business. I want to take the strategic leadership and management skills I’ll gain and apply them to the world’s most complex challenges as a diplomat in the Foreign Service.

But short term, I love crafting an organization’s strategy and using marketing tools to interact with target audiences in clever ways. I’m definitely interested in pursuing that further and using the years of experience I’ve had in media and digital marketing to help advance the goals of our most innovative companies!

Xavier Vargas

MIT, Sloan School of Management

Class: 2019

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Southern California, History

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Wells Fargo, Business Initiatives Consultant

What did your parents do for a living? My father was an auto mechanic. Mother worked miscellaneous jobs, and later a stay-at-home mom.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father?  My father received his high school education in Colombia. My mother received her 6th grade education in rural Mexico.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? Both of my parents have inspired me equally. Still to highlight my mother, she immigrated illegally into this country. Crossed the desert with a 6th grade education. She (and my father) had to figure out how to raise my oldest brother Bruce, who had the most severe form of cerebral palsy. Up until his recent passing, my mother fed, bathed, clothed, and changed him for 30 years of his life. I am, every day, amazed at her strength, wisdom, and love.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? I am not entirely sure there was a specific moment – at least not one that I can remember. My parents, despite not receiving higher education themselves, always promoted the idea of college. I do remember promising them in 2nd grade that I would be so spectacularly recruited by colleges that they (my parents) would not need to pay for my education. Also, I would even get a free car out of it – I’m still waiting on the free car. Still, college as a concept remained amorphous until my senior year of high school.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? At first, it was the impostor syndrome, one that still grips me at times as I walk the halls at MIT. Quickly, however, it became money. My parents always preached they would do whatever it took to help me pay – including mortgaging the house they had worked so hard since the 1980s for. This paralyzing fear was soothed by a phenomenal high school counselor – Sara Hall – who moved heaven and earth to expose me to scholarship opportunities to apply for. I must have, easily, applied for 50+ scholarships – ranging from full rides to $150 supplies stipends. This guided determination blessed my family with the Gates Millennium Scholarship. I was then, unexpectedly, able to attend a private university.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? The not-so-gradual exposure to cultures and social norms so very different than those at home. Physical proximity for immigrant families means literal survival – to be able to “make it” in this country with those closest to you. As I entered a world where 18 year olds drove their parents 6-series BMWs to class, I was at a constant clash with my parents as to what our norms should be. What normal was, and what normal wasn’t. To that end, I struggled during my first two years to acclimate to a changing world exposure – all while remaining true to my cultural upbringing. My parents came here to raise a family in America, but now their children were becoming American very fast. This was a scary dissonance for all of us.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? Physical proximity does not equal closeness or love. For the longest time, there was pressure to remain close to home: for school, for work, for everything. While my classmates road-tripped 25 hours away from their families, I chose to remain 25 miles away. My parents eventually assimilated to the notion of moving away – but it took 4 years, and an amazing opportunity in New York City to finally convince them moving away from the family unit was the right thing to do.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I was blessed to join a bank on a leadership development program. The road was laid out to become an executive in the long-long term. Still, 3-4 years in, I had no passion for the product or where it was going. Taking a job at a bank, with its high pay and respectability, was my way of signaling to my extended family that my parents had “made it” and raised us well.

Having crossed that security threshold, I wondered if that was it. I wanted a do-over to “chase my passion” as many of my 18-19-year-old college classmates had done right at undergrad.

How did you choose your MBA program? Quant. Quant. And People. I wanted to bolster my abilities and school pedigree. Coming from humble origins, I also felt MIT Sloan had a “prove it” attitude that coursed through the veins of its students. This appealed to me, and made the program feel closer to home…to how I was raised.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? Money. Money. And Being Exposed. Financial worries came again. I was worried about not having an income, getting into big debt for the first time, and not being able to contribute to my parents monthly anymore. Throughout my first year, I have declined opportunities to travel as much as my classmates. I look back on it with some regret at times, but acknowledge that this is a decision I am making consciously this time around.

Secondly, impostor syndrome is real. I liken it to opening the door to a party that has been going on for generations before you arrived. All the people in the party know each other and received notice for what the dress code is for this party. For some of my classmates, their families have been at this party all along and knew what was expected for them. I am on “house money” – desperately trying to hide my inadequacies in fear of being disinvited to the party after catching a glimpse through the door.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? Student loans and scholarship. Fortunately, being born in this country is an enormous blessing God and my parents afforded me. Even if I don’t have the cash reserves, I am welcomed to a unique benefit my international peers unfortunately do not have access to. Secondly, MIT Sloan has been very generous, and I am appreciative of the opportunity to be here.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Keep plugging. It gets better. The misfit feeling never quite goes away, but your toolkit and horizons expand. Pay it forward – we each are testament that it takes a literal village and a whole lot of luck. Try to push through fears of what is “expected” and “safe” versus what you may enjoy doing. You may not be able to chase your passions 100%. If you can get to 50-75%, you’ve already more than accomplished what your parents struggled through the hot desert for. It gets easier.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I am working through that right now. The allure of a safe corporate job, with six figures and compensation packages is extremely appealing. Still, I am working on a startup that may have some opportunity for growth. The internal conflict is still in me, but I am much more equipped (and supported) to overcome this time around.

