March 21, 2025 • 22 mins
In this episode of First Gen 101, host Miguel Sanchez interviews Nelson Rodriguez, a first-generation college graduate. Nelson shares his inspiring journey from a dedicated high school student balancing work and academics to finding mentorship, overcoming financial challenges, and forging a successful career path. Learn valuable advice on navigating college selection, building networks, and asking for help. This episode offers crucial insights for supporting first-generation students.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Miguel Sanchez (00:10):
Welcome to first gen 1 0 1.
The podcast wherefirst-generation graduates share
their stories and career tips.
I am your host Miguel Sanchez.
In this episode, NelsonRodriguez.
Shares invaluable insights onmentorship, finding balance and
turning struggles and totriumphs.
(00:30):
A must listen for anyonepassionate about supporting
first-generation students.
Welcome to another episode ofthe 1st Gen 101 podcast.
We have Nelson Rodriguez.
Nelson, thank you for being heretoday.
Thanks for having me.
Nelson, tell me about yourbackground.
Nelson Rodriguez (00:50):
I'm first generation born here in the
United States, in North NewJersey of Salvadorian
immigrants.
My mom and my dad.
And so I'm the first, they'refirst born and the first of two
brothers.
Education was always the mostimportant thing in the house.
Like I, I didn't even havechores growing up because my
chore was to come home and getgood grades.
Like a lot of immigrantfamilies, that was my job.
(01:11):
I remember distinctly when Ifirst started working at
McDonald's, my dad was veryupset because he didn't think I
would have time to work andcontinue getting good grades.
So I was an honor societystudent for all four years of
high school.
I also played sports and wasinvolved in different clubs in
school, just so I could have asocial life along with all the
studying that I had to do.
But then I also wanted to makemoney.
There was a McDonald's in myneighborhood and a lot of my
friends were working there, so Iwent to work there, but my dad
(01:33):
was upset because it wasn't agood job, it was a bad job to
study.
That's the mentality that's beenin my life as I've been going
from different locations,different careers, and getting
different degrees.
Miguel Sanchez (01:45):
And at what point in your high school
experience, Did you decide Iwant to go to college and what
was your goal?
What, how did you see yourselfin the future in terms of a
career?
Nelson Rodriguez (01:59):
Yeah.
So I, I didn't have it again.
First generation, first born.
I didn't really have a choice ofnot going to college.
My parents were very adamantfrom when I was in grade school
to high school that educationwas going to be my way of
succeeding in this country,which is what they wanted for me
and my brother.
As soon as freshman year hit.
Started talking to my guidancecounselor.
What do I do to get intocollege?
(02:20):
And I was already in theNational Honor Society.
Instead of having a double gymtheir senior year, I took an AP
Chemistry and AP Bio classbecause I was like, okay, this,
I have good grades, but I needbetter grades.
And so that, that's, And lookingback, I could have just taken
one AP class and had a lot offun my senior year.
But, in that mentality of notknowing who to ask, and my
guidance counselor didn't reallysay yes or no to me about taking
(02:42):
these AP courses, but knowingthat I could have taken just
maybe AP science or AP, biology,as opposed to both these, very
intense courses on my senioryear.
And then all my friends are likehaving double gym.
I'm going back into, theclassroom to study, again, gave
me a good, great foundation, butif I could go over and tell a
high school student, enjoy, findbalance,
Miguel Sanchez (03:04):
how was the college selection process?
How did you make your list?
How did you decide whichcolleges you were applying to?
And how did you eventuallychoose your college?
Nelson Rodriguez (03:17):
Yeah, so neither one of my parents has a
degree.
My mom graduated up to fifthgrade because then she had to
start working.
And my dad didn't finish highschool.
The process of them helping mewas just great.
Getting on me to remind me, didyou apply for this school?
Did you apply for that school?
Have you heard back from thisschool?
And this is, I'm a little older.
So this is before the internet,before email.
So everything came in the mail.
I would have to tell my parents,we have to wait for the mail to
(03:38):
come in.
There's no other way to tell ifI've been accepted or not.
My friends were also firstgeneration.
So we didn't have big lists.
We didn't have an opportunity tosee colleges outside of New
Jersey.
I knew about Ivy leagues, but Inever thought of it.
Never crossed my mind.
I got lucky.
And my guidance counselor put mein a recruitment room for
Montclair State University's premed program.
(04:01):
It was about a handful of us andthe recruiter came down who I'm
actually friends with now, Ms.
Serena Smith at Montclair StateUniversity.
She came in and talked about thepre med program and it focused a
lot on first gen students whowanted to go into pre med.
And they offered me an interviewand I took the interview.
When they offered me theopportunity, they offered it to
me before the school evenoffered me a mission into
Montclair state.
(04:22):
I just said, yes, because I waslike, oh, okay, this is easy.
I just talked about myself for10, 15 minutes.
They talked to my mom and theyaccepted me into the pre med
program.
So why am I going to apply forother programs when I already
knew that?
Not knowing any better, I wasn'table to compare financial aid
packages, which is what I tellcollege students now.
You may have your dream school.
But financial aid packages areimportant and you can always go
(04:44):
to your dream school forgraduate school or for your
doctorate.
If that's the avenue you want totake.
Always compare your financialpackages because I did get a
better financial package from adifferent school after accepting
Montclair State, but I loveMontclair State.
I don't have my Montclair Statemug here because I wanted to
promote my current job, which isSarah Lawrence College, but I
have Montclair State everywhere.
I'm very happy with the decisionI made to go to that particular
(05:05):
institution.
I ended up also working therefor a couple of years and
getting my master's fromMontclair State.
