First-Generation Pre-Orientation Leaders 2018

PRE-ORIENTATION CO-DIRECTORS

Name:  Sara Hetherington
Class year:  2019
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Political Science and English
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Campus activities:  College Council, Parlor Tricks Literary Magazine, First Gen Initiatives
Most memorable Williams experience:  Taking a free trip to ski on Jiminy Peak through the ice-skating club. Being from Florida, I was so excited to play in the snow – but my friend and I got bored of the bunny hills and almost got stuck on top of the first green slope we tried. Luckily, a ski instructor passed by and gave us some impromptu lessons that got us down the mountain!
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: It can be easy to feel like everyone else knows what they’re doing, but don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Name:  Yaznairy Cabrera
Class year:  2020
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Economics
Hometown:  Lawrence, MA
Campus activities:  First Gen Advisory Board, Sisterhood
Most memorable Williams experience:  Being at the top of a mountain top with my Leading Minds orientation group and just talking endlessly about our lives while viewing all of the Berkshires at a distance.
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students:  You are entirely enough and more capable than you know of succeeding here!

ORIENTATION LEADERS

Name: Alejandro Flores Monge
Class year: 2021
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Environmental Studies, Latina/o Studies Concentration
Hometown: Rifle, Colorado
Campus Activities: Ritmo Latino, Purple Bike Coalition, Admissions Tour Guide
Most memorable Williams experience: Before coming to Williams, I was convinced I’d go to a school for performing arts. I breathed dance, and dreamed of Juilliard, NYCB, and ABT. I took a ballet class for PE credit in my first-year fall. When I heard that we were going to NYC to watch New York City Ballet, I lost it! It was such an incredible evening with such an incredible group of student dancers.
Word of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: It is so much easier said than done, but always reach out for help. It’s such a small school, so I didn’t expect it, but it’s sometimes really easy to feel alone. I hope to always remind you all that you never are! There are so many resources available on campus. Use them!

Name:  Bret Hairston
Class year:  2021
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Prospective English Major with Africana Concentration
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Campus activities: Writing Workshop Tutor, Ritmo Latino Dancer, BSU,  Sisterhood
Most memorable Williams experience:  The first time I walked into my dorm room and it actually felt like my home.
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: Give everything time. Everything – finding your “people”, knowing what to do with your life, understanding campus culture – does not have to happen right now. The best moments, ideas, the best you takes time to develop.

Name: Christopher Ochoa
Class year: 2020
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Biology
Hometown: Queens, NY / Riverhead, NY / Lehigh Acres, FL
Campus activities: Vista, CISA, ¡Vive!, QTIPoC
Most memorable Williams experience: In my first-year, I went to the season’s last rugby game. Cole Field, on a cool fall day. The sun was shining, but the cold had people carrying coffee, steaming paper cups in purple and gold gloves, sweaters adorned with purple and gold scarves. There were parents talking and pointing, and young children tottering around and laughing, and general revelry in the stands. All surrounded by tall mountains and autumn-leaf oranges and reds. It felt like a scene out of a movie. Not a place I ever imagined myself in. Not a feeling I ever imagined myself having. It was surreal.
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: Do not let academia cut out your roots. There may come moments of deep personal questioning, moments of shifting life perspectives. These are moments I urge you to permit. But in no way mindlessly. Please, take the time to reflect and to notice these changes. They may come faster than you think. They may settle in long before you realize they have arrived. Notice their newfound presence. But do not let academia cut out your roots.

Name:  JoJo Fernandez
Class year:  2020
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Psychology and Neuroscience
Hometown: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Campus activities:  ¡Vive!, Writing Workshop Tutor, CliA Volunteer
Most memorable Williams experience:  For my 19th birthday, some of my friends and I went to Blue Mango for dinner then took a trip to the Green River afterwards and jumped in. We proceeded to having a mud fight, it was exactly the type of moment I live for.
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: When life gives you lemons, make apple juice and leave the world wondering how you did it.

Name:  Katie Manning
Class year:  2020
Pronouns:  they/them/theirs
Major: Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois
Campus activities: First-Gen Advisory Board and work for the English Department and for the Office of Accessible Education
Most memorable Williams experience: I can think of a few: going to see Black Panther for free with a bunch of fellow first-gen students; watching my friends put on the first concert for ¡Vive!, a Latinx music group; my first mountain day hiking with my JAs and my second mountain day being close-to-last in line with friends and blasting music from a speaker; turning in my last final essay on a dark starry night to finish off my first semester
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: You and your health are always your most important thing! College is a huge change and there’s so many scary and new things here. Finding your community, taking time for yourself, reaching out for support, being okay with creating alternative ways for you to be here and to do work here – all of these are okay to do. Even though the elite college system may not have been built for first-gen and/or minority students, we’re going to work together to ensure that we create spaces and challenge the system to support, accommodate, and hold you up. You’re not in this alone. I’m on your side, always.