Richard Tam

University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School

Class: 2020

Hometown: Rosemead, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I grew up right next to the Huy Fong Sriracha factory before it moved in 2010.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of California – Berkeley, Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Navigant Consulting, Inc., Managing Consultant

What did your parents do for a living? Cook and certified nursing assistant/seamstress

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father?  High school

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? Cliché, but my mother and father. They left their home country with barely the clothes on their backs to a land where they didn’t know the language, culture, or geography, with no family to fall back on in search for a better life. Knowing they were at a major disadvantage, my parents admitted they needed help and sought out resources around them. They were able to learn the English language from scratch, acquire jobs, and become contributing members of society while being able to send three children to college. Although we’ve never had the newest TV or brand name shoes, they always made sure we always had something to eat and ensure money was not a limiting factor to our education. The personal sacrifices they made to make sure we had the tools to succeed in life is an admirable characteristic that I can only hope to bring out on me.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? This sounds very silly, but during a hot summer day in Los Angeles, my dad came home from work covered in sweat. I asked him if the restaurant kitchen’s air conditioning was broken. He laughed so hard. He told me if I wanted a comfortable job in life, I should get a college education so I can get a job that allows me to work in air conditioning instead of the sweltering sun or a baking kitchen. This was after I complained about why he refused to turn on the air conditioning at home on a 100-degree day.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? For 13 years of school, my parents were there at the end of the day to make sure I was making the right decisions. But as my parents were dropping me off in my college dorm, my parents’ parting words were, “We’ve done all we can for 18 years to get you here. This is all you now.” The two people who I could shout across the room for advice from were no longer a shout’s away.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? College made me realize I was not the smartest kid in the class anymore. I had to relinquish my pride and admit I needed help if I truly wanted to succeed. UC-Berkeley had armies of tutors, mentors, and resources ready to help me. However, I had to activate that network of resources myself in order to maximize the benefits offered.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? Sometimes just being the smartest kid in class isn’t enough anymore. Another key to success is networking. Networking is not simply a check mark and there is no formula to conducting networking. It really is an experience where two people get together to improve each other through sharing the knowledge they have learned while developing as a person. No two individuals will have the same experience in forming these relationships.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? Growing up, my quantitative skills were never in question. There was always a definite and derivable answer and I was comfortable in my work. However, the world is much more than a number on a piece of paper. I continued to ask how does the number I calculated affect decisions being made on a global scale that could affect economies of people. I wanted a program to help me continue tying all the knowledge I’ve learned over the years and being able to effectively communicate my ideas. An MBA was the best place to challenge me to put all these skills together, develop myself as a person, and fast-track me to roles that would allow me to exercise all these skills.

How did you choose your MBA program? It was key for me to get out of California and learn to live in a different environment. Although I love California, there are 49 other states that think and live differently. It was also crucial to me the program was small, which encourages a tight-knit community. It is possible to see everyone and wave “hi” every day in the halls of McColl. Despite the small program, the resources and support are overwhelming at Kenan-Flagler. The staff here really put the students first. No matter what the issue is, the staff would work to find the answer and go out of their way to make sure our success is imminent versus questionable.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? I worried I would not fit into the stereotype of the competitive and self-serving environment that is business school. Since arriving at Kenan-Flagler, my original views have changed. It was clear the admissions committee put a lot of effort in designing a class that would fit well together that exudes Kenan-Flagler’s core values and support each other in our personal and professional goals.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? Personal finance is a class every person should take. Understanding the concept of saving and compound interest goes a long way. However, there is always graduate student financing, which has preferable rates of interest compared to the rest of the market. In the long run, it would all pay off and money would have just been a number.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Know your boundaries, but know when to ask for help. Professors are not out to get you. They challenge you, but really want you to get to the right answer. Connect with them as they only want you to succeed and hear your experiences. Mentors are so much more than the finger wagging lecture you would normally get from mom and dad. Mentors would actually tell you how it is and what dead ends to avoid and are eager to tell you so! Always ask questions and never accept the answer, “Because I say so.” That answer might have been fine when you were five, but nothing improves if people just accepted things are the way they just because we’ve done it this way before.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I plan to go into a marketing operations role for several reasons: 1) I want to continue deriving recommendations from analyzing data; 2) The answers are never clear and intuitive on how to solve the problems so it encourages different perspectives; 3) No matter what, the job is never done as there is always room for improvement and, ultimately; 4) I want to help get the right message, products, and services to the people who need it most in the most efficient way possible.

Katie Parks

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

Class: Class of 2020

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I spent three weeks traveling across China and Taiwan eating as many local dishes as possible as research for the opening of a new restaurant in Chicago, Duck Duck Goat.

