The First Gen Madrina
The First Gen Madrina is a podcast for social work students and professionals who are ready to build a career that doesn't cost them their peace. Hosted by Sara Diaz, LCSW, this show blends real talk with practical tools for anyone navigating this field.
Each episode digs into the parts of social work that grad school never prepared you for: burnout that gets treated like a personal failing instead of a systemic issue, the guilt that comes with setting boundaries, advocating for fair pay in a field that expects you to sacrifice for it, and the quiet grief of being "the first" to do any of this. Sara brings her own story as a first-gen Latina and licensed clinical social worker into every conversation, along with guests who understand what it's like to hold space for everyone else while trying to figure out who's holding space for you.
Whether you're still in your MSW program or years into practice, this is your reminder that rest isn't a reward you have to earn, ambition and burnout aren't the same thing, and you don't have to do this alone. Welcome to the familia.
The First Gen Madrina
E87 How to Advocate, Negotiate and Obtain the Career of Your Dreams with Alondra Canizal Hsu
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Dear First Gens,
In this episode, host Sara welcomes guest, Alondra Canizal Hsu, to The First Gen Madrina Podcast! This gives us a brand new episode for this month's theme, Advocating as a First Gen!
Immigrating to the Midwest from Mexico at the age of 6, Alondra always understood the vehicle to the American Dream to be hard work and higher education, but she quickly realized that as an immigrant, the journey required more than what was available to her, so she relied on first-generation programming, such as Upward Bound, to help her succeed. She graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Journalism, and she went on to earn 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.
Her journey through academia and her career was learning along the way how to network, how to leverage that network, and how to stand in her power through storytelling. She has worked as a prevention educator, a school counselor, and in human resources helping to diversify the teacher workforce. Currently, she helps BIPOC and first-generation professionals share their story through their resume, cover letter, and interviews. She is the Founder & CEO of Soluna Career Consulting LLC, based out of Portland, OR.
Visit thefirstgenmadrina.com for the blog and additional resources. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected. Also, follow me on instagram @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW on LinkedIn.
Supporting You Into the New Year,
Sara, The First Gen Madrina