Miguel Sanchez : 0:10

Welcome to first gen 1 0 1, the podcast where first-generation graduates share their stories and courier tips. I am your host. Miguel Sanchez. And this episode, Lada shares her college journey of perseverance. Self discovery and building a future. Listen in to learn more and be inspired by loud us experience. Welcome to another episode of the first gen one on one podcast. Today we have Laura Valencia Gomez. Laura, thank you for being here today.

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 0:45

Thank you for having me, Miguel.

Miguel Sanchez : 0:47

Laura, can you tell me about your background?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 0:51

I was born in Manizales, Colombia. It is a city on a mountain. I call it, mom, dad, they came to America because they couldn't find work. That was when I was, 12 years old. They came to New York. First, my dad, to lay the groundwork. Then my mom and I came a year after. We were in Austin, so Westchester based kind of always, and then Fox Lane High School, you know, and then the whole education system, but pretty much my background starts in Columbia, and was raised in Westchester.

Miguel Sanchez : 1:22

Do you remember anything about Columbia? How was that growing up?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 1:27

What I remember growing up was just surrounded by family. Latinos. Are raised by community. So all I remember is all of my family members. I remember coming to America, like I moved when I was four. The memories are sparse, that I have before that. But, just remember a lot of family and then coming here, I remember not having that much family.

Miguel Sanchez : 1:50

How was the process of choosing a college for you?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 1:55

I remember, I went to Fox Lane High School, at the time it was predominantly white, the way I chose, a college, before involving my parents and resources was just where my friends were going, my friends were going to Yale, Harvard, so I was like, okay, I guess that's where I want to go, And then meeting with a guidance counselor's reality set in that these are really expensive schools and you have to have Really high academic standing and the high academic standing I had but Then became the challenge of, okay, where realistically can you go? Because, you're in Fox Lane High School and all your friends are going to these places, but realistically, where can you go? That's when the fear set in. Couldn't ask my parents. The way I chose a college is I actually got involved in an organization called LUCA, Latino Youth College Access. They helped with everything. They helped me make my college list, and realistically see where I could go. I also got a scholarship, thankfully, at my high school, and they kind of geared my focus to some schools that were more affordable. In the end, I chose Binghamton University

Miguel Sanchez : 3:01

did you visit the schools your first day of college. The first time you visited the college you attended, how was that process of the search and the visits? we know these big colleges and names, but we often don't know where they are. Did you get to visit this colleges and how was that like for you?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 3:21

Yeah, I was fortunate enough where I had, a lot of friends that, had the privilege to visit. Big colleges. So I did go with my American friends to visit Boston. I went to see Harvard. I went to Chicago to see Northwestern. And I think after all of those and kind of, wow, this is amazing. And after reality set in I told my parents I wanted to visit Binghamton. So it was a little family trip because it was more like realistically, this is where we're going to go. And I remember that trip. My parents took a weekend. I think It was a day for prospective students, We were able to drive up, thankfully, and I got to see the place before choosing it. I was fortunate enough where I did get to see a lot of universities, and I got to see Binghamton before I went. So, the first day wasn't too scary, scary for other reasons, but not for me. Because I hadn't seen it before.

Miguel Sanchez : 4:18

What was your parents reaction when they arrived at Binghamton?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 4:24

They were shocked. I think they were impressed. I think they would have been more impressed with the other schools, but that was the first school they had visited ever. My mother went to a two year school. She got her associate's degree in Columbia. My father, he also got an associate's degree, for art. So it's, And there were small institutions. I went to visit Columbia and I saw them very small schools. They look like high schools, sort of. So I think when they saw Binghamton it just kind of looked like a castle. I remember my sister was just like, why are we here? What is this place? Super cool. And I think they were excited. I think they felt safe seeing it. And I think they felt that it was everything they wanted for their daughter the sense I got.

Miguel Sanchez : 5:08

So you're now at your first semester in college. were some of the biggest challenges you encountered as a first generation student?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 5:19

The biggest challenges that I encountered I think was just the sense of imposter syndrome was a big one. Every student I met, like my roommates really felt like they belonged and had a clear career path. I felt very alone in that, where like, all I know was that I need to graduate college. After that, I have zero goals. You know, my parents have pushed finish college. Okay, that's what my focus is. So it was very, it was eye opening. I got to meet a lot of people and, hear a lot of stories and I love talking to people. So that's great. However, the more stories, the more ideas and the more, the more I wanted to figure out what I wanted to do. And I will say I went in pre med, so first semester I was very excited with all the pre med students. That first semester was okay because the adjustment, you know, I was adjusting when you're, distracted, it's okay. I think it started to settle in after a couple months.

