By Mariane St. Juste, Senior, Williams College

I found out about FirstGen Ahead (FGA) the summer of 2019 and was immediately intrigued. That summer was a particularly difficult one for me; my family and I were moving to our new home and I had not secured a job or internship for that summer. I felt a bit lost and unequipped to navigate professional settings.

I joined FGA because I was interested in the opportunity to join this community of students and coaches whose goal was to empower and support students like me who lacked adequate mentorship and support when navigating professional settings and preparing for careers after college.

Although excited about this opportunity, it was difficult for me to engage in FGA programming during the fall of my junior year. I felt overwhelmed with having to balance my academic work, work-study jobs, extracurriculars and tasks that my coach and I had established for me to complete. I found myself putting my professional and career-advancing commitments on the back burner.

That December, I met my coach in person as well as attended the networking event that Susan Gershenfeld hosted in her home. This was a significant turning point for me. These events allowed me to finally understand that I was not alone in this process. I met people who were genuinely interested in supporting me on this journey, and I formed relationships with mentors who I remain in contact with today.

Joining FirstGen Ahead has had a profound impact on me. My two greatest takeaways are:

First, I have gained incredible mentors who have guided me, and I am confident they will continue to support me through completing college and beyond. I’ve been able to understand the importance of mentorship and will continue to seek out mentorship in the communities that I become a part of in the future.

Second, I have become more confident in my ability to navigate professional spaces. With the help of my coach and mentors I met through FGA, I have established an elevator pitch, developed a strong resume and cover letters, scheduled several informational interviews with individuals in the industry that I am interested in, and overall feel well prepared for my career after college.

Although the initial transition into FGA was not necessarily smooth, I am grateful for all of the opportunities and skills that it has given me.