First Up: Brought to You by ISAC

Welcome to another episode of First Up, brought to you by ISAC. In this previously recorded episode, we sit down with college student, content creator, and podcast host Jacey Saige. Tune in as we explore financial literacy and how she turned her journey from campus to content into a platform that’s educating others.  Want to hear more from Jacey? Visit https://linktr.ee/jacey.saige

 In today's episode, we speak with returning guest and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Keeayla Wilhite, LCSW,  to take a brief look into life after graduation.  Join us in conversation as we explore life, career and the uncertainty of life after the degree from a mental health lens.

In today's episode of First Up, we are joined by returning guest and ISAC's Adult Outreach Specialist, Paul Oliver III. In this exciting segment we explore college stereotypes in a true or false format. Join us in discussion as we dive into some college stereotypes prompts that we crowdsourced. Hope you enjoy!

Welcome to Season Three of First Up brought to you by ISAC! After a brief hiatus, we are back with an all-new season and live recording featuring the entire ISACorps. In this episode we explore how movies portray the college going experience and expectations through a first-gen lens.  Join us as we dive into our list of top college movies!

Welcome to the season two finale of First Up! In today's episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Bradley University's Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management, Brian Hodges, live from the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) Conference in Peoria, IL. Social psychologist and leadership expert Adam Galinsky, Ph.D. has spent three decades building a method for determining when we are inspiring versus infuriating, and where various leaders currently land on that spectrum. Today we talk about our first-generation experiences as leaders- both inspiring and infuriating. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

Hi First Up listeners, please join us next week for our season two finale! This will be our hosts and team's first recording with a live audience.   We invite you to learn more about Adam Galinsky, Ph.D. and his book Inspire: The Universal Path to Inspiring Yourself and Others by listening to his most recent event provided by The Family Action Network (FAN):https://www.familyactionnetwork.net/events/inspire-the-universal-path-for-leading-yourself-and-others/  

Welcome to another episode of First Up! In this special episode we take a deep dive into the doctoral journey of our host Jasmine Jetton-Gonzales, Ph.D. from experiencing adversity to maintaining her well-being in the face of challenges, Jasmine has stayed resilient throughout her educational journey. We invite you to join in on the discussion and help us celebrate her!       

In today's episode of First Up, our hosts discuss barriers that many first-generation college students face and provide ways in which students can combat some of those barriers. We hope this helps! The ISACorps are here to help you through the college planning process! To find your nearest ISACorps member visit: http://studentportal.isac.org/isacorps 

In today's episode of First Up, our hosts have a conversation about creating motivated mindsets and finding your motivation (intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation). As students push through their final semester, it's important to stay motivated and build habits to build a motivated/ growth mindset. We hope this conversation is beneficial to you!

On today's episode of First Up, we are joined by ISAC's Assistant Director of Training and Professional Practice, Sara Espinosa. During this episode, we talked about the importance of being informed on the financial aid process and the many financial barriers that exist for students planning to attend college/other post-secondary options. We hope you enjoy!

Welcome to another episode of First Up! In this special episode we are joined by ISAC's Community Outreach Specialist, Paul Oliver, to share a few suggestions and safety tips for our high school and college students going on spring break. We hope these suggestions and tips are helpful!    Have a question or story you'd like to share? Email us at [email protected]

In this episode of First Up, our host have a candid conversation about being a commuter student in comparison to being a residential student living on campus. This conversation features ISAC's training and development specialists Ana Moya, and Salma Uribe. We hope you enjoy this episode!  If you are a recent college graduate and interested in joining the ISACorps, please visit https://www.isac.org/jointheisacorps

In today's episode of First Up, our host Brian speaks with third year college student, Dejan Drasko. During the interview, Dejan discussed his experience as a first-generation college student, how pivotal Esports was to his college transition, and the importance of asking for help. ~Esports, short for electronic sports refers to competitive video gaming.

In today's episode of First Up, one of our hosts has an open conversation with a family member who went away for college but continued to set an example from afar. Our guest Kasia Redding, J.D., is a first-generation professional who attended Tougaloo College, a private historically black college. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were founded in the 19th and 20th centuries to offer Black Americans opportunities to earn college degrees when, at the time, most predominantly white institutions (PWIs) refused to admit them. Several HBCUs started as colleges of education, intending for graduates to go on to teach Black Americans at all grade levels.

In today's episode of First Up, our host speak with current educator and former BAM Regional Manager and Counselor, DeKevious Wilson, to discuss his experience moving to Illinois to follow his family's passion for teaching and helping others. We hope you enjoy! Youth Guidance’s Becoming A Man® program (BAM®) is a school-based group counseling program that guides young men in 6-12th grades to learn, internalize and practice social cognitive skills, make responsible decisions for their future and become positive members of their school and community. 

