Breathtaking 360-degree views from Kline Tower ensconced the gathering of first-generation and low-income (FGLI) Yale students and alumni on Saturday, July 26, 2025. The occasion marked the 10th anniversary of convening alumni and First-Year Scholars at Yale (FSY) for Alumni Perspectives: Navigating Yale & Beyond, a program co-hosted by Yale Summer Session and Yale College. Since 2016, 350 alumni have met 800 FSY students through this 1stGenYale program.
“I always find it helpful for our incoming students to learn from alumni,” said Dean of Yale College Pericles Lewis. “What I love about this event is that we have so many young alumni from the last decade or so, which is the period during which Yale has done greater outreach, financial aid, and support of FGLI students, so there’s a great deal our new students can learn from these recent graduates.”
Ninety-five FSY students attended the event along with 60 alumni, more than 50% of whom had graduated between 2013 and 2025. While Yale College was well represented by alumni from 1956 to 2025, 15% of alumni were from G&P schools (1981-2025) in law, management, medicine, and public health. Remarkably, 30 alumni had been FSY students themselves from 2013 to 2022. With such a strong alumni turnout, students had ample opportunities to ask them about their Yale experiences.
The "old-timers," as one alum described his cohort, offered timeless tips. “Many of the students were from different climates and had never experienced a New England autumn, much less winter,” said Michael Cusick ’76. “My advice - invest your first week in a pair of slush-proof ankle-high boots. And look forward to the glorious daffodil gardens in the spring.”
The day began with an alumni lunch during which speakers prepared alumni to meet the FSY students: “In addition to anxiety and fear of making mistakes,” said FSY Faculty Director and panel moderator Albert Laguna, “these students can feel guilt over being at Yale with its embarrassment of riches.”
The afternoon program began with a three-minute networking ice breaker followed by the alumni panel. For the first time since 2016, the panel consisted entirely of alumni who had been FSY students themselves. They shared their struggles and discoveries as Yale students:
“I made a million mistakes every day,” said Shaun Radgowski ’21, who had felt overwhelmed by the choices at Yale. “It’s worth taking time every day to think, ‘What am I doing that excites me and makes me curious to want to know more?’”
“Don’t be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone,” said Sayda Martinez-Alvarado ’23, “and don’t be afraid to be wrong.”
“Take the time you need to find your way at Yale,” advised Joshua Beale ’23. “You don’t have to make a lot of money, and if you’re miserable, it’s not worth it.”
“To ask for help,” added Andrea Aspajo Berdiales ’20, “you need to know what you need help with and admit that you need help.”
1stGenYale President and event host, Lise Chapman ’81 MBA added, “Be proud of who you are and where you came from. Your grit and resilience got you where you are and will carry you through Yale as you create your own paths.”
Participating for the first time as an alum, Zoe Hsu ’24 (’20 FSY student) appreciated that the event maximized the connection between alumni and students: “I am in awe of the incoming students’ grit and curiosity, and hope they take advantage of the resources Yale, especially 1stGenYale, can help them achieve their dreams and discover themselves.”
Photos HERE!
