First Generation Programming Services

Welcome back, First Gens, and Happy February! This week, we continue with our theme of Advocating as a First Gen as we welcome a brand-new guest to the podcast, Alondra Canizal Hsu!

Alondra Canizal Hsu

Alondra immigrated from Mexico to the Midwest when she was just 6 years old with the understanding that the way to accomplish the American Dream is to work hard and get a great education. As she got older, she realized maybe this wasn’t all that was required. She relied on programming that was available to her as a first gen, such as Upward Bound, to help her succeed. She graduated from Northwestern University with a BS in journalism, followed by a Master’s in Prevention Science and Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Master’s in school counseling from Oregon State University. Throughout her journey she learned how to network, how to leverage her network and how to advocate for herself. After having established herself, Alondra now helps BIPOC and first-gen professionals share their stories through their resumes, cover letters, and interview skills. She is also the founder and CEO of Soluna Career Consulting LLC, based out of Portland, Oregon.

Like Alondra, many of us probably grew up watching our parents work tirelessly in jobs that didn’t treat them with dignity. They were told to be grateful, to keep their heads down, and to avoid rocking the boat. These lessons, though rooted in survival, often carry over into our own professional lives. We hesitate to ask for promotions, negotiate salaries, or even admit when we need help. We do what we need to do to survive and try our best not to draw attention. Alondra shares with us how, even after earning degrees from Northwestern and Harvard, she still found herself struggling with imposter syndrome. She soon learned that we were never taught how to advocate for ourselves in a system that wasn’t designed for us to thrive.

Advocating as a First Gen

During our talk with Alondra, we were reminded that we are not doing anything wrong. The system benefits from our silence, but we don’t have to accept it. She shared with us a few tips to start advocating for yourself. The first is to speak up about what you want. Remember that no one will offer you opportunities if they don’t know you’re looking for them. Make it clear that you’re ready for the next step. Don’t be afraid to talk about money either. Salary transparency is key to closing pay gaps. Having honest conversations with those you trust can help ensure you’re being paid fairly. Lastly, and what we always talk about here is to find your community. Surround yourself with people who uplift you. Whether it’s coworkers, mentors, or fellow first gens, having support makes all the difference.

As Alondra reminds us, practice makes progress. You don’t have to have it all figured out today, but you do need to start somewhere. Even if advocating for yourself feels uncomfortable, take the first step. Whether it’s negotiating your salary, setting boundaries at work, or simply asking for help—every effort adds up. Let’s break the cycle of silence together. You are worth advocating for. To work with Alondra, visit her website https://solunacareer.com/. 

The First Gen Madrina/The Social Work Madrina