We’ll be back next with a full episode week on Wednesday; February 19th so tune in then! Below you will find resources mentioned in this episode. https://howwefeel.org./ “How We Feel”, a free app designed by scientist to help people find the right words to describe how they feel. Life as a QuaranTEEN: Youth Mental Health Post-Pandemic - FAN  In a youth-centered, youth-moderated conversation, New York Times columnist and American Psychological Association thought leader, Dr. Lisa Damour, will outline strategies young people, and those who care for them, can use to support their mental health.

Are you a student interested in studying abroad? If so, this episode is for you! Join our host as they interview first year ISACorps member, Niah Dobbins. In this episode Niah shares her experience studying abroad, the benefits of learning new cultures, and the reality of culture shock.

In this episode of First Up, our host are joined by ISAC's Assistant Director of College Access Services, Kim Korando, to discuss what it was like being first generation and growing up in Southern Illinois. We hope you enjoy! "What's your marshmallow" refers to the marshmallow test, a study that measures a person's ability to delay gratification. 

In this special episode of First Up, our host attend an open house where they hear from different divisions of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). In this round table talk, we get to hear from several people, and we also did some rapid-fire questions that we think you'll enjoy!   Top Holiday Movie Choices: 1)The Grinch 2)Home Alone 3)Diehard & Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

In this holiday themed episode, our host are joined by members of ISAC to discuss their family holiday traditions, movie favorites, and the importance of coming together. This episode is filled with plenty of friendly banter and interesting questions! Want to join in on the fun? Send your answer(s) to the question(s) listed below to [email protected] 1) Favorite holiday movie? 2) Real tree or fake tree? 3) One family tradition? To hear more about Michael Norton's "Ritual Effect" visit: https://www.familyactionnetwork.net/events/the-ritual-effect-from-habit-to-ritual-harness-the-surprising-power-of-everyday-actions/ 

In this episode of First Up, we hear from ISACorps member, Adamaris Saavedra, as she shares her experience with facing financial barriers and the power of mental health resources. This was a heartfelt episode that we hope you will enjoy! “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”- Helen Keller.

In this episode of First Up, we hear from second year ISACorps member,  Ines Garcia-Valdivia. We had a great conversation about mentorship, finding resources, asking for help and learning how to move at your own pace.  Have a question or story you'd like to share? Email us at [email protected] . 

In this episode of First Up, we hear from second year ISACorps member, Brandon Bernal, as he discusses the highs and lows of transitioning from high school to college as a first-generation college student. During this episode, Brandon shares his personal struggles in high school and describes ways in which he remained persistent.

Welcome to season two of First Up! In this episode we hear from ISAC's Director of Outreach Operations, Abel Montoya, as he shares his journey as a first-generation college student and professional. This episode covers everything from barriers to resources; retirement plans and planning ahead for professionals.  Resources mentioned in this episode: studentportal.isac.org/firstgen  

Happy National First Gen Day! We're excited to announce that our first episode of season two will be live next Wednesday, November 13th! Have a question or story you'd like to share? Email us at [email protected] . 

Welcome to the season one finale of First Up! In this episode, Brian and Jasmine are joined by Jacqueline Moreno- ISAC Chief Service Officer, and producers Joey Lieberman, and Matt Montez to recap this season. Join in on the discussion as everyone provides reflections, relives their favorite moments, and hint at plans for future season(s). We would like to give a special thanks to all our guest who have joined this season, as well as all our listeners. We look forward to the future stories and discussions that we can share with you all! We encourage you to visit https://studentportal.isac.org/isacorps for student and parent resources, information about future events near you, and connecting with your local ISACorps members.

This episode of First Up is part two of a two-part series that dives into navigating mental health, this time through the eyes of former ISACorps Alum, Keeayla Jones, LMSW. Keeayla is currently working in the high school setting as a social behavioral counselor in the state of Texas. In this one-on-one conversation, Brian and Keeayla discuss the ways in which people can fight against social barriers, uplift students, and build safe spaces in both the high school and college setting.  

This episode of First Up is part one, of a two-part series that dives into navigating mental health through the eyes of Maggie Espinoza. Maggie is a licensed clinical professional counselor, certified integrative medicine, and certified clinical trauma professional.  In this one-on-one conversation, Brian and Maggie discuss the unique ways in which people can heal from trauma, as well how to go about supporting students through therapy, while propelling them towards their future. 

In this episode of First Up, Brian has a one on one conversation with first generation student and first generation veteran, Jesus Molina. Jesus is a Communications Specialist from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital). Join us in the discussion, as Jesus shares some of the benefits available to veterans, as well as his personal journey navigating from the U.S. Marines to college. Are you a veteran interested in learning more some of the benefits available to you? If so visit US Department of Veteran Affairs (USVA): https://www.va.gov/ Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG): https://www.isac.org/isac-gift-assistance-programs/illinois-veteran-grant/

In this episode of First Up, Brian and Jasmine discuss the importance of friendship and finding your people in college. They are joined by Fernando Bazaldua - ISAC Gear Up Grant Manager and Account Liaison, and their very own producer, Matthew Montez -ISAC Outreach Planning and Partnership Manager, as they reminisce about their experience becoming friends and eventually working together years later. We hope you will enjoy this episode!

