Episode 18: A First Gen’s Immigrant Journey to College and Thoughts as a Parent

In this episode, Luz chats with a fellow first generation college grad Mr. John about his experience as an immigrant, figuring out college during the 70s, his journey post college, and his thoughts of seeing his own daughters go to college as a first-gen turned parent. 

In this episode you will hear from: 

-College grad and parent Mr. John who offers his life lessons from immigrating to the US from Trinidad at age 16 to deciding to go to college almost on a whim and the challenges and experiences he faced along the way including: attending an HBCU in the 70s, navigating the job market during the Houston oil bust, joining the military, and becoming a parent of 2 daughters that both decided to leave home for college.

For our first gen friends, he stresses that some of the lessons that helped him or would have helped him along the way include: asking questions, seeking mentors, making connections and building a community/peer group, learning to prioritize, and making sure to speak up for yourself.   

For our parents, he emphasizes that learning to trust your children even since high school is important and if they decide to leave home for school it’s important to provide them support and let them grow up. 

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