Episode 1: Taking a Leap of Faith

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Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with special guests, Xavi and Rogelio, two Marketing students navigating higher education as first-generation college students. In this episode, our guests share their first impressions of the daunting college application process, shedding light on the challenges they faced and the triumphs they experienced.

Xavi and Rogelio discuss the complexities of being the first in their families to embark on a college journey. They talk about the overwhelming nature of selecting a major, a decision many take for granted but one that carries immense weight for first-gen students. Together, they explore the unique pressures and expectations they encountered, both internally and externally, and how these factors influenced their choices.

Through reflections, our guests provide a raw and authentic look at the experience of being first gen. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the resilience required to overcome obstacles and the importance of building a support system.

Whether you're a first-gen college student, a prospective applicant, or someone simply interested in the human side of higher education, this episode promises to be an eye-opening journey into the experiences of Xavi and Rogelio as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of pursuing their dreams.

Episode Transcript:

Paloma (00:00:16) - Hello. Hello, everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Diaries of First Gen This is your host, Paloma. And today I'm with my guests, Xavi and Rogelio. So. Hey, guys., do you guys want to introduce yourselves? Xavi (00:00:35) - Yeah. I'll start. My name is Xavi or Paloma calls me Xavi., and,. Yeah. So I'll be here. Speaking about my experience, I am a transfer student, so I'll touch on on that as well. But I'm excited. Thank you for having me. Paloma (00:00:48) - Yeah. Thank you for being here. You want to talk a little bit about yourself? Rogelio (00:00:53) - Yeah., my name is Rogelio, and. I'm also a transfer student. I am also a marketing major. And yeah, we'll see where this goes. Paloma (00:01:03) - Okay, nice. So today we got two marketing majors in the house. Yep. Yeah. Business department. Let's go. Yeah okay. Okay. Yeah, yeah., yeah. I don't know if I mentioned it to you guys, but, like, I'm an English major, so like, just putting it out there. Paloma (00:01:20) - , so today in this podcast, we're going to be talking about like, well, what was your experience like,, navigating, you know, the college application process from like, you can talk about the transfer process,, just like starting off like straight out of high school, like, how was it for you guys? Because the whole premise is just that we're first gen. So, like, we didn't really have anyone guiding us through it. So like, how was it for you guys? Like, you know. Paloma (00:01:47) - Yeah. Yeah. Xavi (00:01:48) - So definitely it wasn't easy and it still is. And it still isn't easy. It still doesn't get any easier. Like yeah. So I feel like especially like when I transferred. Yeah., I noticed that there's like, students out there who, like, their parents are graduates and they can go to their parents to ask them questions about college and stuff. I don't have that. Yeah., and like, my mom has, has, like, a middle school education. Xavi (00:02:10) - And so when she sees my homework, she's like, are you kidding me? Or I stayed way behind, you know, I know, yeah., and so when I felt lost during my transfer process, I was like, who do I go to? I don't have anybody. I wish, I wish I was these other kids that they have, like parents who were, who are graduates to, to go, to go to for questions., but yeah, definitely. Like when I graduated high school, I graduated,, like in the middle of a pandemic. Yeah. And so I thought about, like, my entire elementary years, middle school, high school years., I mean, I gave myself the idea I'm going to move away. I'm going to go go to college and have that four year college experience. Yeah., but when the pandemic happened, it, like, twisted everything and it turned everything. Everybody was doing online schooling. And so I was like, then what's the point of me going to like, a faraway school if I'm just going to be online? So I ended up going to my local community college. Xavi (00:03:01) - , and that application,, it was fairly simple. It was free, which I liked. Yeah., but I remember we had like some workshops online of, like, the school of,, the community college that would like, guide us through the application. But then, like, I thought it was just the application and then you're done. But there's like steps after, so like, right. It's like. Yeah. And then I was like, wait, wait a minute. What do you mean? I registered for my own classes. What do you mean? I have to speak to a counselor