Miguel Sanchez : 6:20

How did you overcome? That separation of being away from home, in addition to the challenges of, this imposter syndrome.

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 6:32

I called my mom a lot. She was someone I, called to when I was crying, when I got a good grade, When anything big happened, she was just someone I kept in contact with. I felt really bad for my dad and sister. I think I kind of avoided them in a way, if that makes sense. Thanksgiving was kind of weird, because no one was mad at me. They were happy to see me. My dad and sister were not mad that they hadn't heard from me. My mom was telling them everything. So that separation was incredibly difficult because there's so many questions. It's a new normal for you and your family. And it's an adjustment period. I just really held on to my mom through the phone and was very thankful when I saw them for Thanksgiving, it was like running, driving, rushing home.

Miguel Sanchez : 7:18

One of the things I've noticed about successful students like yourself is the role of mentors in their life. How did you find mentors through the college process and how are some of the ways that they helped you?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 7:37

I think the best mentors come naturally. Not saying that if you seek them, they won't be amazing. Mine came naturally I had an amazing academic advisor who mentored me in picking my major. I think that is something people. take lightly sometimes picking a major, can be light because you can do anything with any major. However, just having someone to kind of guide you and I, Sort of went through like four different majors. So he would meet with me ask if this is truly what I wanted, what I saw, what I would get out of these courses that I was choosing, what I truly wanted. So he came very naturally and he just kind of guided me. He's someone that I'll always remember, but not someone that I talked to frequently. Another natural mentor that I was able to work with was, a Peace Corps. Recruiter. I was a Peace Corps ambassador in college. And this recruiter, I was the only ambassador. So, for the first year he came from a military background, so he was very strict. And I think, me as a very small Latino girl, it was very aggressive. But he taught me how to deal with very, Difficult people. He taught me how to, lead a presentation, how to go into different classes with strangers and ask if anyone is interested in the Peace Corps because it's so great, even though I've never been in it. So sales, you know, selling something that, you don't even fully know. He was great. He wrote me a recommendation. These are natural mentors that I know I can talk to, whenever I need to, they really shaped me and just thankfully they came at the right time. I wasn't even seeking them, but they kind of pushed me and taught me, Honestly, I'm here because of them.

Miguel Sanchez : 9:25

Terrific. And for those, listening and wondering, what is the Peace Corps? Can you tell us, briefly what they do and, what type of work you did as an ambassador?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 9:35

Yes, so the Peace Corps, it's a government agency, it was created, like, back in the, in the 90s, and it was just an initiative to have Americans help foreign countries. So what the Peace Corps is when you sign up is, it's a two year contract where you select the focus you want, For example, I, I applied to be, to do youth development. So that was like the section, the sector that I wanted to be in. And then you choose a country, any country, they have a list of countries and exactly what, what they need. And you're there for two years, live with a host family and do your work. You're representing America, but, you're really in the nitty gritty. You're in it. And similarly, I don't know if people have heard AmeriCorps, which is in America and that's teachers. So it's, Americans who just want to teach for, a year, and it's just kind of like giving back, as the ambassador, it was promoting that. I would meet with this recruiter, A couple of times and he would hand me the pamphlets I would go around clubs and classes and hand out pamphlets, kind of get interest. I would host, info sessions with the recruiter, I'm very proud I learned marketing and communication. It was good.

Miguel Sanchez : 10:47

Before we talk about getting your first job and the work that you do now, How do you think completing your undergrad degree transformed your life?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 11:01

I think I would say it was the first biggest achievement I've ever made. It transformed me and, I did it, it was really difficult. I think for anyone, college is very difficult. It's fun, but it's also incredibly, taxing, emotionally draining, all those things. So I'm very grateful for that time. I feel like I learned so much during that time. I'm different because of everything I learned. It changes you. It's four years. You meet the people that you're going to talk to the rest of your life. It's very, transformative everything changes, hopefully, right?