Miguel Sanchez (05:11):
It sounds like you had people who helped you.
With the selection process,which made it much easier.
And so now you start college andyou're in your first semester.
What were some of the biggestchallenges you encountered as a
first generation student?
Nelson Rodriguez (05:29):
Not being told when to wake up.
It was a big challenge.
When I stayed on campus I rarelyslept.
I came up raised in a verystrict household where as 10 PM
curfew.
I remember one time my mom gotmad at me because I was talking
to a girl on the phone and itwas like 10 30 and it was so
embarrassing because she it wasagain.
This was back then in the daywhen there was house phones and
(05:50):
so she picked up the other lineand said, that's what I do with
me.
I do with me yet.
I'm like mom.
No, don't do that.
Don't do that.
Luckily the girls laughed itoff.
But when I got to college, Ididn't sleep.
I slept in class, and so after afirst semester of doing that, I
righted the ship myself,realizing that I, need to focus
a little bit more on this.
Again, with the pre med programthat I was in Montclair State, I
did have an advisor.
But being first gen, being alittle hard headed, I didn't
(06:13):
really go too much to myadvising sessions, which I
regret.
I should have gone to moreadvising sessions than I missed,
but it did help me again, interms of knowing that I had
help, I just didn't ask for it.
But I always try to do things myown way, which is not what I
tell first gen students to do,always ask for help.
But I didn't do that.
For me it was really, thedifficult part was, again
(06:34):
knowing when to turn off the funpart of college.
And then when to ask for help,because there are people at the
college that are getting paidthrough your tuition that are
there to help you.
Miguel Sanchez (06:46):
I couldn't agree with you more on that advice.
The heart of this podcast is tooffer that advice.
There are people who may notreadily ask for help, but
offering help here.
Our goal is to reach as manypeople as we can.
Speaking of help.
Did you find mentors in college?
(07:06):
How was the process of thatmentorship?
Did you have any, and how didthat work out for you?
Nelson Rodriguez (07:11):
Yeah, so the director of the pre med program,
Donna Lorenzo, was a greatmentor of mine.
She was also a Latina first genstudent.
She saw a lot of opportunitiesalong with other students in the
program.
Whenever I needed to ask her aquestion, she was always there
to answer it.
Along with the recruiter SerenaSmith and my advisor Ms.
Washington.
I still call her Ms.
Washington.
We were colleagues for 10 years,but I'll never call her by her
(07:32):
first name.
That shows the level of respectthat I have for her, and the
graciousness I have for the workthey do.
There were some professors that,While I was taking a class that
mentored me a little bit, I haveother professors that I still
stay in contact now that wereextremely helpful.
I did leave the pre med programand went into psychology.
There's a particular professor,Dr.
Reagan, who, just opened up myeyes into the world of social
(07:55):
services and helping otherpeople.
I still stay in contact with herto this day.
Miguel Sanchez (08:01):
One of the things we emphasize in this
podcast is in college, you'regoing to pursue a degree, but
equally important, you're goingto build a network because you
are going to interact with otherpeople.
So it's really important that,as Nelson mentioned, not only
(08:21):
seek help during college, butalso keep in touch with those
people as you graduate andpursue other opportunities.
One of the benefits of going tocollege is that you get to meet
other people and it's importantto keep those relationships.
You mentioned graduate school afew times.
Did you go to graduate schoolafter undergrad and how was that
(08:44):
process different?
Then going to college,
Nelson Rodriguez (08:47):
I got my graduate degree, 11 years after
my undergraduate degree, Istarted working during the
summer of my freshman year,going into my sophomore year, a
friend of mine told me about anonprofit in the city of Norco,
like I said, on federal, theywere hiring college students and
pay 10 an hour.
So to help mentor in a programcalled the North Youth
Leadership Project.
And I was like, Oh, I can dothat.
(09:09):
I can, go help out kids and getpaid 10 an hour.
It's only a summer gig.
That's not a problem.
And I enjoyed it.
I loved it.
Casa San Pedro is one of thelargest, larger nonprofit
organizations in North NewJersey.
I come back a second summer andthen towards December of that
year, the coordinator, He hadmentioned to me if I was
interested in taking the fulltime position as a coordinator
for this leadership program atthis nonprofit.
(09:31):
And at the same time I had justswitched from being a pre med
biology student to a psychologystudent, focusing a lot on
community health a lot on youthdevelopment, community engaging
engagement.
And I was like, Oh, this isinteresting.
I'm like, I told him like, I'mstill an undergrad.
Like I still have a couple ofyears left.
And he said, yeah, we'll workaround your schedule.
And, if you work around hoursand it worked, I went still stay
(09:54):
full time as a college student,started working full time at a
nonprofit organization ascoordinator for this youth
leadership program.
I took a lot of classes onSaturdays and some on the
evenings.
And whichever, if I had to takeclass in the morning, they would
accommodate my schedule so thatI would start a little later.
But I did work full time andthen went to school full time
around my junior year ofcollege.
Miguel Sanchez (10:13):
Would you say that experience led you to pick
your graduate program?
Would you say that experienceled you to wanting to help first
generation students?
Nelson Rodriguez (10:25):
Definitely not the graduate program.
That one I'll explain in aminute, but it did help me to
understand working incommunities.
Working with different folks,providing opportunities.
I went from La Casa Don Pedro toanother smaller non profit
called Club de Barrio, where Iwas the advisor for the teen
center.
That was the job thattransformed everything for me.
In that job, Dr.
Bosch, who I don't see as muchcontact now as I would like to,
(10:47):
but she saw a lot of promise inme.