Undergraduate School and Major: Northwestern University; Economics and Psychology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Stephanie Izard Inc.; Director of Operations

What did your parents do for a living? Account Manager at Northern Trust Bank and Messaging Administrator at Sargent & Lundy

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father? A.A. and A.S.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My grandma is my biggest inspiration. Born in rural Poland, she only made it through the third grade before leaving school to start working on her family’s farm. After surviving unimaginable situations in Germany during World War II, she moved to the United States with my grandpa. Not knowing English, she worked her way up in a factory while also caring for three children.  She eventually saved enough to purchase a home in Chicago and later became a US citizen. In my mind, she is the definition of the American Dream. I contribute all of my educational opportunities to the groundwork that my grandma laid for my mom and in turn, me.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? My parents always put my education first. I grew up under the assumption that I would go on to pursue some sort of degree after high school. However, during my freshman year of high school I came to the realization that I had full control over the quality of higher education that I could receive. I began caddying that summer with the intention of earning a full-ride scholarship to Northwestern University through the Evans Scholars Foundation. Hard work, both in school and on the golf course, led me to my dream of becoming part of the class of 2012 at Northwestern University.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? The pressure of making my degree worthwhile was my biggest concern. I initially pursued majors and internships solely for their post-graduation salary potentials. It took some time to realize that I was the only one in my life setting crazy expectations for how I would use my degree after graduation. After taking a step back, I realized that everyone who cared about me would be supportive of whatever path I felt was right, regardless of prestige or salary. I changed my strategy and chose my majors based on what I was passionate about studying. I explored careers and companies based on culture to find ones that I would align with.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? For the first time, I felt like I was on my own. Up until undergrad, there was always a clear next step to work toward: take the ACT, graduate high school, get into college, etc. All of a sudden the future was open-ended and I felt like I was all alone in figuring out what that meant. I wanted to give every opportunity a chance, so I overextended myself and said yes to clubs and job fairs that I knew weren’t right for me just because I was scared to say no. It took some time to learn that it’s ok to say no. Only then was I able to devote time to the things I really cared about instead of being pulled in a million directions.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you
wish they would understand better? That my parents’ support did more for me than they could ever imagine. No matter what I did, my parents were always there, proud and encouraging. Getting out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself, even if it means sometimes failing, is a lot easier with a cheerleading squad behind you. At the same time, wanting to make my parents proud was a driving force in everything I did. They had worked hard and had sacrificed a lot to help get me to Northwestern.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I am my own biggest critic and always pushing myself to learn what my limits are. For five years, I grew with my company and managed a wide variety of exciting projects that took me around the world. But a few years in, I began wondering what else I would be able to accomplish if I had stronger leadership skills and a better understanding of the business I was helping to run. I decided that pursuing an MBA would be the best way to force myself into new and uncomfortable business situations in order to become a stronger, more effective leader.

How did you choose your MBA program? It took me a VERY long time to narrow down schools. In the end, I only applied to two schools. I decided that if I didn’t get in to a school that felt like a perfect fit then maybe an MBA wasn’t the best next step for me. Thankfully, Kellogg thought I was the right fit for them as well. There are a lot of reasons why Kellogg stood out to me, but the two biggest are Kellogg’s commitment to their students and the community that they have created. Besides the gorgeous new Global Hub building, it was exciting to learn about all of the creative ways that Kellogg innovates each year to address both changing student interests as well as a rapidly evolving global job market. From adding new course offerings in topics like Growth and Innovation (based on feedback from the companies hiring MBA graduates) to bringing non-traditional companies to Evanston for on-campus recruiting to having a full-time Chief Innovation Officer on staff, Kellogg is finding ways to prepare their students for a changing world. Honestly though, meeting the current students is what set the program apart for me. I wanted to learn with these incredibly accomplished, but also incredibly humble, people who also know how to let loose and have a good time.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? Besides remembering how to study for tests again, my biggest concern was the financial burden of pursuing my MBA. Should I give up my salary for two years and pay to go back to school? I spent a lot of time speaking with current and former Kellogg students who had had similar concerns as well as some people who chose to not pursue an MBA because of those same concerns. In the end, I decided that the risk was worth taking for the opportunities that would become available to me both during and after my time at Kellogg.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? I am very grateful that I graduated undergrad without student loans thanks to the Evans Scholars Foundation. As I return for my MBA, I will be financing this degree on my own through personal savings and loans.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? You’re the first person in your family who wants to be a (insert job here). Amazing, but you don’t have to get there on your own! Find someone who is older than you with similar career goals, whether it’s an upperclassman or alum, and ask them any and all questions you might have. They’ve already been through the process of finding an internship or a full-time job, and they have incredible lessons to share. Entering a career field that you have no previous personal experience with is a lot less daunting when you have someone to talk to who completely understands what you are going through.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? As an Economics and Psychology undergrad, my interests have always been around studying why people make decisions and how those decisions impact individuals, companies, or global markets. I’m going to take some time at Kellogg to explore a few career options within Marketing and Strategy. I’m also looking forward to taking some Social Impact classes and learning how to integrate that thinking into Marketing and Strategy.

