Yamila Martinez, Be The First, not The Last Startup CEO, is a first-generation student whose path was untraditional. After a seven year gap she got admitted to Borough Manhattan Community College where she received the presidential scholarship. Then she transferred to Hunter College with a transfer scholarship where she graduated with honors in political science and minors in journalism and human rights. She will start her MPA at NYU this coming fall with a scholarship.
Yamila: Since I was a child, I remember telling my mom that I wanted to be a journalist. I have always been a curious mind. Since I was in third grade in elementary school, I started participating in academic competitions until high school. Then, I had to stop my education to help my family financially but I never lost sight of my goal to enter college.
How was your experience navigating college as a first-generation student?
Yamila: The pandemic interrupted my first semester in college. It was a tough beginning. I made an effort to join societies and clubs that were operating online but it wasn’t enough. I started looking for outside fellowships and career services. This experience led me to create my own startup, Be First, not The Last.
What impact do you want to generate with Be First, not The Last?
Yamila: I want to support other first-generation students to succeed in their studies by creating this network platform that will have all the resources and tools in one place.
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