She had me learn everythingabout the non profit.
Everything.
We were a small staff, I thinkabout 30, 40 people.
And I was always eager andwilling to listen and to work.
She had me helping with theMeals on Wheels, which helped
the HIV and AIDS recipients.
I worked with the daycarecenter.
I also helped with domesticviolence.
(11:08):
I also went to board meetings,which I was 20 something years
old going to these boardmeetings.
That helped me expand mynetwork.
Learn how to grow and work indifferent communities, but also
focus on the work I was doing asthe advisor for the teen center,
working with the high schoolstudents in the area, providing
opportunities for them when itcame to college applications,
when it came to professionaldevelopment, we took field
(11:29):
trips.
Like I remember I would takethem to Washington DC in a day,
but we didn't have a lot ofmoney for the nonprofit, but we
had a van.
And I remember my first timegoing to Washington DC and you
can do a lot of the stuff in DCfor free.
You just got to drive there.
I was younger.
If I could take the four hourdrive, walk around all day, take
the four hour drive back.
And it worked.
A lot of the work I do now atSarah Lawrence College, I
(11:50):
learned at that time working atClub del Barrio.
Miguel Sanchez (11:54):
How did you get involved working with first
generation students or mentoringfirst generation students?
So
Nelson Rodriguez (12:00):
I've always somehow mentored first
generation students.
That's just been a thing indifferent positions that I have,
whether it's non profit, Iworked in local government, I
used to work for the mayor ofNewark, Cory Booker, then mayor
of Newark, now Senator Booker.
And It always, students willalways gravitate to each other,
first generation students andmyself, we always just
gravitated to each other,towards each other.
It's just, it was, intrinsicthing to do.
(12:22):
I didn't go out and say, Hey,I'm going to mentor you to get
into college or, Hey, I'm goingto mentor you because you're
just like me, first gen tryingto get everything done.
Then I, at one point I appliedfor a position at my alma mater,
Montclair State University forthe Upward Bound program, which
is a federal First genassistance program, and that's a
program that's all over theUnited States and in the
territories of Guam, Puerto Ricoand the Virgin Islands.
(12:46):
This program.
It's amazing.
I saw it was at my alma mater.
I applied for the assistantdirector of the project that
opened up a whole avenue topurposefully work in the first
gen sphere, not just, providepossible opportunities to mentor
students here and there, butthis was more purposeful with
the work I learned atnonprofits, the work that I
(13:07):
learned in city governmenthelped me to network and grow
and understand more of the firstgen struggles, particularly for
that generation, because of thefirst gen struggles for my
generation changed.
For those that are now in thecurrent generation of first gen
students because there is, Iwant to say more opportunity,
but with more choice, moreopportunity becomes more
(13:28):
confusion.
And with mine, it was a straightto the cut.
Montclair State Universityoffered me the pre med program.
I didn't even look at my otherschools.
I was like that, but as Imentioned before, I always try
to have high school students nowwhen they're in their senior
year, look at your financial aidpackages because even though
you're filling out the FAFSA,some schools will offer you
(13:49):
private grants and privatescholarships that they won't
offer until you get accepted.
So look at the offers beforemaking your choice.
Miguel Sanchez (13:58):
What are some of the toughest challenges you are
seeing With students choosing acollege, what do you think are
some of the toughest challengesthey're facing?
Nelson Rodriguez (14:06):
Financial, it's always going to be
financial.
When I was growing up collegewas still not as affordable and
there wasn't as much financialaid.
It's gotten less affordable andthere's been less financial aid.
There's a larger trend of firstgeneration students going to
college.
And there was 10, 15 years ago.
What I always say, always tellstudents as soon as the FAFSA
opens, the federal applicationfor free student aid, fill it
(14:28):
out.
It is not an infinite amount ofmoney.
It's a finite amount ofgovernment decides to give you,
depending on how much money yourparents make, but also colleges
look at the FAFSA to decidewhether they should be giving
you more or less financial aidfrom their own institution.
It is a trend now to bring infirst generation programming.
First generation students,because there's more
(14:48):
opportunities for generationprogramming.
Again, I will mention my almamater, Montclair University, a
friend of mine now works or didwork.
She just left to a differentinstitution for a program that
specifically recruits and bringsin first generation students
called Frist to Fly.
That's a trend that's going onwith a lot of other institutions
now where they are particularlylooking.
And as I talked to parents,particular parents that are
(15:10):
immigrants, when they hear, thatthey have enough to owe money, I
always tell them it's aninvestment.
As opposed to thinking that youmay have to take out a loan and
always has to be federal loansNever take a private loan The
loans may seem scary at thetime, but it's something you pay
over time.
It's an investment.
It's the first investment.
(15:30):
Just like taking AP courses orhonors courses, you're investing
your time to improve youreducation.
When I was running the UpwardBound program at Montclair State
and then became the director atRutgers University, I would tell
parents, look, your child iscoming to class on Saturdays.
Because with the Upward Boundprogram, students take extra
courses.
To strengthen their math,science and writing skills, but
(15:51):
they're taking classes onSaturday.
That's six days of school andit's mandatory.
You have to come to the Saturdayprograms.
And so that's an investment,just like they're investing
their time.
Taking out loans is aninvestment for the future,
financially for their childrenand for the kids themselves.
But that's always the scariestone when we come to the FAFSA,
when we talk about taking outmoney, the loans always scare
(16:14):
the parents, especially firstgen parents.
And that's, I've tried todissuade them into being scared
of it and seeing it as aninvestment into the future.
Miguel Sanchez (16:23):
What are some of the challenges first gen
students face as they starttheir careers?
