Alumni mentors share life lessons with CSULB's first-generation students

Learning takes many forms at Cal State Long Beach, and mentors are often an important part of the campus experience. As students develop proficiency in their chosen majors, mentors can share insights helping students to use their newly gained knowledge in their pursuit of success and fulfillment.

Mentors’ advice can be especially helpful for first-generation students, those whose parents have not completed college. The First-Generation Spring Mentor Program welcomes Beach alumni who, when looking back to their own college experiences, can find answers today’s students need to make the most of their time at CSULB.

“First-Gen students are the fabric of our institution,” said Ilana Tel-Oren ‘11, alumni engagement associate at The Beach. “With at least 60% of the student population expecting to be the first of their families to graduate, it is imperative to provide resources like the First-Gen mentor program to connect students with those who have been in their shoes and graduated successfully."

The majority of CSULB’s students are first-generation. They include third-year psychology student Ariana Gallardo, one of 171 students who signed up when the First-Generation Spring Mentorship program debuted in spring 2024. Gallardo joined the program after transferring to The Beach from College of the Sequoias in the Central Valley, a move that she said was both nerve-wracking and empowering.

“I think the most motivating part was knowing I had someone to go to, and I wasn’t alone,” Gallardo said.

The First-Gen Spring Mentorship program is among several Beach Nexus offerings helping students connect with and learn from alumni. Beach Nexus is the CSULB Alumni office’s networking and mentorship platform, and this spring’s opportunities also include a new Hospitality and Tourism Mentor Program.

Motivation, preparation

Applications for this spring’s go around of the First-Gen Spring Mentorship program are open through Feb. 21 for prospective mentors and mentees.  

“I’d love to be that resource, be that point of contact to help guide them any way that I can,” said Lance Cotton ‘16, who was Gallardo’s mentor in 2024 and one of CSULB's "49 Under 49."  “A lot of it was foreign to the people closest to me. They weren’t in a position to help me.”

Cotton grew up as the youngest of four children in a single-parent household. He earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from The Beach before completing law school. He’s now a deputy district attorney for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Gallardo hopes to move on to graduate school and professional service as a school psychologist. She is also considering clinical psychology. Either way, she hopes that her time at The Beach will lead to generational benefits for her family.

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I’d love to be that resource, be that point of contact to help guide them any way that I can.

Cotton’s mentorship encouraged Gallardo to reach out to her professors outside of class, and she’s also on the lookout for an internship.

“When we got to talking, he really motivated me to keep pushing, because we came from similar backgrounds,” Gallardo said.

Augustin Cortez, a fifth-year industrial design student, also signed up for the First Gen program last spring. He transferred to The Beach from San Bernardino Valley College, where he developed an interest in computer-assisted design and manufacturing. Here, Cortez also joined the Educational Opportunity Program, which offers a suite of services for eligible first-generation students.

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“If you enjoyed your time at Cal State Long Beach and you want to find a way of giving back, this is a way.”

Cortez, who wants to design products for astronauts working in zero gravity, was connected to mentor Victor Luquin ‘15, ‘18. Luquin earned degrees in aerospace engineering on the way to working for the U.S. Air Force. His talks with Cortez touched on campus activities that can increase the odds of employment in the aerospace industry, drafting resumes and preparing for job interviews.

"I really liked the mock interview practice and the chance to communicate with someone as experienced as Victor,” Cortez said.

Getting students ready for professional life is among Luquin’s priorities as a mentor, he said. A first-generation student himself, he emphasized the importance of helping students align their college plans with life goals, be ready for job interviews and, if interested in an advanced degree, understand how to find advisors and research funding.

“I would have loved to have had a program like this,” Luquin said.

Meaningful connections

The First-Gen program has welcomed mentors from a wide range of professions. In addition to Cotton – an attorney – and Luquin – an engineer – the program’s inaugural roster of mentors also included Hannah Lebiga ‘06. Lebiga studied business at The Beach before working as a marketing professional and has served in Beach mentorship programs since 2018.

“There are so many people out there who don’t know that people want to help them,” Lebiga said. “They don’t have to go it alone.”

Lebiga wants mentees to personalize the advice they receive. Although mentors can help students comprehend how to achieve their goals, it’s still up to individual students to determine what those goals are.

“Something that I would definitely want people to know is that there is a 30,000-foot view, but it’s not the same 30,000-foot view for everybody,” Lebiga said. “You have to define success on your own terms.”

Within the mentor-mentee relationship, learning goes both ways. Lebiga said serving as a mentor helps her understand how members of Gen Z see the world. Luquin said similarly that, as an engineer, he’s interested in finding young people with the potential to work on challenging projects.

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“There are so many people out there who don’t know that people want to help them. They don’t have to go it alone.”

Being a mentor can also be rewarding on a personal level.

“It’s a way to give back. Cal State Long Beach helped me a lot,” Luquin said. “If you enjoyed your time at Cal State Long Beach and you want to find a way of giving back, this is a way.”