Writing in DCJournal, CHLI President and CEO Mary Ann Gomez Orta makes the case for intentional goal-setting as students and young professionals settle into the academic year. She frames it as a natural moment to turn broad ambitions into concrete objectives — a practice that matters especially for first-generation students navigating unfamiliar professional terrain while carrying family expectations. Her advice is practical: identify the skills you want, explore the industries that interest you, and pursue internships, networking, and mentorship rather than waiting for them to appear. Once students graduate, she observes, there is no syllabus to guide the next phase, so they need to build their own roadmap with clear objectives and timelines. Programs that pair real-world experience with mentorship, including CHLI’s own, help close that gap, and deliberate networking helps address persistent representation gaps in Hispanic professional communities.
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