Stephen Meehan

University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business

Class: 2019

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I attended a Notre Dame football game on my honeymoon.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Notre Dame, 2010 (Political Science & Philosophy)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
Internship (Summer, 2018): MBA Summer Associate, Investment Banking – Industrials Group, KeyBanc Capital Markets (Cleveland, OH)

Full Time (2010 – 2017): Vice President, Marketing & Insights, Beneficial Bank (Philadelphia, PA)

What did your parents do for a living? I was raised by my mom for the first ten years of my life. She was a bank teller and later a research clerk for the bank. My mom married my step-dad when I was in fifth grade. He is a telecommunications technician and a member of the local Electricians Union (IBEW Local #98). While I was in college as an undergraduate, my mom’s job was eliminated and she was laid off. After that, she’s worked in various roles as a contractor at the Philadelphia Passport Office.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? Both of my parents are high school graduates. My mom started working at the bank right out of high school. My step-dad served in the Navy for a few years prior to beginning his telecommunications work.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My wife, Rachel, is my biggest inspiration. She knew that I wanted to go to business school, and was not only OK with it, but encouraged me for over a year to apply, to take the GMAT, etc. She kept me honest and inspired. Then, when I was accepted to Notre Dame, she was willing to leave both of our jobs and move us and our new baby halfway across the country so I could pursue a dream. Today, she works full-time so I can afford to go to school. Her willingness to adapt, her excitement and enthusiasm for the hopes and dreams for people other than herself and her willingness to sacrifice for me and our family are huge inspirations to me, every day.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? I think I decided to pursue higher education pretty early on, around eighth grade. I was awarded a full scholarship to a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the organization that awarded the scholarship offered guidance and assistance in the college application process. So with that, I had decided that I would follow that path.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I had two major concerns: one was not knowing anyone (no one from my high school had gone to Notre Dame in ten years) and the second was being far from home. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, and the first time I ever traveled on a plane was to visit Notre Dame for two weeks the summer between my junior and senior years of high school.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? The most challenging part was learning to manage my time in a less structured, less supervised situation. I was on my own, 500+ miles from my parents, and had no one telling me that homework was due tomorrow. As I moved through my undergraduate experience, I learned to manage time better, but grew increasingly concerned about the amount of student debt that was waiting after graduation.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? I wish we had better understood the scholarship and financial aid process during the application period, and each year when new information was needed. Also, the cost of college that does not show up in a bill from the University – the textbooks and supplies, but also the dinners and nights out that I wanted (and at times, felt I needed) to go to with friends.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? In the job I had after college, I was able to be involved at different levels as my company completed some acquisitions and an equity offering – which piqued my interest in investment banking. As I grew with the company, I saw an increasing need for a more rigorous, formal business education – which I had never had.

How did you choose your MBA program? I obviously knew (and loved) Notre Dame from my time as an undergraduate. It also offered a great academic reputation and career opportunities. I think the most important factor was that the community and location felt like a good personality fit for me and my family (my wife and son would be moving with me). Finally, the cost (and fellowship opportunity) played a big role in my selection of Notre Dame.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? My biggest worries were quitting a well-paying, stable job and moving my family across the country, and not being sure what my career would look like after the program.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? I was awarded a Kenneth Meyer Fellowship by Mendoza, which covers full tuition and a stipend for living expenses. In addition, my wife, Rachel, is working full-time while I pursue my MBA, so we’ve been able to fund the program without student loans.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Find someone who has done this before and don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice when things seem overwhelming or unclear. Sometimes people don’t know what people with different experiences don’t know.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? I’m interning this summer in investment banking, and I think that’s what I’d like to do full-time after graduation.

Norma Torres Mendoza

Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business

Class: 2020

Hometown: Born in Queretaro, Mexico and raised in Houston, TX

Fun Fact About Yourself: In six months, I went from not being able to complete two miles to running my first half-marathon in 2 hours and 22 minutes. I will complete my third one this January in Houston, Texas.

Undergraduate School and Major:

Undergrad- Rice University majors in Political Science & Hispanic Studies

Graduate: Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Masters in Public Policy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: IDEA Public Schools, Director of Financial Literacy & Alumni Funding