to tell me what classes to take. And so those were things I had to learn. Like on my own. Yeah., but,, I was asking, like, so many questions, and there were times where, like, I was shy. Paloma (00:03:39) - I get it, you know. Xavi (00:03:41) - , because I felt like I was asking too much, but it's just because as a first gen, you don't have somebody to to, like, tell you at home. Xavi (00:03:47) - Yeah., so you have to branch out. You have to be the person that speaks up for yourself. That that's how I experienced my my first application., but that's that's one application. There's then there's like the Fafsa application, Fafsa one. Yeah. And then it was just like a whole headache. But,, I think about it now, I'm like, I'm a junior now. Like, that was literally two years ago. I'm almost done. Yeah. It's like, okay, I'm doing it, I'm doing it., but yeah. How was your your your your process. Yeah. Paloma (00:04:18) - Like tell us a little bit about your process. I mean. Rogelio (00:04:20) - It's going to be the same story. Xavi (00:04:21) - Yeah I know you graduated your your your before me. Right. Yeah. Rogelio (00:04:25) - So like right when the pandemic technically started okay. That two, two week break turned into no longer going to school, right? Yeah. Xavi (00:04:33) - Yeah. I remember when we were so hyped because it was like, oh, two whole weeks. Xavi (00:04:36) - Oh yeah. Yeah. You know. Paloma (00:04:39) - Like past two weeks. I was like. Rogelio (00:04:41) - That was that was the worst. I, I lost everything for, for,, like a high school senior. Yeah. It was, it was tough, but like, it was fine. It definitely did change. Like,, my plans because I was going to go. Basically my plans were either I go into a school, a four year,, university, debt free or all in, and I'm going to go into debt. Like that was like. Paloma (00:05:04) - That was like, you're like, yeah. Rogelio (00:05:06) - You know, you. Xavi (00:05:06) - Were fine being in debt. Yeah. I was so scared of. Rogelio (00:05:10) - If I was going to go like. Paloma (00:05:10) - Yeah, yeah. I was so scared. And like all my, my teachers in high school, they were like, oh, like, guys, it's okay if you need to take out loans. And I remember one of my professors or my teachers was like, oh, you know, you can take it like a subsidized loan and it unsubsidized subsidized loan. Paloma (00:05:26) - And I'm I still confused about that, you know. Rogelio (00:05:29) - And that's that's the thing though like it's just the information was definitely being first gen like it's definitely not there. So that's the main problem. Yeah. Personally the little bit that I look into it because like even now, like I thought I looked into it pretty well. Looking at it now, there's still a lot that I don't know and there's still stuff that I wish I did, but but yeah, basically I was like either going to I'm going to go into all the way to debt and go to a good school or go debt free. And then because of the pandemic, I was going to like. Travel across the country to the other., all the way to new Jersey to to study and go into debt, like just straight out. And then I ended up just staying here. Yeah. Paloma (00:06:09) - , and you were willing to make that sacrifice of, like, traveling all the way to the other side of the US. But. Rogelio (00:06:14) - Yeah, but due to Covid and in the, like a family emergency, you can say,, ended up staying. Rogelio (00:06:19) - I was like, okay, you know, I'm going to go to a two year, like, because it was free... Paloma (00:06:24) - So what was your college like? Rogelio (00:06:26) - It was completely free. So I was like, you know, might as well see where I go from here. And then, then. Yeah. And then I just, I transferred over and even then, like that process was like there was still information missing. It was like, I wish I studied more, looked into more like what I actually need to do because I. Because that's that's the thing that I would recommend. Just talk to your counselors from both schools, like just be as knowledgeable as you can and talk to anybody that's literally there to help you. Yeah. And even though that I did that, I wish I did it more because now I like now being here in this four year university, I'm like, damn, I just would have like taken one more class, right? One more class. I would have been able to double major a few more classes. Rogelio (00:07:06) - I would have been able to do so much more. It would have been so much easier. And like, I can still do it. I know I can, but it's just if I just would have just been more prepared, I would have been able to do more. Paloma (00:07:15) - Yeah, that's so true. Yeah. Especially like you guys, like I know your major is, like, so versatile, but, like, even then, you know, there's so much more that you could do. Xavi (00:07:23) - I didn't know what I wanted to major in. And I feel like this is a problem for a lot of first