How Identity Has Influenced An Assistant Director Of Development's Career At University Of California, Davis
As a first-generation student, Ryan initially felt pressure from immigrant parents to enter school with "intentionality" and pursue a practical path, leading to a pre-med track that ultimately didn't align with their interests; finding "that purpose" later in college allowed for a pivot to political science and theater, demonstrating that identifying what one *doesn't* want is equally crucial in charting a fulfilling career.
First Generation Students, Career Pivoting, Finding Purpose, Parental Expectations, Intentionality
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ryan Advincula
Assistant Director of Development
University of California, Davis
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis: MBA
Entertainment, Music & Arts, Political Science, American Studies
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Pressure from first-gen/immigrant parents to make the most of your time in school, but realizing that finding out what you *don't* want to do is equally important.
2. The importance of intentionality in choosing a career path, but understanding that it's not always immediately apparent and it's okay to pivot.
3. Finding a purpose or direction that truly motivates and satisfies you, even if it means changing course from your initial plans (e.g., pre-med to political science and theater).
Transcript
As someone who is first-generation, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
My parents both came from the Philippines, and there was a lot of pressure to enter school with intentionality. I started as pre-med, doing molecular and cellular biology at Berkeley.
I found so many people, especially transfer students, who came in with a clear vision. Right now, I'm mentoring a student who's so locked in; she wants to be a dietician, or like the MBA, MLB, NFL.
If you have that harnessed energy, I wish I had that drive to know what I wanted from my freshman year. But I didn't know that until my junior year.
That was when I pivoted into political science and theater because it was something I really enjoyed. So I think that intentionality is key, but it's not always apparent in everybody.
As long as you have that, or once you find that purpose, you really pivot from maybe what you thought you were doing into something that really motivates you and satisfies you. There's a lot of pressure from first-generation or immigrant parents to make the most of your time.
Making the most of your time also includes finding out what you don't want to do, even if you thought you really did. You don't want to lock yourself into something you won't be successful in and don't want to do long-term. Keep that intentionality and harness it in a different direction.