Summer 2022
Founder’s Message:

This summer we are recruiting our fourth cohort of FirstGen Ahead college juniors. While any first-generation college junior can apply online, it typically takes a conversation with a caring and connected adult to point students our way. We’re grateful for our partnerships with The Steppingstone Foundation and the Student Support Services programs at both Brandeis University and Salem State University in identifying first-generation college juniors who can benefit from our services. 

We are slightly revising our model with this fourth cohort of students. In the past, students would immediately begin working with a coach over a 17-month period. Simultaneously, during their junior year, they would be working with a peer group on select projects. What students will experience this coming fall semester is similar peer group activities, such as networking and informational interviews. Students will also receive expert guidance from a Master Coach on honing their marketing materials. However, it will not be until the spring semester that each student will be matched with one of our amazing volunteer coaches. This way, they will begin working with a coach with some key materials in place, with more clarity on their interests, and after having demonstrated their commitment to the process. Working one-on-one with a volunteer coach will then be tailored to a student’s individual needs. Also, in the spring semester, the students will continue meeting as a peer group, which will include learning from hiring managers and young professionals about applying for positions as well as receiving advice on transitioning from college to career. During their senior year, students will continue working with their coaches.

This summer we congratulated our seniors on their transition to post-degree employment. We’re excited to report that several of them had multiple job offers in a career of their choosing. While they have officially graduated from our program, we look forward to remaining in contact and being of support when and if needed in the future. In fact, the majority of our graduates spontaneously make that request of their coaches!

Wishing you a joyful, safe, and productive remainder of the summer.

                                   Susan Gershenfeld, PhD
“ We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”
— Oprah Winfrey
New Position - Leading Practices
By Marjorie Mizes, FirstGen Ahead Coach

During the first few months of your employment, your colleagues and managers will form first impressions about you. Practice these skills to show your best self.

Listen.
There's a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Pay attention to the ebb and flow of meeting conversations. Take note of who dominates the conversation and who are the listeners and thinkers.

Observe.
Note the way your managers and senior managers interact with each other. Note how they dress. Take your work and wardrobe cues from them.

Ask.
Don't be afraid of asking good questions such as, "What else was considered before it was decided to do XYZ? How did that work out?" Make sure you don't repeat questions that someone else has already asked.

Contribute.
You can quickly add value and make new contributions to your new organization. It begins by raising your hand. Say yes to helping on a new project or leading a volunteer program. Show your organization they can rely on you by doing what you say you will do. You might feel a little bit out of your comfort zone, but that's an indicator that you are growing.


Avoid.
Avoid gossiping and negativity. When you hear people gossiping, don't contribute to it--walk away from the conversation. Gossip is an energy drain and serves no value to your organization. Don't be a part of it.

While you don't need to be a sunny optimist all the time, be someone who is always open to hearing, listening, and learning. Stop yourself if you catch yourself saying, "That won't work." or "We can't do it that way."
Valuable College to Career Transition Advice
By Gisel Ureña 
2022 Graduate (Computer Science, Business)
Brandeis University


Hola! I am excited to share with you how valuable it is for me to be a FirstGen Ahead scholar, as well as share a meaningful experience!
 
Before graduation, I had the opportunity to attend the “FirstGen Ahead - Career Transition Panel” and learn insightful information and wise advice from the three incredible panelists, Cameron Mendes-Moreau, Lydia Casmier Derfler, and Mariane St. Juste on the importance of building a strong foundation when transitioning out of college into your first job. In addition, I learned about their fears and hopes and what they experienced during this transition time in their lives.
 
Without a doubt, there is power in being able to relate and learn from young professionals that made it and succeeded through what I experienced when I graduated in May, knowing that I would be starting my new position in a couple of short months. Even though graduating is something to celebrate and be excited about, unfortunately, as a first-generation student with financial difficulties, it was also a scary, stressful, and draining experience. Yet, there is a relief when you can feel supported by those with similar backgrounds and feel encouraged because if they did it, I can do it, too!
 
I am thankful for words of wisdom from each of the panelists that will be essential as I take each step towards becoming a professional. Mariane St. Juste said, “Before you start your position, write down your goals and expectations from this role. Then write down all the skills that you are learning that help when you want to ask for a raise and promotion. Also, don’t forget to join different communities within your company!” This is definitely one of the best transitional pieces of advice I have ever received. 
 
