First Graduate

First Graduate's first class of college graduates earned their four-year degrees in the spring of 2011 and are boldly stepping into the world of work. Watch Daisy, Lourdes, Jodie or Alex's video testimonials about what it means to be the first in their families to graduate from college on our YouTube channel. 

DAISY
B.A., Business Economics
Mills College

Highlights:
* Management Intern for Walgreens
* First Graduate Summer Intern

Daisy has always been at the top of her class with a consistently high GPA to prove it. Yet initially, for her college meant getting a job that would afford her office space and her own computer. At First Graduate, she learned that college is much more than that and the key to helping her reach her goal of running a business.

When she joined First Graduate as a rising seventh grader, the program matched Daisy with a mentor who was also a small business owner. Soon Daisy's aspirations to be a bank teller grew into a desire to become a CEO. When asked why she wanted to be a CEO, Daisy responded by saying that she wanted to be a role model to other Latinas and demonstrate that if she could do it, so could they.

At Mills College, Daisy decided to major in Business Economics. Whether she chooses to become a financial consultant, accountant, or CEO, Daisy still wants to be a role model. Reflecting on her senior year, she said, "I never thought I would reach so far in my education but also in my leadership skills. I have many friends that look up to me as well as family members, and I want them to continue to look at me as a role model but also help them become leaders."

ALEX
B.A., Latin American Studies
U.C. Santa Cruz

Highlights:
* Featured Speaker at Unleashing Knowledge Innovation conference in New Mexico
* Coro Exploring Leadership Program
* First Graduate Summer Intern

The youngest of five sons, Israel was a minor when he migrated from El Salvador to San Francisco. As a middle school student, he was struck by the lack of resources in schools and the lack of interest many of his peers had in their studies. Determined to become the first in his family to earn a degree, Israel applied to and joined First Graduate's program.

To best prepare for college, Israel initially enrolled in Lowell High School, a local magnet school that offered rigorous college prep courses. Despite the school's stellar reputation and Israel's hard work, the campus size and culture were not good fits.  With First Graduate's guidance, he transferred to a smaller, public charter school, Leadership High, where he thrived as a student ambassador.

In his fourth year at U.C. Santa Cruz, Israel has spent two of those years conducting research for one of his professors in the Latin American Studies program. "My interest in learning and succeeding in school derives from knowing where my family comes from, how much they have struggled to get me here, knowing there wasn't an educational system they could participate in, and opportunities were limited to them." When Israel received his diploma this spring, he graduated with a B.A. in Latin American Studies with a focus on education. In the future, he hopes to pursue a doctorate in education and become a professor.

JODIE
B.A., History
St. Mary's College
 
Highlights: 
* Mayor's Youth Employment & Education Program
* Volunteer on Native American reservation camp in North Dakota

Jodie had only been in the United States for a couple of years before joining First Graduate. The youngest of three girls, she lived with her father while her mother remained in China until her senior year of high school.

From the start, Jodie always showed extra effort, spending more time in after-school tutoring than required. She also demonstrated her resourcefulness by researching and securing internships on her own. She enrolled in the Mayor's Youth Employment & Education Program and interned at an art gallery in downtown San Francisco.

At St.Mary's College, Jodie has focused her studies on history - a passion sparked by a high school teacher. "When I was little I always found myself questioning the world," she says. "Being a history major I am able to learn about the past and in the process gain understanding of how the present world came to be." Jodie has also volunteered for an unusual but noble assignment to teach in low-income schools on a Native American reservation camp in North Dakota. "My career goal is to be an educator; thus, my goal is to enrich my community through educating the future generation."

LOURDES
B.A., Spanish
U.C. Davis
 
Highlights:
* Coro Foundation Fellowship
* Internship with San Francisco District Attorney's office
* First Graduate Summer Intern

Lourdes joined First Graduate eight years ago when she was a rising eighth grader at Horace Mann Middle School. After graduating at the top of her class, she enrolled in one of San Francisco's college prep public high schools, Gateway. Though she faced new academic and social challenges, Lourdes made a commitment to excel. "I dedicated myself to my schoolwork, asked for help when I needed it, and went to First Graduate for after-school tutoring," she says. "I regained my self-confidence and motivation to build a successful life."

With hard work and persistence, Lourdes graduated high school and earned acceptance to several colleges. She chose U.C. Davis for its strong Spanish program. After the first two years, she faced unexpected financial hurdles when her father struggled with legal issues. First Graduate's annual scholarships helped fill in the gaps so Lourdes could stay focused on her studies.

Lourdes graduated from U.C. Davis in the spring of 2011 with a B.A. in Spanish and a minor in Communications.  "I'm scared but excited to fulfill my long-awaited dream of graduating from college and obtaining my diploma." Lourdes hopes to pursue a career as either a writer or translator.