What did your parents do for a living? My mother cleans houses for a living.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? My mother has a third grade education.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My mother is my biggest inspiration because she has sacrificed everything to give me an opportunity at a better life. Growing up in Mexico, my single mother held three jobs at a time to support not only me but also her parents. My mother and I were literally and figuratively hungry for a better life, one with an actual opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty that they were destined to experience. This ultimately led us to immigrate to Houston in the back of an eighteen-wheeler looking for the American Dream. My mother gave me the dream of an education, which fundamentally transformed my life and the future generations of our family. I became the first one of my 50 cousins and 16 uncles and aunts to attend and graduate from college. My mother is my inspiration and reason that I have directly and indirectly supported over 6,000 students’ educational journeys through the Young Owls Leadership Program, Café College Houston and IDEA Public Schools. This is specifically important because I believe in lifting as I climb and therefore multiplying our efforts to support more first-generation college students.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? My mother instilled in me that education is the most powerful tool we have not only to defend our rights and ourselves, but also to transform lives. With this in mind, we came to this country with the goal that I would be the first one in my family to attend college. I was extremely lucky that I had mentors, friends, phenomenal teachers, and counselors who guided my journey to apply to college. I had no doubt in my mind that I could handle the academics, and that I would acquire the social capital needed to not just survive but thrive in higher education. However, my assumptions to go to college were often questioned because of my immigration status.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? When I was applying to undergraduate programs, I was still undocumented and thus my ability to travel and receive funding was limited. I worried a lot about the school’s price tag and how I was going to be able to pay for it with my mother’s very humble salary. I applied for as many scholarships as I could find and talked to as many people as possible about alternative ways to fund my education. I was extremely lucky and blessed to find a donor who paid $250,000 for me to attend Rice University.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? Time management was the hardest part of my undergraduate degree at Rice University. I had multiple leadership positions on-campus, held two part-time jobs, created a nonprofit, and somehow maintained a high GPA. The downfall of this was very little sleep and lots of coffee consumption. In addition, I often worried about the possibility of not being able to work in this country or worse being deported. This fear only fueled my motivation to do more and better in school.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you
wish they would understand better? Many family members operated under the assumption that going to college meant that “I had made it” and that now I didn’t have to work as many hours. The reality could not have been farther away from the truth; this only meant that I was doing different work. Instead of working in the Houston heat for 60 hours constructing roads like my uncles, I would be working 70+ hours in an office attempting to solve a problem. I would often remind my family that the education piece would many times economically pay off, but many times it granted me access to positions of power to be able to make decisions that would produce a positive NPV for our communities.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? For the past five years, I have worked as a consultant in various capacities. I have consulted businesses and non-profits on strategy, vision, impact, fundraising, community building and leadership development. I graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS), where I received some of the best teaching in leadership, ethics and working with different stakeholders to bring transformational and sustainable change. However, after being in the field, I quickly realized that I was lacking core skills to create the best processes, marketing materials, financial models, and even research and strategies to create impactful investments. After speaking to a couple of people, I learned that a business degree will help me bridge business thinking into the nonprofit world while providing interconnected social solutions that are nuanced in ways that cut across sector lines.

How did you choose your MBA program?

1. Location
2. Network
3. Added value and prestige of the university
4. Fellowships and scholarships offered

Location was very important because my husband is very involved in politics in Houston, Texas and both of us have political aspirations. I talked to people from every business school that I applied to and attended some of their diversity weekends to gauge for diversity, network capabilities, financial resources and culture. In addition, I had already attended two of the schools that I had applied to so I had a foundation for those schools and spent more time exploring some of the other schools that I did not know too much about to make the most informed decision possible.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? Finances was my biggest worry given that many times as first generation college students we have the added pressure and privilege to serve as the security and financial blanket for our families. In addition, since this will be my second master’s, I took finances into account very seriously and researched plenty of scholarships and fellowships. At the end of the process, I received both the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans and the Consortium Fellowship for Rice University. At that point, it became very clear that the time investment was totally worth it to learn new skills and be a more effective leader in the intersection of public and private sectors.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student?

Scholarship: 100%

I am a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow in addition to a Rice University Consortium Fellow.                 

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students?

1. Although it is difficult to be the first at anything, there are many advantages to being a first-generation college student. There are so many scholarships and resources that are available specifically to push forward more students who are the first ones in their families to take on this very important step.
2. I know it is hard to balance the need to make a social impact and to be financially stable, but look for spaces where you might be able to do both. You will be surprised by how many spaces you will find where you can get paid well to produce a positive impact for the world.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? After business school, I can see myself working for a consulting firm with an emphasis on social impact or beginning my own consultancy for nonprofits that will revolutionize and democratize resources for nonprofits that are improving the quality of life for various communities. In addition, in the next five years, I have political ambitions to represent Houstonians as we think about creative ways to provide interconnected social solutions that are nuanced in ways that cut across sector lines to expand opportunities.

Patrick Despres-Gallagher

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Class: 2019

Hometown: East Templeton, MA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I helped build a recording studio when I was in high school, worked as a session guitarist, and gave lessons. I have been playing in bands since I was 12, and I recently started playing again with classmates in a band at Stanford.

