Being the first in the family navigating college and workplace can be challenging. Being first sometimes means not knowing what you don’t know until you know it. At Penn, we strive to do our best to help our Penn FGLI community members with internal and external resources. As such, we are excited to share a valuable resource with you. Rise First is an online platform/community to serve as a one-stop destination for all first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) students and professionals to turn to for information, advice and support. This platform is built for and by FGLI students/professional with a goal that no FGLI student needs to navigate their paths alone. Let’s hear it from a recent Penn alum who utilized the Rise First connections. David Thai, a 2018 graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences, shares his experience working with the Rise First organization. “In 2018, I became part of Rise First's founding team after working with Cindy Rentala during the 1vyG Conference on Penn's campus. Cindy connected with me with a business proposal to develop a one-stop destination of resources that is built for and by FGLI students and professionals. The idea immediately resonated with me. I was motivated to join Cindy's efforts in democratizing information, especially given that the broader FGLI demographic often didn't know what they didn't know. Speaking from personal experience, I oftentimes learned about opportunities (e.g. scholarships, jobs/internship postings) too late, compared to my non-FGLI peers, who I often believed had resources readily available. I wanted to ensure that students like myself didn't come across valuable resources too late, so I thought working on Rise First would be the perfect opportunity for me to do just that.” What have you gained as a result of participating with Rise First? “Having joined Rise First during my last year in college, I was able to enter the professional workforce with experience in people and project management, strategy development, and cross-functional collaboration. Through Rise First, I gained the confidence to speak up during meetings, share my thoughts, and openly ask questions without feeling timid. These are soft skills that take time to build, and I'm thankful I had Rise First to give me a safe space to foster them. Moreover, Cindy has been (and continues to be!) a meaningful, inspiring mentor and role model, who has devoted hours of her time to foster my personal and professional growth. For example, I remember looking for my first apartment after college, and I knew nothing about personal finance and budgeting. She spent a few hours sharing her experience and knowledge, which to this day, I pass along to other recent, FGLI college grads. In return, I have fostered relationships with many students and young professionals who have worked with and continue to work with Rise First. It becomes cyclical in nature, where many of our members take on opportunities to mentor those around them.” How has RF complimented/enhanced the work you do outside of RF? “My ongoing engagement with Rise First has taught me how to speak comfortably across a diverse audience, manage different expectations, and learn to not only provide but also receive feedback constructively. I apply these skills as someone who works in the consulting industry, where people-facing skills are essential. Rise First has offered unique opportunities for me to learn about best practices in managing and prioritizing different workstreams, which are often happening simultaneously. Further, Rise First also equipped me with a strong, foundational understanding of how to set personal boundaries and to hold myself (and others) accountable. I feel as though I possess a level of comfort that also allows me to maintain an appropriate work-life balance and to prioritize my health and well-being.” Why should other FGLI students get involved with RF? “Rise First is committed to empowering FGLI students and professionals nationwide to achieve their full potential. We offer a platform that is built for and by FGLI students, which offers a great opportunity for folks to gain real-life business and professional experience. I encourage FGLI students to get involved with our organization as we have so much to offer, especially as a young, start-up, across a number of different teams: marketing, content development, tech, UX/UI, design, partnerships, operations, and finance. Students get the chance to work alongside other student volunteers and professionals who work collectively to close the achievement gap.” Rise First has a robust, content rich website as well as active FGLI community on social media. To leverage their resources, you can:
Follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to get real-time updates on FGLI related articles, tips and advice as well as career related content (i.e., career webinars, internships and job opportunities) Sign up for their newsletters (at the bottom of Rise First homepage) for career related content, internship and job opportunities (many are specifically for FGLI students) We hope that you will take advantage of these wonderful (and free) resources as you continue with your educational and professional journey.
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