Nelson Rodriguez (16:29):
I've been mentoring some young people or
now adults I'm looking to see ifthe job they're applying for has
a 401k is the investment andretirement looking at retirement
funds looking to planfinancially towards the future.
But also picking out the righthealth care that they need for
themselves and their families,if they're going to have
families as well.
A car, some students want likethe fancy brand new car, But
(16:51):
there are some cars thatmaintenance costs more just
because of the nature of thecar.
Just getting them to understandtheir finances, credit cards.
I have a friend called theBudgetnista Tiffany Alish,
graduate of Montclair StateUniversity.
She talks about finance.
She does a program called theOne Week Budget and helps people
budget what they need and whatthey don't need.
She's been, I believe, on Oprah.
(17:12):
She talked to the Obamas aboutit.
She's done amazing stuff, andshe's from finances and
understanding your finances.
Do you need the brand newiPhone?
Maybe you want to pay your rentfirst.
So you have those things thatunfortunately our parents don't
always talk to us about likecredit cards, taking out loans
for a car, maintenance on a car,how many times you have to go in
to get, again, I keep staying onthis, but it's important that
(17:35):
folks understand that you canget the really nice car when
you're a little bit moreestablished in your career, no
one's going to judge your car.
If they are judging a card thatdifferent,
Miguel Sanchez (17:44):
that's a great point.
And when we were developing theidea of this podcast, we thought
about doing one on first genfinances or personal finance.
I
Nelson Rodriguez (17:55):
recommend that very much.
Miguel Sanchez (17:57):
How do you think college has transformed your
life?
Nelson Rodriguez (18:01):
I enjoyed my time as an undergrad at
Montclaire university.
I was there for five years and Ialways tell students it's not
that scary.
To be there five years, Iswitched majors and I had to
catch up.
My last semester there, I onlytook one course because I just
needed two more credits tograduate.
I was not paying attention to mycredits.
When I took the position atMontclair City University for
the Upward Bound project, I thendecided, you know what, I'm
(18:21):
telling these first genstudents, the first ones in
their families to take a sleepto go into college.
I should be doing the same thingwith my graduate degree and get
my graduate degree.
So then I, as an example for thestudents in my care, I applied
for the graduate program, got inand I was able to balance work
and school as well as otherthings that I was doing as
(18:42):
volunteering.
I was a soccer coach for acouple years in the city of
Newark, did some volunteer workwith the Community Food Bank of
New Jersey with United Way.
And still maintaining thenetworks.
Still doing school, still doingmy social stuff and really
getting involved as a graduatestudent, which that's another
podcast for another day, becauseI did a whole study about
(19:03):
graduate students and how theymay or may not be involved in
campus life as you would thinkthey would be.
We'll talk about that anotherday.
I got lucky and really collegehelped me to understand the
balance.
Of having your social life,educational life, professional
life.
For me, I just melded all thosethings together and had a life.
I spent my time in the library,but also spent time at a bar
(19:25):
with friends for happy hour.
I volunteered in my community.
Volunteering, coaching soccerand was able to find the balance
and all of that, as well as,still see my friends and family,
visit my parents.
I see my parents at least once aweek, but finding that balance
in college really helped me findthat balance as an undergrad and
as a grad student,
Miguel Sanchez (19:45):
what do you wish you had known?
When you were a first generationstudent during your first year
in college.
Nelson Rodriguez (19:52):
Like I said, ask for help.
That is the biggest thing.
More and more colleges areinvesting in advisement.
More and more colleges are alsoaccepting students that are non
declared majors.
Which when I was applying forcollege, my guidance counselor
in high school told me you haveto apply as a major, you can't
go undeclared.
But now that's not the same.
Now schools do look at that.
They look at yourextracurriculars.
(20:13):
They look at your essay.
They look at things that you'redoing in your community.
They're looking if you have apart time job.
I worked at McDonald's on mycollege application.
The admissions officer wouldhave looked at that and said, Oh
he's, working.
He's spending his time doingsomething outside of just, part
time.
And but really, I, if I wouldhave asked for help, I would
have graduated on time.
I would have been able topossibly maybe even think about
(20:34):
graduate school as I was anundergrad, because I didn't
think about it until I went backto work at this college to get
my graduate degree.
And Really, look for advisors,look for mentors.
I always tell students thatthere are three levels of
mentoring.
You have your advisor that'sthere just for your college and
your academics.
You find a mentor that alsocares about academics, but also
cares about your personal life.
(20:54):
And then you find a champion andyour champion is the CEO of a
company or the president or thevice president that knows just
about enough of you to write arecommendation letter, but
you're not going to invite themto your wedding.
You're not going to tell themabout your breakup.
You're just going to share thegood stuff, but you need that
person, you need that championwhen you're applying for jobs or
you're applying foropportunities.
(21:16):
But then the mentor and theadvisor, those are the people
you tell everything to.
But find those three.
When you get to college, findthose three for yourself.
I had my champion was Dr.
Tolman in my graduate program.
That has, doesn't really knowanything about my personal life.
But when I get a new job, or I'mapplying for a new position, I
send him a quick email.
Hey, Dr.
Tolman, can I use you as arecommendation letter?
And he works as a, he's thedirector of the PhD program down
(21:39):
in Georgia Southern University.
And he still remembers me as astudent and writes amazing
recommendation letters.
Miguel Sanchez (21:47):
Nelson, I don't think we can end the podcast any
other way.
That advice of finding mentors,even.
specific mentors was veryinspiring and I need to go out
there and find my champion.
Nelson, thank you for speakingwith me today.
I appreciate your time and Iknow this conversation will
continue.