Undergraduate School and Major: Johns Hopkins University, International Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deloitte Digital, Senior Consultant

What did your parents do for a living?: My father just retired from working as an Electrical Lineman for 40+ years, and my mother owned her own small business before leaving the workforce.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your father? Neither of my parents finished high school, but both obtained their GED.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why?  My paternal grandfather, Ken Gallagher Sr., epitomized the “Greatest Generation.” He was born during the Great Depression and served in the Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater from 1942-45. He worked on the railroad for 40+ years, and he and my grandmother raised a family of seven with many grandchildren. He was a man of service – to his family, community, country, and church. I aspire to be as humble and selfless as he was.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education?  It was more of an ongoing revelation rather than a specific moment. However, the accelerator for me was transferring to Cushing Academy, a college preparatory school, in search of a more challenging academic experience. I did not tell my parents that I was applying at first because I knew they would worry about the cost. When I was accepted and received the necessary financial support, I jumped at the opportunity. At Cushing, I befriended students from around the world and learned from incredible teachers (shout out to Raja Bala, Peter Clarke, and many others) who elevated my curiosity and appetite for learning.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I was concerned about the cost and the decision to move out of New England. It was a big expense for my family, which added pressure to get a job while I was in school and find a great job after school. In addition, nearly my entire family lives in Massachusetts. Moving from the town of 6,000 people that I had lived in for 18 years to Baltimore, a city with 600,000 people was a big change. Ultimately, it was immeasurably rewarding.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? I was constantly stressed about finances and underperforming in a rigorous academic environment where I was assessed relative to my talented peers. I worked 15-20 hours a week to support myself in addition to a difficult course load and leadership involvement in multiple student groups. I was hospitalized my sophomore year due to an illness from physical and mental exhaustion. It was easy to learn the importance of hard work, but it took me much longer to learn the importance of balancing work with health and relationships.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? Education gives you skills and knowledge, but more importantly, I believe it forces self-awareness and self-reflection that results in personal development. My personal goals, perspectives, and interests have changed, even though my value system has largely remained intact. Neither my family nor I truly anticipated the extent of that change, and I wish we had better understood how to manage it. It has made it harder for us to connect in some ways but easier in others.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I went into technology consulting to build technical and operational skills after developing an interest in college. After a few years, my learning started to saturate, and I wanted to invest in a new experience that furthered either my technical skills or my leadership and management skills. The success I had in my career was largely a result of my strengths and interests in the latter, so I decided to pursue an MBA.

How did you choose your MBA program? Stanford was my top choice because it had, in my opinion, the best program for students interested in technology, startups, and leadership development. From the “touchy-feely” culture to classes taught by Andy Rachleff, Eric Schmidt, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, and others, I felt that Stanford gave me access to the best leadership development curriculum, the top minds in my areas of interest, and a network of talented peers and alumni that shared my values and interests.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? The literal costs and the opportunity costs of pursuing a career are significant, and there are people whom I trust and respect who did not agree with my decision to pursue an MBA. You do not have to look far to find critics of MBA programs, especially in Silicon Valley. However, I had very clear objectives for what I wanted to get out of an MBA, and the experience has consistently exceeded my expectations.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? I accumulated savings and other financial assets, and Stanford provided generous Fellowship funding that reduced the cost. The rest is financed with loans. I also secured optional sponsorship if I chose to return to my former employer to mitigate any of the financial risk.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? I do not like to give advice out of context. The best generic advice I can give is to be cautious and intentional about the mentors you choose and the advice you take. For many students from non-traditional backgrounds, the natural and immediate mentorship networks are not sufficient. Invest time and resources in finding mentors, and learn from other sources of advice (books, podcasts, articles, classes etc.) that align to your learning interests. However, always be a cautious skeptic. I have been given a lot of unintentionally harmful advice that masquerades as thoughtful perspective, but in reality, is an opinion rooted in a biased interpretation of a narrow set of experiences. Learning to understand underlying incentives and biases is important to filtering bad advice. Draw your own conclusions after listening, observing, and reflecting, and constantly check your own perspectives for bias.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? With regards to work, I am still exploring, but I will continue to work with technology either in an operating or investing role in the near term. Longer term, I have a few business ideas of my own that I will pursue. With regards to community involvement, I am interested in supporting or starting initiatives that seek to create opportunities for people, who are otherwise overlooked due to socioeconomic circumstances, to self-actualize in the new economy.

Meron Tecle

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management

Class: 2020

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Fun Fact About Yourself: At 21 had the opportunity to be an On-Ice hockey instructor at a kids camp with childhood hero and Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla.

Undergraduate School and Major: Laurentian University, Commerce, Sports Administration

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Electro-Meters Company LTD. Role: Business Development, Western, Canada 

What did your parents do for a living? My mother spent her first years in Canada learning English (while subsequently teaching me English) and getting formal education for the first time in her life. Following that, she worked for many years juggling two jobs as a Long-term Care Dietitian. My father works in the service industry as well; working with primarily seniors as a Wheel-trans Service Provider (taxi program that works in conjunction with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) for specialized accessibility need customers).

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father?

Father: High-school (some, pulled early due to Eritrean War of Independence).

Mother: High-school (adult HS after arriving in Canada, she did not have the opportunity to attend school as a child).

