In this conversation, Sandra Park interviews Ashley Inocencio, a fourth year civil engineering student at UC Irvine, who shares her journey of graduating debt-free as a first-generation college student. They discuss the challenges and strategies Ashley employed to navigate college without financial support from her family, including applying for scholarships, internships, and her involvement in peer advising. Ashley reflects on her experiences at the SWE conference, her upcoming transition to a full-time engineering role, and offers valuable advice for future students facing similar challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:05 Navigating College Choices

04:54 Financial Independence and Scholarships

07:47 Career Aspirations and Influences

10:21 Peer Advising Experience

13:06 SWE Conference Insights

15:55 Future Career Expectations

22:56 Pursuing Professional Credentials

25:14 Exciting Future Plans

26:24 Scholarship and Internship Strategies

28:53 The Importance of Experience

31:29 Resilience and Financial Independence

34:51 Future Aspirations and Giving Back

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