Dear
First Gen
Step Into Your Genius And Build A Legacy
A Foundation for Growth.
Dear First Gen is a roadmap for navigating the first-generation journey. Blending personal memoir with practical tools, the book traces their families’ path from first-generation immigrants to first-generation wealth. Through real-life stories and actionable lessons, it offers guidance on building personal success, financial stability, and a lasting legacy while honoring cultural roots and community. Written in a conversational and inspirational tone, Dear First Gen is designed to motivate and empower readers from middle school age and beyond.
Paula Amezola and Will Herrera, are the authors of Dear First Gen. We wrote this book to share the lessons we wish we had known earlier in our own first-generation journey. Navigating education, career, finances, and legacy without a clear roadmap shaped both our challenges and growth. Our hope is that this book serves as a practical and encouraging resource for anyone striving to overcome first-generation obstacles and build a brighter future.
Dear First Gen grew out of the lessons we learned the hard way as first-generation children of immigrant families who navigated education, careers, money, and legacy without a roadmap. Over the years, we were repeatedly asked by our students, parents and staff for more information. Dear First Gen is how we give back by walking alongside others as they navigate their own First Gen labyrinth.
What to Expect:
The book is organized around five primary literacies, each designed to help you build a strong foundation for personal, professional, and financial growth. Throughout the three main parts of the book, you’ll find practical examples, key insights, and reflection prompts to guide you in applying what you learn to your own life.
Part 1: Getting To and Through the First-Generation Degree
Part I is about the high school and college years. It is visually personified by a matured tree of life, as this is the phase in life where we grew into adulthood from roots, to strong trunk, to blooming leaves in full splendor.
This section focuses on navigating the U.S. systems efficiently, graduating University with the least debt while gaining the most practical, hands-on experience. It also explores how to launch your professional career in environments where you can excel, grow, and be fairly compensated.
Part 2: First-Generation Career and Building First-Generation Wealth
Part II is illustrated by a pyramid, which represent the climb up the professional ladder and pursuit of financial freedom, while staying rooted to our humble beginnings.
Here, we dive into managing your money intentionally, learning how to purchase a home, invest in the stock market, and not live paycheck to paycheck, instead spending your money on what truly matters to you. The chapters illustrate how achieving financial freedom can reduce stress, support your passions, and empower you to live life on your terms.
Part 3: Actualization of Self and Community
Part III is represented with a labyrinth because this phase requires deep inner reflection to answer the existential questions that will help you balance your personal success with supporting the success of your community.
The final section highlights how to climb the social and economic ladder while staying connected to your community and giving back. By sharing your knowledge and supporting others, you can turn personal growth into collective impact, creating what we call Community Actualization.
Dear First Gen empowers readers:
- How to thrive in the US university system by graduating with the least debt and most practical hands-on experience.
- How to launch your professional career and ensure you are working in an environment where you will thrive, do your best work, and be proportionately compensated.
- How to save, invest, and spend your money on what matters to you, so that you can build enough wealth to achieve financial freedom.
- How to climb the social and economic ladder while staying rooted to your community and paying it forward.
- How to build a well rounded life, honoring your roots and giving back to leave a lasting legacy.
This book is for:
- Students who want a roadmap to succeed academically, professionally, and financially.
- Parents who want to support their children in building confidence, opportunities, and independence.
- First-generation families striving to break cycles and create a more sustainable future.
- Young adults who are ready to choose a life of purpose, meaning and joy while staying true to their roots.
- Educators and professional staff who support, guide, and work with first-generation students.
- Anyone who wants guidance, real-life lessons, and inspiration from people who’ve been there.
Ready to take charge of your future and create a lasting impact?
Dear First Gen shows you how to turn your dreams into action and empowers you with the tools to succeed in school, career, money, and life while staying true to your roots.
Available in multiple formats including print, eBook, and more. To place a bulk order for students or classrooms, please complete the form on the next page. Click below to take the next step into your genius.
Praise from Readers Stepping into Their Genius.
“In this powerful blend of memoir and practical guidance, Paula and William open their lives with honesty and courage, tracing their journeys from the children of immigrants to leaders who forged first-generation wealth and a First Gen Legacy grounded in service and community uplift. Their stories echo what so many of us lived: battling for access, navigating systems not built for us, and learning to turn education into liberation. For TRIO programs, educators, mentors, and perhaps a future Upward Bound summer book club, this is more than a book, it’s a conversation starter, a confidence builder, and a catalyst for generational change.”
Sergio Galvez, TRIO alumnus and College Access practitioner
“Dear First Gen is a conversation so many of us wish we had earlier—one rooted in love, honesty, and possibility. As an educator and advocate for building a college-going culture, I deeply appreciate how Paula and Will honor family, culture, and lived experience while also giving students and parents practical tools to navigate education, financial decisions, and personal growth. This book reminds us that first-generation success is never an individual effort; it’s built through community, encouragement, and the belief that education is a priority. Dear First Gen is a powerful resource for students, families, and educators who want to turn big dreams into steps forward with clarity, courage, and confidence.”
Miriam Carrillo, Director of Upward Bound Programs
“I instantly connected with the authors’ story as a first-generation student myself, navigating many of the same challenges and hopes they described. Their journey toward self-actualization was deeply motivational and reminded me of the power of persistence, community, and believing in your own potential. I truly enjoyed hearing their steps and reflections, which inspired me to continue building my own legacy.”
Brenda Heredia, first-generation USC MPH alumnus, community organizer, and president-elect of Oxnard Education Foundation
The Minds Behind Dear First Gen
Paula Amezola always knew she wanted to empower first-generation students to succeed. Growing up, moving between two countries, and navigating financial struggles, she faced limited educational opportunities and language barriers. Determined to create a better path, she earned a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from UCLA. With over two decades of experience in public health, Paula is an educator who has supported students, parents, and professionals through TRIO programs, served as an elected trustee on the Culver City Unified School District Board of Education, and partnered with Native tribes across California to prevent youth use of commercial tobacco.
Will Herrera is a first-generation college graduate who grew up low-income and benefited from programs like TRiO. Since 1999, he has served as an educational leader in Los Angeles, from middle school teacher to charter high school principal, and later as a student services program director at UCLA. He is passionate about financial literacy and has built first-generation wealth through real estate and
investments, aiming to share that knowledge with others so they can achieve financial independence and give back to their communities.
Together, Paula and Will wrote Dear First Gen to document their story, share lessons they wished they had growing up, provide practical tools for first-generation success, honor their cultural heritage, and inspire both personal and community growth.