We should have you in the futureonce again.
(22:08):
Thank you.
Thanks for listening.
If you enjoy the episode.
Subscribe to this podcast andshare it with a friend.
Don't forget to leave a review.
Until next time.
Welcome to first gen 1 0 1.
The podcast wherefirst-generation graduates share
their stories and career tips.
I am your host Miguel Sanchez.
In this episode, NelsonRodriguez.
Shares invaluable insights onmentorship, finding balance and
turning struggles and totriumphs.
(00:30):
A must listen for anyonepassionate about supporting
first-generation students.
Welcome to another episode ofthe 1st Gen 101 podcast.
We have Nelson Rodriguez.
Nelson, thank you for being heretoday.
Thanks for having me.
Nelson, tell me about yourbackground.
Nelson Rodriguez (00:50):
I'm first generation born here in the
United States, in North NewJersey of Salvadorian
immigrants.
My mom and my dad.
And so I'm the first, they'refirst born and the first of two
brothers.
Education was always the mostimportant thing in the house.
Like I, I didn't even havechores growing up because my
chore was to come home and getgood grades.
Like a lot of immigrantfamilies, that was my job.
(01:11):
I remember distinctly when Ifirst started working at
McDonald's, my dad was veryupset because he didn't think I
would have time to work andcontinue getting good grades.
So I was an honor societystudent for all four years of
high school.
I also played sports and wasinvolved in different clubs in
school, just so I could have asocial life along with all the
studying that I had to do.
But then I also wanted to makemoney.
There was a McDonald's in myneighborhood and a lot of my
friends were working there, so Iwent to work there, but my dad
(01:33):
was upset because it wasn't agood job, it was a bad job to
study.
That's the mentality that's beenin my life as I've been going
from different locations,different careers, and getting
different degrees.
Miguel Sanchez (01:45):
And at what point in your high school
experience, Did you decide Iwant to go to college and what
was your goal?
What, how did you see yourselfin the future in terms of a
career?
Nelson Rodriguez (01:59):
Yeah.
So I, I didn't have it again.
First generation, first born.
I didn't really have a choice ofnot going to college.
My parents were very adamantfrom when I was in grade school
to high school that educationwas going to be my way of
succeeding in this country,which is what they wanted for me
and my brother.
As soon as freshman year hit.
Started talking to my guidancecounselor.
What do I do to get intocollege?
(02:20):
And I was already in theNational Honor Society.
Instead of having a double gymtheir senior year, I took an AP
Chemistry and AP Bio classbecause I was like, okay, this,
I have good grades, but I needbetter grades.
And so that, that's, And lookingback, I could have just taken
one AP class and had a lot offun my senior year.
But, in that mentality of notknowing who to ask, and my
guidance counselor didn't reallysay yes or no to me about taking
(02:42):
these AP courses, but knowingthat I could have taken just
maybe AP science or AP, biology,as opposed to both these, very
intense courses on my senioryear.
And then all my friends are likehaving double gym.
I'm going back into, theclassroom to study, again, gave
me a good, great foundation, butif I could go over and tell a
high school student, enjoy, findbalance,
Miguel Sanchez (03:04):
how was the college selection process?
How did you make your list?
How did you decide whichcolleges you were applying to?
And how did you eventuallychoose your college?
Nelson Rodriguez (03:17):
Yeah, so neither one of my parents has a
degree.
My mom graduated up to fifthgrade because then she had to
start working.
And my dad didn't finish highschool.
The process of them helping mewas just great.
Getting on me to remind me, didyou apply for this school?
Did you apply for that school?
Have you heard back from thisschool?
And this is, I'm a little older.
So this is before the internet,before email.
So everything came in the mail.
I would have to tell my parents,we have to wait for the mail to
(03:38):
come in.
There's no other way to tell ifI've been accepted or not.
My friends were also firstgeneration.
So we didn't have big lists.
We didn't have an opportunity tosee colleges outside of New
Jersey.
I knew about Ivy leagues, but Inever thought of it.
Never crossed my mind.
I got lucky.
And my guidance counselor put mein a recruitment room for
Montclair State University's premed program.
(04:01):
It was about a handful of us andthe recruiter came down who I'm
actually friends with now, Ms.
Serena Smith at Montclair StateUniversity.
She came in and talked about thepre med program and it focused a
lot on first gen students whowanted to go into pre med.
And they offered me an interviewand I took the interview.
When they offered me theopportunity, they offered it to
me before the school evenoffered me a mission into
Montclair state.
(04:22):
I just said, yes, because I waslike, oh, okay, this is easy.
I just talked about myself for10, 15 minutes.
They talked to my mom and theyaccepted me into the pre med
program.
So why am I going to apply forother programs when I already
knew that?
Not knowing any better, I wasn'table to compare financial aid
packages, which is what I tellcollege students now.
You may have your dream school.
But financial aid packages areimportant and you can always go
(04:44):
to your dream school forgraduate school or for your
doctorate.
If that's the avenue you want totake.
Always compare your financialpackages because I did get a
better financial package from adifferent school after accepting
Montclair State, but I loveMontclair State.
I don't have my Montclair Statemug here because I wanted to
promote my current job, which isSarah Lawrence College, but I
have Montclair State everywhere.
I'm very happy with the decisionI made to go to that particular
(05:05):
institution.
I ended up also working therefor a couple of years and
getting my master's fromMontclair State.
Miguel Sanchez (05:11):
It sounds like you had people who helped you.
With the selection process,which made it much easier.
And so now you start college andyou're in your first semester.
What were some of the biggestchallenges you encountered as a
first generation student?