generation. Right? Paloma (00:07:28) - Like you really don't know. Xavi (00:07:29) - Yeah. Because, like, your whole life. So, like, depending depending I guess on the individual. But I grew up with like a, a in a single parent household. And my mom worked like labor hard jobs, jobs. Paloma (00:07:41) - Yeah, she. Xavi (00:07:42) - Was out in the field. She was out being a waitress or, like, cleaning,, businesses and stuff. Xavi (00:07:47) - Yeah, yeah. And so I grew up watching that. And so she always told me, you know, get your get your office, get your your office job. Got the office job, right. Paloma (00:07:56) - The American. Xavi (00:07:57) - Dream. Yeah. And so when and I'm always like,, as a little kid, you're like, oh, I want to be a doctor. Like, like these really big job titles. And then as you get older, you're like, wait a minute, to be a doctor, you have to go to like 12 years of school. Who's going to pay for that? Yeah. And so,, I ended up like people were telling me, you still have time to worry about it. And I took it to heart. And then I was a senior. The world was shut off, but I was a senior, and I was like, what am I going to do? Yeah., senioritis hit me, I remember, and I was just like, I don't know if I want to go to school. Xavi (00:08:27) - Yeah, I don't know if I want to keep going, but I have to like for my mom, like, she told me to like my office job. And then the point is, like, I go to the community college, I'm there, and I end up changing my major like six times before I finally landed on on business. Paloma (00:08:41) - Business? Xavi (00:08:42) - Yeah., and then I at the community college decided on business. And then when I transferred, I was like, okay, what do you want to concentrate in? Right. Yeah. And so I was like, okay, so you have to make another decision on what you want to do., and then I ended up concentrating in marketing, but like, nobody, nobody understands like, the pressure of a person. You know, that's true because you have to they there's so much, so many expectations about you, about how you're supposed to have everything already planned out or or they think it's like, such an easy thing to do., it wasn't for me in my case. Xavi (00:09:15) - , sure. Maybe not for a lot of other first gens, but but it's perfectly fine. Like, I know there's a stigma out there, like,, when I wouldn't know something to help my mom out. She's like, well, then why are you going to school? Like, yeah, yeah for sure. Yeah, yeah. So I'm like, it's perfectly fine not to know things like that's why we're learning. It's a learning process. Yeah., so even if you don't even, even if you don't know what you want to major in, that's still fine. Like, this is why community college, at least for me, it was like an amazing route to go because I was able to dip into different areas, right? And try different things out before finally finding what I liked., but yeah. Did you guys know what you wanted to do off of, like, straight out of high school? Out of graduation? Paloma (00:09:55) - I knew, but it switched. But like, I knew what I wanted to do. Paloma (00:09:59) - Yeah. And it's like, yeah, it's a whole process. And I think that what really influences like, you know, because coming from a Latino household, I feel like, like you said, you see your parents, you know, working in like, labor jobs and like hands on stuff, not corporate jobs, right? Careers. And the thing is, is that they think they have this, like, preconceived notion that, oh, you're going to go your four years, you're going to get your degree and straight out of school, you're going to get a job. Right? Because I feel like that's like the thing with like, Hispanics or like Latinos, they're like, oh, yeah, the whole premise is like, oh, it's because you're getting job, you know, like, go get that job. Grab that job. Right? And it's just like, oh, working, working, working. So, you know, and it's like, you know, there's so many things that until, you know, higher education and community college and like a four year university, right. Paloma (00:10:48) - Like you said, like to be a doctor. It's like 12 years. Yeah. But they don't see that, right? It's just like, oh no, but you know, you're gonna get a job as a doctor, right? Xavi (00:10:54) - They're just like my son. My daughter is going to be a doctor. Paloma (00:10:56) - Right? Yeah. It's just, like, easier. Xavi (00:10:58) - Said than done. Paloma (00:10:59) - Exactly, exactly. