Alumni Blog

Everyone should have access to higher education. Yet, systemic barriers continue to impede many college hopefuls, including first-generation students whose parents or guardians have not received a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Seattle University is committed to empowering first-gen students and providing them with the tools to succeed. Chhavi Mehra, ’20, and Jessica Olarti, ’20, are recent first-gen graduates who, with the help of an SU education, are breaking barriers and leading our alumni community towards a more just and humane world.

When Jessica Olarti entered Seattle U as a freshman, her parents felt like she was finally on a clear-cut path towards a stable career. “A lot of first-generation students have parents that think that getting a college degree is the door to all of these job opportunities,” says Olarti. “They consider it success and the first step out of that cycle of having to work in unstable jobs.”

However, she soon realized that navigating college and gaining work experience is far from clear-cut. It’s a challenging journey—especially for first-gen students. Olarti noticed that she lacked much of the terminology that other students understood. However, with the help of the Outreach Center, Olarti was able to find the answers she needed to excel. “I lived in the Outreach Center. I worked there, and even on days when I wasn’t working, I went there a lot of times to ask for advice from my ‘big brothers and sisters’ on campus,” says Olarti.

For Chhavi Mehra, the process of coming to America for higher education was far from easy. She grew up in India, and while she was excited by the prospect of coming to America, she also struggled with the prospect of leaving her family. She knew that she needed scholarships to afford college due to the high cost of education in the U.S. Despite these barriers, Mehra persisted. “The society I come from is very patriarchal. I can’t imagine going back home and seeing myself married, having kids and starting a family without really going after my dreams,” says Mehra. “And that’s what my mom wanted for me—she wanted me to have the choice to create the life I really wanted for myself.”

After first getting her Associate of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from South Seattle College, Mehra applied to Seattle U. She was excited to be awarded both the Messina Scholarship for transfer students and be a part of the Alfie Scholarship Program. “I was so grateful for these scholarships. They really helped in making my decision to go to Seattle University, because if those scholarships didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have been able to afford my university education. I’m really grateful for that.”

At Seattle U, both Olarti and Mehra were drawn to SU’s focus on social justice.

“I graduated from Albers, so I learned how the world works economically, and because of SU I also learned about social justice issues. I understand the world through different perspectives. It helps me both professionally and socially,” says Olarti.

For Mehra’s capstone project, she worked to create the Project First-Gen podcast, where she interviewed first-gen students and professors at SU and beyond. “Social justice was at the heart of each of my projects at Seattle U, as well as personally and professionally,” says Mehra. “With Project First-Gen, we were able to empower others while also empowering ourselves. It gave people a platform to shine in their own unique way. And for that, it focused on underrepresented populations, namely students of color and first-gen students.”

Both Olarti and Mehra are 2020 graduates. Using the skills and values they honed at Seattle U, they are emerging as leaders for a better future. Once Olarti completes the required course work for her CPA she will be work at the BDO accounting firm. “This is a stable career path that I decided to pursue. Had I not gone to college, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity. There's power in knowledge and if someone like me can learn all of these things, then I can give that knowledge to my family and to other people who don’t have the resources that I did.” Mehra is currently working three jobs, including working as an editorial intern for The Borgen Project – a Seattle-based nonprofit that works to fight global poverty. “Again,” says Mehra, “social justice is at the heart of my mission.”

In late October, we will be sending a special Building Legacy Celebration message to first-generation and legacy students recognizing their commitment to education at Seattle University. Whether a student is following in the footsteps of those before them or paving the way for future members of their community to follow, we want to honor and celebrate their dedication to an education of both thought and action. We also invite you to join us in recognizing first-gen students on November 8 as part of First-Generation Celebration Day.

With the election only 35 days away, the countdown has already begun. From tv news to daily swipes and scrolls on social media, the 2020 US election is everywhere. Polls, stats and Democratic or Republican party strategy moves are top of mind as the US launches into one of the most contentious election years in recent history. 

We spoke to Shasti Conrad, ’07, political consultant and chair for the King County Democrats, and Jon Cantalini, ’18, campaign manager for Kim Wyman, about their thoughts on how this election cycle will be different from any other and resources and tips for alumni on getting active as we count down to election day. 

Getting Into Politics 

Both Conrad and Cantalini fostered their passion for politics while attending Seattle University. “Seattle University’s focus on social justice and awareness made me want to find ways to make a difference and engage with the community,” said Conrad.  
Cantalini shared similar thoughts on how the mission of SU helped to direct his place in the political sphere. “Everyone thinks of Seattle is a hub for democratic politics, which it is, but I really found that moderate republican sphere. Seattle U made me realize this was a career option. I was able to connect with a lot of alumni that have gone into politics,” said Cantalini. 

The Changing Landscape 

A pivotal election in the middle of a worldwide health crisis, civil unrest and wall-to-wall news coverage is overwhelming. “It feels like this election has monumental importance because it really is going to define who we are as Americans and what we want out of government. People’s lives are at stake,” says Conrad. “There was already a lot going on, and then 2020 brings on a pandemic where 200,000 people have died and clashes between citizens and the police. You realize just how differently people see the world, and everything does feel at stake. The general public feels that importance.” 

Candidates have also had to pivot to meet voters where they are. Instead of door knocking and in-person meetings, many candidates have implemented phone banking, text messaging and on-demand media.  “Everything is pretty much different, that’s the hard part. You have to rethink how to reach voters. We have been adapting and finding new ways to reach out, through social media and their circles of influence. It’s very grassroots, and it’s word of mouth that’s helping people spread the word for political candidates,” said Cantalini.  

Voter Turnout During the Time of Coronavirus 

With the election just weeks away, concerns about the voting process may dissuade some from taking action and voting. But, Cantalini and Conrad both emphasize that the voting process in Washington state is ready. “I think Washington state is in the perfect position for this. We have developed a system that gives voters safety. I think we are going to see very high participation in our election. Washington state is ranked in the top 10 states in the county for participation because it is so easy to vote,” said Cantalini. Conrad further emphasized that Washington’s mail-in voting process has already been embedded into the culture of the state. “When you hear it being debated nationally, it doesn’t work on Washingtonians, it doesn’t work on us. People are comfortable with receiving a ballot at home, filling it out on time, turning it in. We had record turnout for the primary. It tells me that people are more engaged than ever,” said Conrad. 

Getting Informed 

Being an informed voter is one of the ways that you can prepare for November 3. “Don’t base your vote on people’s parties, but examine what people stand for and what they are going to do and how they are going to affect your community,” said Cantalini. 

When asked about resources to learn more about candidates, Conrad said, “There are a number of great candidate guides, for example Fuse Washington and League of Women Voters. For younger generation Z voters, I like to see who the Sunrise Movement is endorsing. Also, we at King County have our set of endorsements on our website. People should check their voter registration on vote.wa.gov.” 

Cantalini’s recommendation is visiting the Secretary of State website. “Secretaries of State are doing a campaign called #TrustedInfo2020, so no matter where you are in the country, your Secretary of State will provide trusted information on how to register to vote, registration and ballot deadlines, and requesting absentee ballots if you’re not in a mail-in state,” he said. 

Getting Active 

Both Conrad and Cantalini emphasized making a plan this election season. “Make sure you know where your local drop boxes are. Make sure you know where your voting center is. With everything happening with USPS nationally, make sure you turn in your ballot early. Make sure you get that postmark in by 8 p.m. on election day,” said Cantalini. Conrad emphasized that “there are lots of ways to get engaged. Your favorite candidates need all the support that they can get. Then, just vote. The absolute best way to get other people to vote is to talk about why you are voting—why it matters to you. We need everyone to vote.”