Nelson Rodriguez (05:29):
Not being told when to wake up.
It was a big challenge.
When I stayed on campus I rarelyslept.
I came up raised in a verystrict household where as 10 PM
curfew.
I remember one time my mom gotmad at me because I was talking
to a girl on the phone and itwas like 10 30 and it was so
embarrassing because she it wasagain.
This was back then in the daywhen there was house phones and
(05:50):
so she picked up the other lineand said, that's what I do with
me.
I do with me yet.
I'm like mom.
No, don't do that.
Don't do that.
Luckily the girls laughed itoff.
But when I got to college, Ididn't sleep.
I slept in class, and so after afirst semester of doing that, I
righted the ship myself,realizing that I, need to focus
a little bit more on this.
Again, with the pre med programthat I was in Montclair State, I
did have an advisor.
But being first gen, being alittle hard headed, I didn't
(06:13):
really go too much to myadvising sessions, which I
regret.
I should have gone to moreadvising sessions than I missed,
but it did help me again, interms of knowing that I had
help, I just didn't ask for it.
But I always try to do things myown way, which is not what I
tell first gen students to do,always ask for help.
But I didn't do that.
For me it was really, thedifficult part was, again
(06:34):
knowing when to turn off the funpart of college.
And then when to ask for help,because there are people at the
college that are getting paidthrough your tuition that are
there to help you.
Miguel Sanchez (06:46):
I couldn't agree with you more on that advice.
The heart of this podcast is tooffer that advice.
There are people who may notreadily ask for help, but
offering help here.
Our goal is to reach as manypeople as we can.
Speaking of help.
Did you find mentors in college?
(07:06):
How was the process of thatmentorship?
Did you have any, and how didthat work out for you?
Nelson Rodriguez (07:11):
Yeah, so the director of the pre med program,
Donna Lorenzo, was a greatmentor of mine.
She was also a Latina first genstudent.
She saw a lot of opportunitiesalong with other students in the
program.
Whenever I needed to ask her aquestion, she was always there
to answer it.
Along with the recruiter SerenaSmith and my advisor Ms.
Washington.
I still call her Ms.
Washington.
We were colleagues for 10 years,but I'll never call her by her
(07:32):
first name.
That shows the level of respectthat I have for her, and the
graciousness I have for the workthey do.
There were some professors that,While I was taking a class that
mentored me a little bit, I haveother professors that I still
stay in contact now that wereextremely helpful.
I did leave the pre med programand went into psychology.
There's a particular professor,Dr.
Reagan, who, just opened up myeyes into the world of social
(07:55):
services and helping otherpeople.
I still stay in contact with herto this day.
Miguel Sanchez (08:01):
One of the things we emphasize in this
podcast is in college, you'regoing to pursue a degree, but
equally important, you're goingto build a network because you
are going to interact with otherpeople.
So it's really important that,as Nelson mentioned, not only
(08:21):
seek help during college, butalso keep in touch with those
people as you graduate andpursue other opportunities.
One of the benefits of going tocollege is that you get to meet
other people and it's importantto keep those relationships.
You mentioned graduate school afew times.
Did you go to graduate schoolafter undergrad and how was that
(08:44):
process different?
Then going to college,
Nelson Rodriguez (08:47):
I got my graduate degree, 11 years after
my undergraduate degree, Istarted working during the
summer of my freshman year,going into my sophomore year, a
friend of mine told me about anonprofit in the city of Norco,
like I said, on federal, theywere hiring college students and
pay 10 an hour.
So to help mentor in a programcalled the North Youth
Leadership Project.
And I was like, Oh, I can dothat.
(09:09):
I can, go help out kids and getpaid 10 an hour.
It's only a summer gig.
That's not a problem.
And I enjoyed it.
I loved it.
Casa San Pedro is one of thelargest, larger nonprofit
organizations in North NewJersey.
I come back a second summer andthen towards December of that
year, the coordinator, He hadmentioned to me if I was
interested in taking the fulltime position as a coordinator
for this leadership program atthis nonprofit.
(09:31):
And at the same time I had justswitched from being a pre med
biology student to a psychologystudent, focusing a lot on
community health a lot on youthdevelopment, community engaging
engagement.
And I was like, Oh, this isinteresting.
I'm like, I told him like, I'mstill an undergrad.
Like I still have a couple ofyears left.
And he said, yeah, we'll workaround your schedule.
And, if you work around hoursand it worked, I went still stay
(09:54):
full time as a college student,started working full time at a
nonprofit organization ascoordinator for this youth
leadership program.
I took a lot of classes onSaturdays and some on the
evenings.
And whichever, if I had to takeclass in the morning, they would
accommodate my schedule so thatI would start a little later.
But I did work full time andthen went to school full time
around my junior year ofcollege.
Miguel Sanchez (10:13):
Would you say that experience led you to pick
your graduate program?
Would you say that experienceled you to wanting to help first
generation students?
Nelson Rodriguez (10:25):
Definitely not the graduate program.
That one I'll explain in aminute, but it did help me to
understand working incommunities.
Working with different folks,providing opportunities.
I went from La Casa Don Pedro toanother smaller non profit
called Club de Barrio, where Iwas the advisor for the teen
center.
That was the job thattransformed everything for me.
In that job, Dr.
Bosch, who I don't see as muchcontact now as I would like to,
(10:47):
but she saw a lot of promise inme.
She had me learn everythingabout the non profit.
Everything.
We were a small staff, I thinkabout 30, 40 people.
And I was always eager andwilling to listen and to work.
She had me helping with theMeals on Wheels, which helped
the HIV and AIDS recipients.