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? I come from a rather large family. However, I think if you were to ask my siblings or my father, our answers would be the same; my biggest inspiration is my mother. She immigrated to Canada at 27 years old with 3 kids under 8, (4 of us total), with no formal education and her husband overseas (Father granted Canadian visa roughly 10 years later). Her level of resilience is something that I admire and look up to each and every day. The values she instilled in us at a young age is the very reason why each of us are on our way to being a next generation leader.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? I cannot pinpoint a specific moment. My parents would echo the opportunity my siblings and I have that they did not. That resonated with me at a young age and helped provide the perspective I needed to take my education, among other things, to the next level. I felt I was ready about a year-and-a-half ago. With the support of my fiancé, family and admissions staff at U of T, I made that a reality.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I was very proud of who I was and where I came from as I entered my undergraduate studies. My biggest worry was that I wouldn’t be surrounded by people who could relate to me, or if I could bridge that gap. Understanding “the other side” for lack of a better term became second nature for me because assimilation and understanding were goals my parents instilled. Without a vested interest of where I came from or who I was, would “the other side” be able to relate to me?

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? My level of self-awareness was heightened exponentially during my time as an undergraduate away from home. It was challenging at times to learn and re-learn things about myself that I had thought to be so sure of. As it turned out, I was not cut out to be a sous chef after all.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? My family is very supportive and tries their best to understand my experiences. We are going on this ride together so many times I feel my experience is, in a way, their experience.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? The allure of higher education, specifically in the business management realm, really attracted me to pursue my MBA. I’ve always wanted to be proactive in the areas of my life I could control. I knew if I worked hard enough, I would be able to get into the school of my choice and surround myself with like-minded people. I believe this will position me best for future success.

How did you choose your MBA program? I wanted to attend the highest caliber program in the country and also stay in my hometown of Toronto. Fortunately for me U of T is both. The network, the faculty, and the talent the program attracts really made this school any easy choice for me.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? It is a luxury to be able to go back to school and I did not want to be so streamlined in my coursework or focus field. Missing the opportunity to spend time and learn about my ancillary interests at this elevated level would’ve been a disservice. Social clubs, industry associations, and electives allow me to stay involved with my other interests and keep me balanced.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? I am able to finance my MBA because of the savings generated during my six years working following undergrad, plus student loans, scholarships and a healthy dose of homemade lunches.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? If you are a first generation student who feels a certain amount of pressure related to that accomplishment, then I would advise you to seek perspective and try to step out of your comfort zone and see things as learning opportunities, both inside and outside of the classroom. Try not to spend your time avoiding mistakes. You may feel a certain pressure to perform or behave a certain way, but that outlook may become more of burden than the opportunity that it really is.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? It is pretty clear to me that Rotman provides an array of opportunities and paths. However, among other goals that I have, I plan to focus my education and skills in the financial industry and energy sector.

Yasmin Serrato-Muñoz

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Class: 2020

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I watched all the Star Wars movies in a day in order to understand what the developers at my job would joke about. I immediately became a fan.  

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgetown University; B.S. in Science, Technology, and International Affairs

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Accenture Federal Services, IT Strategy Consultant

What did your parents do for a living? My dad is a kitchen manager and my mom is a restaurant cook.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? My dad has a high school diploma. My mom attended some high school in Mexico but did not graduate.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My mother is my biggest inspiration because she embodies scrappiness and perseverance. My family and I became homeless when I was 12 years old. To keep us away from a homeless shelter, my parents moved us into a motel room. For months, I witnessed my mother rise at 4 a.m. and work long hours. Every day she laced up her shoes and did not complain.  She always remained positive and inspired me to do well in school in order to make her proud.

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? College was always an expectation in my family. It was seen as a way out of poverty and a path towards the American dream. However, college did not become a concrete goal for me until I was 12 and experienced homelessness and poverty. Even though I was young, I saw the contrast between people who had an education and those who did not. I decided that if I wanted to help my family, I needed to go to college because it opened doors to opportunities.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? I was worried about applying and paying for college. No one in my family had ever applied to college, so I had to figure out the application process along the way. I reached out to teachers and they taught me how to ask for a recommendation and how to communicate with schools about fee waivers. During high school, I also worked twenty hours per week, played varsity sports, and took on a rigorous course load in the hopes of earning a scholarship.  When it came time to submit applications, I applied to 16 schools and prayed for financial aid. Thankfully, Georgetown University was very supportive and granted me the Peter F. Karches scholarship that covered all tuition and expenses, and the Community Scholars Scholarship that allowed me to take summer prep-courses.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? As the oldest of four, I have always been very self-sufficient and independent. I graduated as the only Latina in the top of my high school class, and was ready to conquer the world. However, at Georgetown, I struggled with academics and culture. I studied hard, but I could not keep up with my coursework or understand the level of affluence of my classmates. My GPA and morale were low. By the fall semester of my sophomore year, I did a thing I had never done before: I asked for help. I reached out to older classmates and professors and shared my struggles. I admitted my knowledge gaps and skill shortcomings. By asking for help, I connected with academic resources and mentors who understood my upbringing and challenges. My struggle helped me grow and learn that asking for help was a strength. Being vulnerable in front of others allowed me to be genuine and to be a leader for others with similar experiences.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? My family did not understand the level of work that Georgetown would take. For so long, we believed that by making it to college, I had made it out of poverty. However, the real work started from the day I stepped on campus. I struggled to explain to my parents who worked 40+ hours how studying was rough. I had always been good at school, so they expected me to succeed but it was a rough start. I still remember when I came home after my first fall semester, my parents were worried because I was sleeping so much. I had to explain what finals were and how much sleep I had lost.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I worked in federal consulting and enjoyed working with mission driven agencies; however, I felt that I lacked the business foundations that I need to make a bigger impact with my clients. I began looking at the MBA degree because it would supplement my public sector experience and give me a different perspective to problem solving.