When Cameron Mendes-Moreau’s comment, “Embrace the things that challenge you the most and set short- and medium-term goals in your career” truly landed in my heart. As someone who is always thinking about the future, it is a great reminder to be present and divide and conquer with short-term and mid-term goals. I look forward to learning more and growing from the challenges and opportunities that will come my way during this time in my life.
 
Lydia Casmier Derfler hit the nail right on the head when she said, “Once you start, schedule 1-1 biweekly meeting with your supervisor for professional development and ask for feedback.” Strong relationships are part of a strong foundation and feedback builds strong performance. I will make sure to raise the bar through these powerful connections and relationships that will help me grow professionally and even personally.
 
I get to walk confidently toward the next stage in my life knowing I have a team that supports me, guides me, and celebrates me. Being a FirstGen Ahead scholar is one of the biggest blessings I have received! Thank you for all that you do. Let the legacy continue…
An Upside to Imposter Syndrome

Nearly 70% of people have entertained imposter thoughts at one point in their career, including extremely successful people like Albert Einstein and Maya Angelou. “Imposter Syndrome” is commonly thought of as a feeling of being inadequate and a fraud – with the fear of being discovered as an imposter – despite experiencing success at work. Certainly, the belief that you’re not as competent as others think you are can make you anxious, increase stress, lower your self-esteem, and interfere with pursuing goals. These downsides are well known, but it is not all bad news.

New research by Basima Tewfik, an assistant professor at MIT Sloan, has found that there is an upside to having imposter thoughts. Her research found that experiencing this phenomenon can make you more adept at relationships, a key ingredient to career success. Dr. Tewfik found imposter thoughts make you more “other-oriented” – more attuned to other people’s perceptions and feelings – which makes you more likable. In addition, she found in her research that having imposter thoughts did not hurt performance. Click on this link to read the study.

Image source: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/workplace-impostor-thoughts-may-have-a-genuine-upside
Exiting a Coaching Relationship

FirstGen Ahead coaches support their students during their junior and senior years of college. Once the student graduates, then what? Has that relationship served its purpose and not be useful in the future or will it continue to be helpful and, if so, in what ways? Sometimes the relationship continues based on a mutual agreement. If this isn’t the case, what is the appropriate way to conclude a coaching relationship? Here are some tips for students:

  • Meet face-to-face if possible. (Don’t let the relationship simply fade away.)
  • Emphasize your appreciation to your coach.
  • Describe what you’ve learned from your coach and how those skills will help your career going forward.
  • Ask your coach how they have seen you grow and the professional “rough edges” they believe you should continue to focus on.
  • If you would like to maintain some degree of contact, then agree on the frequency of those meetings; identify an easy-to-remember time of the year to re-connect, such as on the 4th of July.
  • Don’t burn bridges – you never know when your paths will cross either directly or indirectly through others in your network.

Image source: https://carlyanderson.com/ways-to-conclude-a-coaching-engagement
Money Matters

According to a recent Harris Poll, nearly 40% of married or engaged people between the ages of 18 and 34 have signed prenuptial agreements. According to experts, one likely reason is the historic levels of debt, such as student loans, which many younger Americans have. In “community property” states, where assets are typically split fifty-fifty upon divorce, this community property principle extends to debt. This means creditors can seize the community property of both spouses, or even garnish their wages, to collect on any existing debts. To put this simply, you could be responsible for your ex-spouse’s student loan and credit card debt and likewise, they could be responsible for yours. Prenups, especially in the “community property” states, have become a way for some couples to shield each other from the American debt-collection system. To learn more, click on this link.
Did You Know?

It’s a common practice for a hiring manager to ask assistants for their impressions of an interview candidate. Whether you are interviewing or visiting another organization on business, be kind to the office assistants, receptionists, and everyone else you meet on the way in and on the way out. They are part of your process. They aren’t called gatekeepers for nothing.
How Would You Answer This Question?

In your life, what would success look like five years from now? What does your answer tell you about yourself? What are your short- and long-term plans for reaching your success markers?
Contact Susan Gershenfeld, susan@firstgenahead.org with any questions.
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