Miguel Sanchez : 11:42

How was the process of getting your first job out of college?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 11:49

I went the AmeriCorps route. If you have resources, if you have those connections, it makes it a lot easier. My mentor, from the Peace Corps recruiter, I unfortunately was not able to do the Peace Corps, for other reasons. He told me about AmeriCorps. And That's what I wanted to do. It was an easy application. I was heading to Newark, New Jersey to, a charter school to be an ELA tutor. I just wanted something quick. I knew everyone was having getting jobs. Everyone was leaving. I knew there was going to be no more college. I didn't want to move back home again, but yes, I wanted to see my family, but I've been living away for four years. So getting that job was very exciting. Nerve wracking and making that decision and move.

Miguel Sanchez : 12:38

And for everyone listening, we will have links to the AmeriCorps and PeaceCorps in the show notes so you can learn more if you're interested in perhaps pursuing a career with them. What are some of the challenges first gen students face as they start their careers? Do you think it's the networking? Do you think it's the self confidence? What are some challenges first gen students face?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 13:03

Thank you nailed it. And I think I'll speak a little bit about them both. The networking, it's just very strange to leave college and go into the workforce and just people know each other. They know how to talk to each other. And you ask them, where'd you learn this? And, oh, I did an internship. At that point, I hadn't done any internships. The lack of networking led to self confidence. Self esteem issues. Do I really belong? Did I really study the right thing am I actually prepared to do this? Everyone looks kind of older, like everyone looks kind of more prepared. So all those feelings kind of came in. And then the responsibility, I think, a big part of it. The thing that came was the weight of the responsibility of being the first person in your family to actually have a job,

Miguel Sanchez : 13:58

being a first gen student and getting your first job, you're navigating in uncharted territory, so to speak. Part of why we're doing this podcast is because there are. Wonderful people like you and others doing this work and we don't often know or understand what it takes to get there. So just want to applaud that you have done great in that sense. Coming to the last section of this conversation. Tell me about the work that you do now and how are you and the organization helping first generation students?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 14:39

So I am now the college success manager for Latino U College Access. It's an organization that helps first generation Latino students in the West Chester area in eight high schools, we're at right now. And there's two programs. There's the Access program. So. The scholars apply their junior year of high school, and in the ACCESS program, until they graduate high school, LUCA gives them a coach. So this coach helps with the college list, the essay writing. The decision making, we have managers who also meet one on one with our students, kind of keep trackers to make sure they have everything handed in. There's also SAT, ACT classes given for them. And then a success side, which I'm the manager of, is when the students are in college. So what, while I'm there in college, what I kind of do is I do check ins with them. These are very important because, college is very difficult. And I think a lot of Latinos, first generation,

Miguel Sanchez : 15:46

Hello.

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 15:50

Being the first person, you don't want to tell your parents you're failing, I think we avoid it. I think that it's very important to have an organization who checks in on you, honestly. So I do these check ins and then we work on career readiness workshops to get them ready. Like resume building, LinkedIn building, interview, skills, stuff like that. They're part of the alumni network once they graduate college. So, we say LUCA is kind of for life, Latino youth of a huge family. And, we just support first generation Latino students to not just get to college, but finish and then succeed after.

Miguel Sanchez : 16:28

I think helping first generation students get to college is the first step, but doing that follow up It's an equally important step. It's important to have them in college but as you said, who's checking in with them and there are challenges, hardships that students may not be comfortable sharing with even their parents or other people, but having someone who checks on them, it's really critical. So, again, I applaud LUCA and its work and we will have a link to their website on the show notes. Check it out and please support it. It is a not for profit organization. Whoever's listening, make sure you support the work that Luca is doing. And to end, I want to ask you what do you wish you had known as a first generation student, knowing what you know now?

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 17:21

From what I know now, I wish I had known that it's okay to not know. It's okay that everyone else around you kind of knows. I promise you, things will change. Life happens. I just wish I had known that, I could have talked to my parents a little bit more, been more honest, I was shocked when they weren't mad at me. I think a lot of first gen students will be shocked that, their families just miss you, they just want to hear from you. I think I also wish I had known about more resources. I didn't get to do an internship. I was just struggling with classes and social life and people. balancing family life. When summer hit, I did not want to do an internship. I wanted to see my friends and see my family and spend time with them. I think just knowing that it's okay not to know, but then also you don't know what you don't. So learn, be connected.

Miguel Sanchez : 18:16

Laura, thank you for speaking with me today.

Laura Valentina Valencia Gomez: 18:19

Thank you, Miguel, for having me. It was a pleasure.

Miguel Sanchez : 18:23

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the episode. Subscribe to this podcast and share it with a friend. Until next time.