I Am First Program

The I Am First… program will equip first-generation college students with the confidence, self-awareness, and career readiness knowledge to jumpstart into a successful journey towards achieving career and leadership development. As an I Am First student you will be amongst a group of your peers who can relate to the first-generation college experience and provide a network of support even beyond the program conclusion.

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I am first

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Program Benefits

Exposure to:

Design Your Life Exploratory Lab - walk away with a career and life road map to success
StrengthsFinder 2.0 - a strengths-based assessment and overview to help identify your strengths as a first-generation college student
First-generation Alumnus, Employer, Faculty Panel/Networking
Access to an Alumni Mentor
Receive a Launch Your Career Workbook with activities to build your networking skills to access the hidden job market and take a readiness assessment to identify ways to improve or enhance your readiness skills
1-1 Coaching sessions with the I Am First Career Coach

Additional Benefits:

Scholarship Award Opportunity - A $250 scholarship will be awarded to a select number of students who fully complete the program and additonal program requirements, to further explore and execute their goals
Access to interest and career inventories offered by the Career Center
Community through Canvas and Social Media

Program Qualifications:

Identify as a first-generation college student - See application for definition
Currently enrolled as a 1st/2nd year undergraduate student - Fall Semester Cohort only
Currently enrolled as a transfer, 3rd, or 4th year undergraduate students - Spring and Summer Semester Cohort only
Complete entire program application
Submit resume - The Career Center offers “Drive-Thru Services” M – F to assist you with your resume related questions.
Note**Program admittance is limited to 50 students.

Time Commitment:

Full commitment to attend all sessions is required. Two or more missed sessions will disqualify students for being eligible for a scholarship award and a Career Readiness Completion Certificate granted by the Career Center.

Program Timeframe :
- - - Fall Semester Applications typically open during the month of May- June.
    - Spring Semester Applications open typically open during the month of November - December.
    - Summer Applications open typically during the month of April.
All sessions are hybrid. There will be 5 sessions in-person and 4 sessions will be virtual.

Timeline:

Application submission

Deadline to Apply -Spring Semester Applications will be opening soon. Keep an eye out for an email.

Student Orientation (Mandatory): TBA

For additional questions regarding the I Am First program contact Stephanie Reyes at sreyes@fullerton.edu

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Apply for I am First

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Testimonials:

Hear from your peers about many aspects of being a first-generation college student and their experience in the I Am First program. Click on the thumbnail to play the video.

Gabriela Ruiz

Melanie Martinez

Sarai Reyes

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