How did you choose your MBA program? “Stretch experience” is a phrase that Wharton uses frequently and a phrase that I identified with during my school research. It means to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and to try things you never thought you would. I knew that during my MBA I wanted to try things that I have never done before like hockey and advanced economics. However, I was worried that I was going to be able to perform. One of the amazing things about the stretch experience in the Wharton community is the support system. During pre-term, I gave a 60-second lecture and while my heart was pounding and I was sure I was rambling, my classmates cheered me. My learning team has also helped me explore my entrepreneurial side by brainstorming ideas with me.

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? My biggest worry was performing academically. I do not have a heavy quantitative background and Wharton prides itself on being a quantitative heavy school. I was also worried that I would not find a community. Wharton has a class of about 850 students; however, during preterm, I experienced how Wharton intentionally helps students create a community early on. I was assigned a Student Life Fellow with 18 other classmates and we had dinner. I was also assigned a Leadership Fellow who helps me and my learning team learn how to navigate the coursework the first semester. In addition, Wharton encourages students to participate in small group dinners, which have helped me connect with students from all over the world. After pre-term I felt ready to tackle academics and had a group of friends who came from all over the world.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first generation student? Wharton awarded me the Joseph Wharton Fellowship and that has helped me cover some of the cost of tuition. I cover the rest with a mix of savings and loans.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? Ask yourself, “Why not me?” and surround yourself with people who will cheer you on. I regret not pursuing opportunities because I did not think that I was qualified or that I would not fit in with the people. I think that mentality really closed some doors for me.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? In the short term, I want to pursue a consulting role where I can work with private companies and learn how they do business. In the long term, I would like to run for office in my home state of Florida where I can take the leadership lessons from Wharton and apply them to communities like the ones I came from.

Giovanni Cruz

Yale School of Management

Class: 2020

Hometown: Carolina, Puerto Rico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a twin sister.

Undergraduate School and Major: Industrial Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Director of Reporting & Analytics at Teach for America

What did your parents do for a living? My dad was a bus driver and my mom worked as a cashier at a bakery.

What was the highest level of education achieved by your mother and your
father? Both completed high school.

Which of your family members is your biggest inspiration? Why? My grandmother. After my parents’ divorce, my grandmother became heavily involved. To this day, she continues to guide me with her wisdom and helpful advice. I definitely wouldn’t be here without her!

What was the moment that led you to decide to pursue higher education? Growing up, I was fairly obsessed with home improvement shows. I wanted to be an architect or interior designer. Once I learned you had to go to college to be an architect, my mind was set: I wanted to go to college. With time, my interests changed, but my desire to go to college didn’t.

What was your biggest worry before going for your undergraduate degree? Fear of the unknown. Because I didn’t really know many people who had been to college, I really didn’t know what to expect.

What was the most challenging part of getting your undergraduate degree? I struggled, academically, my first two years in college. I went from being at the top of my class in high school to finishing my first semester with a 2.78 GPA. It was tough! With the support of family and friends, though, I was able to push through and graduate with honors.

What didn’t your family understand about the higher education experience that you wish they would understand better? The truth is my family was incredibly supportive and continues to be to this day. Because nobody in my family had been to college, though, I couldn’t ask them for advice related to finding an internship or navigating my way through a difficult class.

What led you to pursue an MBA degree? I wanted to switch functions (within the nonprofit sector) and figured getting an MBA would be the quickest way to do it.

How did you choose your MBA program? Yale SOM’s mission of educating students for business and society really shines through their student body. I wanted a program where my fellow classmates would share my passion for contributing to society, and I believe I’ve found it at SOM!

What was your biggest worry before starting your MBA? It has been (and continues to be) financials. An MBA is a huge investment. Unfortunately, my family isn’t able to financially contribute.

How were you able to finance your MBA as a first-generation student? Fortunately, I received a scholarship from the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. To cover the rest, I took out federal loans.

What advice would you have for other first-generation college students? It’s better to serve than to be served. Make sure you help others along the way.

What do you plan to pursue after graduation? Social impact consulting, with the long-term goal of leading strategy for a large nonprofit.

The post First Gen: Inspiring Stories Of MBAs Who Beat The Odds appeared first on Poets&Quants.

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