♪ Intro Music 
I’m originally very rural northern New Mexico.
I think my law school classmates here,
when I say rural it’s hard for them to conceptualize
what that really means. In a lot of ways I feel like, you know,
like i’ve lived two different lives that is world’s different than 
where I find myself today.
I talked with Akbar and Steven, 
who are other students here,
about forming a group for first generation professionals
because there was sort of a void at 
Penn Law for those kinds of people.
There are a lot of different types of diversity at the school 
that had groups already around it,
but for students from these particular 
backgrounds there really wasn't
anything to support them.
What you’re going to see is whenever people 
are stepping forward saying,
“I am a first generation professional,”
it’s going to be easier for other people 
who are first generation professionals
 to come out and say,
“I am also, or have interest in law school.” 
You have this unique challenges of figuring out yourself
and you’re figuring out academics, 
and working to try to pay
your way through college, and dealing with family.
And trying to support them along the way
and all of those things balancing together.
When I look back on it now are what make me
into the person that I am.
So, I think what is so exciting about this is 
that you’re realizing there are lots
of first generation students here and 
that there are lots of things that people assume
that you know, but you don't know and
it’s okay that you don’t know
because there’s others who do not and there are people here 
who want to support and assist you.
We get very nervous about asking questions because
we’re afraid of outing ourselves and showing, 
“i’m not supposed to be here.” 
So I think the First Generation Professionals group 
really creates a safe space
where people can discuss the issues that
they’re having or the questions that they might have
and feel that they’re not being judged.
I think what this group does is the things 
that the things that you think 
that no one else is experiencing 
when you get in that room and you start
talking about your experiences as a 
first generation student you realize
you do belong here.
And the amazing thing about being here 
is that there are so many 
other people who can lend similar experiences and 
everybody appreciates 
those different perspectives. And that is part of the 
reason I chose to come here
because I just felt welcome, I felt like 
I was able to express myself
and felt like I had a place.
I think that this group will help people 
know that they should 
be proud and you know, wear that, 
or fly their flag high
for whatever it is.
♪Outro Music