I worked with the daycarecenter.
I also helped with domesticviolence.
(11:08):
I also went to board meetings,which I was 20 something years
old going to these boardmeetings.
That helped me expand mynetwork.
Learn how to grow and work indifferent communities, but also
focus on the work I was doing asthe advisor for the teen center,
working with the high schoolstudents in the area, providing
opportunities for them when itcame to college applications,
when it came to professionaldevelopment, we took field
(11:29):
trips.
Like I remember I would takethem to Washington DC in a day,
but we didn't have a lot ofmoney for the nonprofit, but we
had a van.
And I remember my first timegoing to Washington DC and you
can do a lot of the stuff in DCfor free.
You just got to drive there.
I was younger.
If I could take the four hourdrive, walk around all day, take
the four hour drive back.
And it worked.
A lot of the work I do now atSarah Lawrence College, I
(11:50):
learned at that time working atClub del Barrio.
Miguel Sanchez (11:54):
How did you get involved working with first
generation students or mentoringfirst generation students?
So
Nelson Rodriguez (12:00):
I've always somehow mentored first
generation students.
That's just been a thing indifferent positions that I have,
whether it's non profit, Iworked in local government, I
used to work for the mayor ofNewark, Cory Booker, then mayor
of Newark, now Senator Booker.
And It always, students willalways gravitate to each other,
first generation students andmyself, we always just
gravitated to each other,towards each other.
It's just, it was, intrinsicthing to do.
(12:22):
I didn't go out and say, Hey,I'm going to mentor you to get
into college or, Hey, I'm goingto mentor you because you're
just like me, first gen tryingto get everything done.
Then I, at one point I appliedfor a position at my alma mater,
Montclair State University forthe Upward Bound program, which
is a federal First genassistance program, and that's a
program that's all over theUnited States and in the
territories of Guam, Puerto Ricoand the Virgin Islands.
(12:46):
This program.
It's amazing.
I saw it was at my alma mater.
I applied for the assistantdirector of the project that
opened up a whole avenue topurposefully work in the first
gen sphere, not just, providepossible opportunities to mentor
students here and there, butthis was more purposeful with
the work I learned atnonprofits, the work that I
(13:07):
learned in city governmenthelped me to network and grow
and understand more of the firstgen struggles, particularly for
that generation, because of thefirst gen struggles for my
generation changed.
For those that are now in thecurrent generation of first gen
students because there is, Iwant to say more opportunity,
but with more choice, moreopportunity becomes more
(13:28):
confusion.
And with mine, it was a straightto the cut.
Montclair State Universityoffered me the pre med program.
I didn't even look at my otherschools.
I was like that, but as Imentioned before, I always try
to have high school students nowwhen they're in their senior
year, look at your financial aidpackages because even though
you're filling out the FAFSA,some schools will offer you
(13:49):
private grants and privatescholarships that they won't
offer until you get accepted.
So look at the offers beforemaking your choice.
Miguel Sanchez (13:58):
What are some of the toughest challenges you are
seeing With students choosing acollege, what do you think are
some of the toughest challengesthey're facing?
Nelson Rodriguez (14:06):
Financial, it's always going to be
financial.
When I was growing up collegewas still not as affordable and
there wasn't as much financialaid.
It's gotten less affordable andthere's been less financial aid.
There's a larger trend of firstgeneration students going to
college.
And there was 10, 15 years ago.
What I always say, always tellstudents as soon as the FAFSA
opens, the federal applicationfor free student aid, fill it
(14:28):
out.
It is not an infinite amount ofmoney.
It's a finite amount ofgovernment decides to give you,
depending on how much money yourparents make, but also colleges
look at the FAFSA to decidewhether they should be giving
you more or less financial aidfrom their own institution.
It is a trend now to bring infirst generation programming.
First generation students,because there's more
(14:48):
opportunities for generationprogramming.
Again, I will mention my almamater, Montclair University, a
friend of mine now works or didwork.
She just left to a differentinstitution for a program that
specifically recruits and bringsin first generation students
called Frist to Fly.
That's a trend that's going onwith a lot of other institutions
now where they are particularlylooking.
And as I talked to parents,particular parents that are
(15:10):
immigrants, when they hear, thatthey have enough to owe money, I
always tell them it's aninvestment.
As opposed to thinking that youmay have to take out a loan and
always has to be federal loansNever take a private loan The
loans may seem scary at thetime, but it's something you pay
over time.
It's an investment.
It's the first investment.
(15:30):
Just like taking AP courses orhonors courses, you're investing
your time to improve youreducation.
When I was running the UpwardBound program at Montclair State
and then became the director atRutgers University, I would tell
parents, look, your child iscoming to class on Saturdays.
Because with the Upward Boundprogram, students take extra
courses.
To strengthen their math,science and writing skills, but
(15:51):
they're taking classes onSaturday.
That's six days of school andit's mandatory.
You have to come to the Saturdayprograms.
And so that's an investment,just like they're investing
their time.
Taking out loans is aninvestment for the future,
financially for their childrenand for the kids themselves.
But that's always the scariestone when we come to the FAFSA,
when we talk about taking outmoney, the loans always scare
(16:14):
the parents, especially firstgen parents.
And that's, I've tried todissuade them into being scared
of it and seeing it as aninvestment into the future.
Miguel Sanchez (16:23):
What are some of the challenges first gen
students face as they starttheir careers?
Nelson Rodriguez (16:29):
I've been mentoring some young people or
now adults I'm looking to see ifthe job they're applying for has
a 401k is the investment andretirement looking at retirement
funds looking to planfinancially towards the future.