Name:  Kiersten Campbell
Class year:  2021
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Computer Science and Biology
Hometown: Bedminster, New Jersey
Campus activities:  Williams Jazz Ensemble (WJE), Williams Wind Ensemble,  Vive!, Club Volleyball
Most memorable Williams experience:  Taking a trip to New York City with the Jazz Band and getting to see some amazing music at little jazz clubs; Joking around with friends at snar late at night
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: Just be yourself! As cheesy as it sounds, there’s no need to put on a facade or pretend to be something you’re not to impress people. You will find your group of friends at Williams no matter what, and they’ll love you for who you truly are.

Name:  Linda Zeng
Class year:  2019
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Computer Science and Psychology
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Campus activities:  WCFM, CASO
Most memorable Williams experience: Watching the eclipse on the Paresky steps with my entry during snacks, late nights at snackbar with my friends and feeling so grateful for them, Studying abroad in Copenhagen
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: You are at Williams for a reason–do not doubt it. You belong here just as much as anyone else. If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to ask for help. This is something that I learned at Williams, and I have received so much love and support from the Williams community. People really do believe in you and want to see you succeed.

Name:  Mariane St. Juste
Class year:  2021
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Biology and Psychology
Hometown: Boston, MA
Campus activities:  Sisterhood, Matriculate, Special Collections Desk Monitor
Most memorable Williams experience: Going to North Adams with my friends to watch a movie and have dinner.
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: Prioritize yourself. Prioritize your health. Things may get chaotic, but everything always gets done in the end so try not to get too stressed out. Always take care of yourself and take time to relax and have fun. Whether it is 20 minutes or 2 hours, take some time every day to do something that makes you happy.

Name:  Mazie Alexander
Class year:  2021
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Chemistry and Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Campus activities:  Track and Field, SoCA, BSU, Sisterhood
Most memorable Williams experience:  Watching 5 episodes of Teen Wolf with my friends and all the other movies and shows we watched together
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: Don’t beat yourself up! You are not in competition with anyone else. Put yourself first because sometimes that’s what can make the difference. You have to learn what works for you which means that there will be some trial and error. You have us to help you navigate and explore. And don’t forget to have some fun!

Name:  Michael Crisci
Class year: 2021
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Economics and Philosophy, possible Latina/o Studies concentration
Hometown: Glen Cove, NY
Campus activities: EOS At-Risk Youth Mentoring, Justice League, Tutor at Berkshire House of Corrections, RASAN, Berkshire Abortion Doula, Questbridge
Most memorable Williams experience: Entry soccer tournaments; Late night conversations and bonding with entry; hiking with friends; my philosophy tutorial with Professor Pedroni
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: Grades are not everything! Don’t knock off every fun opportunity to study or do schoolwork. Spend time socializing with new people and trying new activities. Also, you always come first. If you don’t prioritize yourself then you will easily get lost in the academic hysteria at Williams. Do what’s best for you and don’t follow the crowd!

Name:  Michelle Lopez
Class year:  2021
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  American Studies/ LATS concentration
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Campus activities:  Pre-K Classroom helper, After school tutor, Justice League mentor, Matriculate Advising Fellow, Questbridge, Sisterhood, VISTA
Most memorable Williams experience:  Pool class at 7 in the morning with all of my friends, the top of Stone Hill, and getting lost in North Adams
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: You can’t suddenly transform into a new student who always does their work on time and never procrastinates, allow yourself to have fun. Everyone you meet is going to come from such different backgrounds, recognize that and understand that comparing yourself to them isn’t helpful. Do what makes you proud.

Name:  Nicole Fernandes
Class year:  2021
Pronouns:  she/her/hers
Major:  Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and possibly Political Science
Hometown: Dartmouth, MA
Campus activities: Women’s Crew, First Gen Advisory Board, RASAN, Refugee Advocates
Most memorable Williams experience: My first Mountain Day! It was actually way more fun that I thought it would be; seeing so many people hiking, having all my friends in one place, enjoying the sunshine, the foliage, and eating delicious snacks.
Words of wisdom for incoming First Gen students: Try everything and anything you’re even a little bit interested in, both academically and socially. You never know when you’ll come across a passion of yours. However, also make sure you don’t spread yourself too thin. Focus on the things you’re most enthusiastic about and enhance your Williams experience the most.