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Last week, I had the pleasure to return to my hometown of Texarkana, Arkansas to deliver a Back to School keynote speech in front of many of the same educators who transformed my life. I shared two valuable moments from my upbringing to provide some insight into what motivated me to dream big when my family history, society, and statistics told me otherwise. I hope you enjoy. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Mentioned in this episode: QuestBridge: questbridge.org --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Ryan (a sophomore at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University and educator at Teens Grow Greens in Milwaukee) was recently granted a scholarship named in his honor by U.S. Cellular's "The Future of Good" program and featured in Former First Lady Michelle Obama's "Better Make Room" campaign. He joins the podcast to discuss his passion for teaching teens, having a growth mindset, keeping his eye on the prize, and more. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Mentioned in this episode: Teens Grow Greens - https://www.teensgrowgreens.org/ Better Make Room - https://www.bettermakeroom.org/ The Future of Good - https://www.thefutureofgood.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Sierra, a certified yoga instructor, QuestBridge scholar, and founder of Project Mishran-- an organization based in Rajasthan, India, created by and for a socially and economically disadvantaged community--joins the podcast to discuss the origins of her organization, the importance of gratitude, the pros and cons of accepting a full-ride scholarship, and more. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Mentioned in this episode: Project Mishran: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheMishranCoop#items Rules for a Knight: https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Knight-Ethan-Hawke/dp/0307962334 QuestBridge: Questbridge.org --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Elvis (Barry College '15), current MBA student at Arizona State, Bonner Scholarship recipient, and the youngest of six (the first of his family to graduate from high school and college) talks about dreaming big, working hard to honor his mother’s sacrifice, positivity, and more. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Mentioned in this episode: Bonner Foundation: Bonner.org Forward Focus (Arizona State): https://wpcarey.asu.edu/mba-programs/full-time/curriculum Upward Bound: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html?exp=0 The Other Wes Moore: https://www.amazon.com/Other-Wes-Moore-Name-Fates/dp/0385528205 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Trixie (Smith College '17), an organic farmer, political activist, and proud Vermonter, swings by to share her experiences growing up in rural New England, her time at Smith, being proud of one's background, and more. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Just a quick word thanking the guests, listeners, and supporters of the show. If you think someone you know would like to listen please share it with them! My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Karen --a 2nd year medical student, activist, and undocumented immigrant--stops by to give deeper insight on challenges and opportunities surrounding the undocumented student identity, not compromising your ambitions to satisfy others, and the importance of actively seeking out mentorship relevant to your personal interests. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/  Mentioned in this episode: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals - https://www.uscis.gov/archive/frequently-asked-questions QuestBridge - www.Questbridge.org Pre-Health Dreamers - http://www.phdreamers.org/ Gates Millenium Scholars Program - http://www.gmsp.org/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Hung, Yale ’15, an educator, bodybuilder, and future data analyst visits to chat about accepting his first-gen/low-income identity, networking to overcome imposter syndrome, grit, and more. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/  Mentioned in this episode: Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America - http://ledascholars.org/ IvyG - https://www.facebook.com/team1vyG/ Pomodoro Technique - https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique 5 Second Rule - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI2VQ-ZsNr0 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Alejandra Collado (NYU ’17), who is currently a Program Coordinator for Brooklyn Law School's Public Service Law Center, chats with me about leaning into short-term discomfort for long-term gains, staying in your lane, and the need for more demonstrated support from colleges and universities. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/  Show Notes: https://www.facebook.com/notes/notes-from-the-ivy-league/episode-8-alejandra/171139450395982/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Karléh Wilson (Yale ’16), a record-breaking athlete, activist, and new mother, joins me to discuss the importance of building a legacy, focusing on what matters most in life, and pushing yourself to excel despite what others may say. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/  Show sponsor - First Gen and Juice: www.facebook.com/firstgenandjuice/  Show notes: https://www.facebook.com/notes/notes-from-the-ivy-league/episode-7-karl%C3%A9h/171138910396036/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Travis, a 2016 Yale grad from Mississippi, shares his appreciation for a solid educational foundation in his early childhood, how a college degree can aid in socioeconomic mobility, and more. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Show sponsor - First Gen and Juice: www.facebook.com/firstgenandjuice/  Show notes: https://www.facebook.com/notes/notes-from-the-ivy-league/episode-6-travis/171138453729415/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Brittany, NYU '20 and author of 'Streets of Melted Gold: An Arguably Fictional Memoir', chats with me about the importance of positivity, authenticity, and generosity (to yourself and others) while striving for our own versions of success. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Show sponsor - First Gen and Juice: www.facebook.com/firstgenandjuice/  Show notes: https://www.facebook.com/notes/notes-from-the-ivy-league/episode-5-brittany/171137697062824/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Abdul, a 2017 Yale grad from West Haven, CT visits the podcast to talk about keeping things in perspective, his work building partnerships between schools and community organizations, and his passion for writing children's books. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Show sponsor - First Gen and Juice: www.facebook.com/firstgenandjuice/  Show notes: https://www.facebook.com/notes/notes-from-the-ivy-league/episode-4-abdul/171137307062863/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

Ben Bartolome, a 2016 Yale grad from New Orleans visits the podcast to talk about how we first met at a QuestBridge conference, impactful teachers in his life, and our mutual appreciation of CiCi's Pizza. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Show sponsor - First Gen and Juice: www.facebook.com/firstgenandjuice/  Show notes: https://www.facebook.com/notes/notes-from-the-ivy-league/episode-3-ben/171136937062900/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

This episode we meet Dara, a 2017 Yale grad and Columbia PhD candidate from Florida. We chat about putting in the work to get what you want, how to keep networking authentic, how applying to college is like dating, and more. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy  Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Notes-From-The-Ivy-League-151723779004216/ Show sponsor - First Gen and Juice: www.facebook.com/firstgenandjuice/  Show notes: https://www.facebook.com/notes/notes-from-the-ivy-league/episode-2-dara/171136017062992/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

This episode we meet Ivonne Gonzales, a 2016 Yale grad from East Los Angeles, California. We chat about her upbringing in LA to Mexican immigrant parents, some of the college prep programs that aided on her college application journey, and more. My social media accounts: Instagram: instagram.com/thativyleagueguy Twitter: twitter.com/ivyleagueguy Facebook: Notes From The Ivy League Show sponsor - First Gen and Juice: https://www.facebook.com/firstgenandjuice/ Show notes: https://www.facebook.com/notes/notes-from-the-ivy-league/episode-1-ivonne/171133863729874/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support

A weekly podcast debuting April 22, 2018. Subscribe now to ensure you get notified of new episodes as soon as they air. Music Credit: Upbeat by Jon Luc Hefferman --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/notesfromtheivyleague/support