But also picking out the righthealth care that they need for
themselves and their families,if they're going to have
families as well.
A car, some students want likethe fancy brand new car, But
(16:51):
there are some cars thatmaintenance costs more just
because of the nature of thecar.
Just getting them to understandtheir finances, credit cards.
I have a friend called theBudgetnista Tiffany Alish,
graduate of Montclair StateUniversity.
She talks about finance.
She does a program called theOne Week Budget and helps people
budget what they need and whatthey don't need.
She's been, I believe, on Oprah.
(17:12):
She talked to the Obamas aboutit.
She's done amazing stuff, andshe's from finances and
understanding your finances.
Do you need the brand newiPhone?
Maybe you want to pay your rentfirst.
So you have those things thatunfortunately our parents don't
always talk to us about likecredit cards, taking out loans
for a car, maintenance on a car,how many times you have to go in
to get, again, I keep staying onthis, but it's important that
(17:35):
folks understand that you canget the really nice car when
you're a little bit moreestablished in your career, no
one's going to judge your car.
If they are judging a card thatdifferent,
Miguel Sanchez (17:44):
that's a great point.
And when we were developing theidea of this podcast, we thought
about doing one on first genfinances or personal finance.
I
Nelson Rodriguez (17:55):
recommend that very much.
Miguel Sanchez (17:57):
How do you think college has transformed your
life?
Nelson Rodriguez (18:01):
I enjoyed my time as an undergrad at
Montclaire university.
I was there for five years and Ialways tell students it's not
that scary.
To be there five years, Iswitched majors and I had to
catch up.
My last semester there, I onlytook one course because I just
needed two more credits tograduate.
I was not paying attention to mycredits.
When I took the position atMontclair City University for
the Upward Bound project, I thendecided, you know what, I'm
(18:21):
telling these first genstudents, the first ones in
their families to take a sleepto go into college.
I should be doing the same thingwith my graduate degree and get
my graduate degree.
So then I, as an example for thestudents in my care, I applied
for the graduate program, got inand I was able to balance work
and school as well as otherthings that I was doing as
(18:42):
volunteering.
I was a soccer coach for acouple years in the city of
Newark, did some volunteer workwith the Community Food Bank of
New Jersey with United Way.
And still maintaining thenetworks.
Still doing school, still doingmy social stuff and really
getting involved as a graduatestudent, which that's another
podcast for another day, becauseI did a whole study about
(19:03):
graduate students and how theymay or may not be involved in
campus life as you would thinkthey would be.
We'll talk about that anotherday.
I got lucky and really collegehelped me to understand the
balance.
Of having your social life,educational life, professional
life.
For me, I just melded all thosethings together and had a life.
I spent my time in the library,but also spent time at a bar
(19:25):
with friends for happy hour.
I volunteered in my community.
Volunteering, coaching soccerand was able to find the balance
and all of that, as well as,still see my friends and family,
visit my parents.
I see my parents at least once aweek, but finding that balance
in college really helped me findthat balance as an undergrad and
as a grad student,
Miguel Sanchez (19:45):
what do you wish you had known?
When you were a first generationstudent during your first year
in college.
Nelson Rodriguez (19:52):
Like I said, ask for help.
That is the biggest thing.
More and more colleges areinvesting in advisement.
More and more colleges are alsoaccepting students that are non
declared majors.
Which when I was applying forcollege, my guidance counselor
in high school told me you haveto apply as a major, you can't
go undeclared.
But now that's not the same.
Now schools do look at that.
They look at yourextracurriculars.
(20:13):
They look at your essay.
They look at things that you'redoing in your community.
They're looking if you have apart time job.
I worked at McDonald's on mycollege application.
The admissions officer wouldhave looked at that and said, Oh
he's, working.
He's spending his time doingsomething outside of just, part
time.
And but really, I, if I wouldhave asked for help, I would
have graduated on time.
I would have been able topossibly maybe even think about
(20:34):
graduate school as I was anundergrad, because I didn't
think about it until I went backto work at this college to get
my graduate degree.
And Really, look for advisors,look for mentors.
I always tell students thatthere are three levels of
mentoring.
You have your advisor that'sthere just for your college and
your academics.
You find a mentor that alsocares about academics, but also
cares about your personal life.
(20:54):
And then you find a champion andyour champion is the CEO of a
company or the president or thevice president that knows just
about enough of you to write arecommendation letter, but
you're not going to invite themto your wedding.
You're not going to tell themabout your breakup.
You're just going to share thegood stuff, but you need that
person, you need that championwhen you're applying for jobs or
you're applying foropportunities.
(21:16):
But then the mentor and theadvisor, those are the people
you tell everything to.
But find those three.
When you get to college, findthose three for yourself.
I had my champion was Dr.
Tolman in my graduate program.
That has, doesn't really knowanything about my personal life.
But when I get a new job, or I'mapplying for a new position, I
send him a quick email.
Hey, Dr.
Tolman, can I use you as arecommendation letter?
And he works as a, he's thedirector of the PhD program down
(21:39):
in Georgia Southern University.
And he still remembers me as astudent and writes amazing
recommendation letters.
Miguel Sanchez (21:47):
Nelson, I don't think we can end the podcast any
other way.
That advice of finding mentors,even.
specific mentors was veryinspiring and I need to go out
there and find my champion.
Nelson, thank you for speakingwith me today.
I appreciate your time and Iknow this conversation will
continue.
We should have you in the futureonce again.
(22:08):
Thank you.
Thanks for listening.
If you enjoy the episode.
Subscribe to this podcast andshare it with a friend.
Don't forget to leave a review.
Until next time.
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