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Speaker 5 (00:11:02) - What about you, Liam? Like. Rogelio (00:11:05) - . Oh. Like, know what I want to do? Xavi (00:11:06) - Yeah. Did you know right off the bat, or did you have to, like, try some things out a little bit? Rogelio (00:11:11) - I kind of already knew what I wanted to do. I did pivot sometimes. The biggest pivot was, I think at first I wanted to be a lawyer. And then I kind of found out, like, that job isn't as fun as I thought I'd be, you know, like, yeah, I. Paloma (00:11:22) - Think it wasn't like the show suits. Rogelio (00:11:26) - Yeah. Basically, I just everything I kept learning is, like, as interesting as it is, I don't think I'd be fit for it. Yeah. And then,, that's when I kind of switched to business, and I didn't know what kind of business I want to do, but I was like, it's fine. I'll just. I'll figure it out later. Like, I don't I don't I don't need to know now. Yeah. And then during, during community college, I was I think I then switched to marketing at some point because to me the biggest things I wanted to do was some kind of business.. Some kind of like math you could say, but like I didn't know what kind of business. And then the other thing I'm passionate about is like graphic design. So I was like marketing is a perfect cause. Like that's the most graphic design related section of business. And then technically if I go to an analytical side, I'm like, that's, that's the perfect mix. And then that I kind of just kind of where I stuck. Rogelio (00:12:16) - But now coming here at this four year university, I took some classes. I'm like, no, I kind of want to do finance now. Xavi (00:12:22) - My finance bro is amazing at numbers. Anyways. Proceed. Paloma (00:12:26) - It's like a math. Xavi (00:12:27) - Whiz, I know. I wish that was me. And yeah, that's. Rogelio (00:12:32) - Also why I kind of want to do. I'm like, now I'm seeing I can actually can do business analytics, but like, do I really want to throw myself out there because I don't actually have any experience? Yeah, because that's the thing. Like you just have no like your family is like you got that hard labor, right? Paloma (00:12:45) - Yeah. Rogelio (00:12:46) - Personally, my mom was a janitor. Yeah. So she would always like, say, like what you guys were saying, like, be the person who works at the office, not cleaning it, or she would,, yeah. Houses as well. Be the person who lives in this nice house. Not the place. Paloma (00:13:00) - Yes, yes. Paloma (00:13:00) - Yeah. That stuff. Paloma (00:13:01) - Yeah. Rogelio (00:13:02) - But. And, like. And that's the thing like your closest family, you don't have no actual, like, large experience, you know, that part of the world, but not like the other side. The other side. Like if I want to go into business, I don't have, like, an uncle that has his own business right now to that level or like that field. And it's like I just kind of have to go off of what I see. But what I feel about it, and that's where I'm at right now. I was like, I don't know what I want to do. Like, do I really like I like marketing at this level where I'm at, but I'm really learning it in the real world. Am I actually going to like it right? Am I going to be creative enough and then like seeing what like analytics? Am I going to know enough to actually be good at it? Or do I even want to do it? And I'm learning that, you know, it's fine. Rogelio (00:13:40) - I can still pivot later in life. Yeah. But like the problem is now and I need to figure in it now. And it's like, well, I see where it takes me. Yeah. But that's why I'm right now I'm, I'm marketing my switch over to finance for business analytics. But I'll figure it out. I still got some time. Xavi (00:13:55) - I feel like a lot of being first gen is taking that leap of faith. That's true because there's not a lot of people there. We might not have a lot of people who know how to guide us, like like they didn't know how to guide us through school or help us through, like, our college path. But also they don't know the expectation that we have or what's expected after graduation. I feel like a lot of like parents being first gen. They think as long as you get your degree, automatic job security. Paloma (00:14:23) - Exactly. Xavi (00:14:23) - Yeah. But that's not there's most cases. Paloma (00:14:26) - Yeah. Xavi (00:14:26) - In most cases that's not that's not the case., there's experience that comes involved. Xavi (00:14:30) - There's knowledge that you have to gain by by the time you're out in the actual industry., and it's, it's a scary process, but part of being first gen is taking that leap of faith for, for the generations that are yet to come, you know. Paloma (00:14:43) - Exactly. Yeah. You got to pave the way for them. Yeah. Paloma (00:14:45) - Exactly. Paloma (00:14:46) - Yeah. All right, guys, thank you so much for being my guest on the episode Diaries of First Gen. Thank you so much for your experiences. Thank you guys so much for listening in to this episode of Diaries of First Gen. Please remember to subscribe so you can, you know, listen to more episodes that I'll be uploading. And remember that your story is a chapter in the larger tale of the first gen experience, so feel free to leave a question in the Q&A and stay tuned for the next episode. See y'all later. Bye.