Welcome to another episode of First Up! In today's episode our host are joined by Maggie West, Community Relations Strategist for the City Colleges of Chicago. Maggie is a former ISACorps member who continues to navigate in the higher education space as a young professional.  We hope you find this to be an insightful episode!

In this special Spring Break episode of First Up, our host, Brian, and Jasmine, share a quick guide into staying safe during your break. If you're a college student thinking about things to do over your Spring Break, they have you covered with a few ideas! First Up will resume on March 20th. We hope you all enjoy your Spring Break and most importantly, stay safe!

Welcome to another episode of First Up! In today's episode our host are joined by another returning guest, Paul Oliver III, to discuss how students can choose and compare what schools are a best fit for them. We would love for you to join in on the discussion, as they dive into all the important components that go into choosing the right fit school. Visit ISAC's Student Portal at https://studentportal.isac.org/for tools and resources to aid in your postsecondary journey!

On today's episode of First Up, our host Brian and Jasmine are joined by returning guest, Brandon Perez -ISAC GearUp Specialist. The three sit down to tackle setting boundaries and fighting off expectations. These are important conversations to have with the people around you, and even with yourself at times. We hope you can take something positive away from this episode.  

Happy Valentine's Day to all our listeners!  In today's episode, Brian and Jasmine share a list of 20 self-care activities (including tips from our episode on mindfulness) that students can use to alleviate stress.  Everyone combats stress differently, but we hope you can incorporate a few of these tips into your daily routine.  

In this episode of First Up, Brian and Jasmine provide a quick walkthrough of what the financial aid process could look like for your typical high school senior, planning to attend a college or university.  If you are a student who needs assistance with any of your postsecondary planning, you can always find your local ISACorps member at https://studentportal.isac.org .   To our listeners: We know that students and parents may be feeling confused and worried about how to get financial aid for college because the 2024-25 FAFSA has had delays and some technical problems. This is reminder that you are not going to fall behind, nor are you doing anything wrong. The U.S. Department of Education is aware of these issues and is working on resolving them. 

In this episode of First Up, Brian and Jasmine are joined by Claudia Aly, ISAC Parent Outreach Coordinator, and Olivia Sanchez, ISAC Career Pathways Initiative Specialist. If you're a parent looking for ways to advocate and be more supportive to your student(s), this episode is for you! 

In this episode, our host, Brian, and Jasmine, are joined by a young man named Cortney Hill, who shared his personal experiences with dyslexia, seeking help, and eventually learning to appreciate his learning disability. Dyslexia is a learning disability that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.    We are extremely grateful for Cortney being vulnerable and sharing his personal journey, challenges, and words of encouragement with our host. We hope you can learn something from this beautiful episode.

In this episode of First Up, Renee Martinez, ISAC Statewide Outreach Coordinator, joins Brian and Jasmine to discuss how students can take advantage of career fairs and other opportunities presented early in their educational path. Following last week's episode, Connecting, Renee shares how students can think of “networking” as relationship building and relationship management.  Interested in joining the ISACorps? Visit www.isac.org/jointheISACorps

In this episode of First Up, Tiffany Sharp, ISACorps Alumni Coordinator,  joins Brian and Jasmine to have an open conversation about what it truly means to build relationships. Join us in our conversation about the importance of connecting, building, and maintaining relationships. 

In this episode of First Up, Dr. Trina Bryant -Executive Director for the Center for Student Enrichment at Eastern Nazarene College, joins Brian to discuss the practice of mindfulness. The practice of mindfulness has been known to have benefits for people dealing with anxiety, depression, and stress. Join us in our discussion on mindfulness. Happy Holidays!  The next episode of First Up will air January 10th. 

In today's episode, Brian and Jasmine discuss what stress could look like for students moving away from home. They are joined by ISAC's GearUP Specialist, Brandon Perez and Paul Oliver III, to talk about their personal experiences with culture shock, feeling guilt from leaving home for college, and what stress looked like for them. We hope you enjoy!

This episode is a follow up to episode three as we get closer to the release of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA. This time around Brian and Jasmine are joined by ISAC's Professional Development Specialist, Thomas Semanic, to discuss new processes and terminology on the 2024-2025 FAFSA. *Information is subject to change. Please visit https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center to stay up to date.*

In this quick and informative episode of First Up, Brian discusses who is considered a first generation college student and speaks about some of the barriers they may face. 

On this episode of First Up, Jasmine and Brian are joined by one of ISAC's Professional Development specialist, Dada Ibrahimovic, as they dive into some of the upcoming changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have questions, our guest has answers! *Information is subject to change. Please visit https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center  to stay up to date.*

On this episode of First Up, Jasmine and Brian are joined by Ariana Benitez to discuss making the big transition from high school to college as a first generation student, what it’s like to work as a student, fighting perfection, and the struggle of career vs degree.

Get to know your host of First Up and hear their personal stories. In this opening episode, you get to meet our host, Brian White and Jasmine Jetton- Gonzales, as they talk about their personal journeys as two first generation college students and discuss what this whole podcast is all about!