Transcript

Emelie:
Hello and welcome to Gen First, a podcast dedicated to sharing experiences from first generations

 I am Emelie Cuellar

Today we are focusing on the first-generation experience of college, but more so in the lens of the pandemic

For those who don’t know, college has its own set of challenges, but COVID-19 added another intense layer

Many colleges faced a new set of challenges in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, closing down their campuses

I spoke with a senior student for California State Northridge, Maximus Osburn to dive into the challenges–

Maximus:
It was challenging. I went to Pierce because I knew that local students will be typically more accepted– or have a higher chance of being accepted to Northridge. So I chose to do the online route and it was difficult. Just getting my classes, you know, schedule and going through the enrollment process was a bit challenging just because I had to figure everything on my own–had to think on my own two feet and have all my Xs and Os figured out—it was pretty challenging 

Emelie:
Family is a crucial part of one’s educational career.

With minimal understanding of higher education systems, tension can grow in families

Though families try to understand, sometimes they’re just left in the wind, but they help the best way they can

Maximus:
You know they did their best to support me emotionally and everything like that. But they can only help so much as they're capable in terms of how much they know. Because a lot of my family hasn’t been to college, they weren’t too acquainted or versed in how enrollment works, requirements for a major. They never went to school, and they never had majors, so it’s all a big change for them, it’s news to them


Emelie:
With the added pressure of getting good grades, some face a whole new lifestyle

What many don’t think about is the sacrifice of a whole move

For some, college is a whole new life and a whole new routine

Maximus:
So it was huge just because by then I moved down here in the Valley. All my life I lived up there in the Sacamento-Roseville area. It wasn’t even just navigating a new campus, it was just navigating a new home, a new you know, new grocery market, new apartment, a new job. Everything like that, so it was definitely daunting as I said. It was definitely more emphasised with the new environment 




I’m Emelie Cuellar in Gen first, tuning out till our next episode

GEN FIRST

Transcription:

Emelie Cuellar:
Hello, and welcome to my dive into a very common condition in Americans: lactose intolerance

Mayo Clinic describes the condition as the inability to fully digest the sugar –lactose–in milk

Bloating, gas, diarrhea are some of the symptoms one would feel after having a cup of milk

Though it could be the butt of  food jokes, it could be chronic

Before we dive in– I-EMELIE CUELLAR- wanted to share my experience with lactose imtoleralane

I was around 10 years old when I picked up a carton of milk with my lunch in a family outing

Couple of sips and my stomach irked

You know when you tell your mom your stomach hurts–sometimes they kinda brush it off

Well hours later I ended up in the ER–breathing heavily–hosptizaled

That was scary as a kid, all thanks to a carton of milk

Since then, I switched to soy and almond milk

You see, the untreatable condition affects more than 30 MILLION Americans by the age of 20

It’s REALLY common

Though the condition IS treatable with enzymes to break down lactose– it has another effect—
Socializing 



I asked community groups to share their stories on their conditions

Ages range from 12 to 76  within the 38 survey participants

Isabella Warren is in her 20s– a college student— and like any other student, she socializes


Isabella Warren:
“ So there are times where my friends want to go out and get ice cream or something like that -ya know-  I guess I don’t have the confidence to say hey, this will ruin my day if we go out and get ice cream. So I just deal with it, but I think stores and restaurants are getting a bit more mindful of people that have dietary restrictions. So there’s a lot more lactose-free options and gluten-free options now 

Emelie Cuellar:
Like Isabella– many participants said in the survey they avoid certain foods altogether 
81-percent of participants said yes

However- that leaves 19 percent who said no. 

Here’s Rocky Walker– a student in their 20s– who found out he was lactose intolerant NOT too long ago

Rocky Walker:
“So now that I am 23, I have become lactose intolerant. Growing up my brothers were lactose intolerant- cause they’re older than me- and I would make fun of them. Because I always was like ‘Yeah, that’s weak genes’ and then they passed it onto me, and now I can’t have a cup of milk without having a terrible day for the rest of the day. Yeah, I’m lactose intolerant, but I won’t admit it. I’m gunna go still eat my cheese and ice cream– I’onna care

Emelie Cuellar:
It’s funny because I do the same thing

I eat the cheese, the ice cream, whatever–but then I am whammed with symptoms 

But there’s a way to go about the bloat and the indigestion 

There’s medication that carries an enzyme that breaks down the sugar

It comes in the form of tablets, drops, pills–you get it

It’s over the counter- yet 63 percent of survey participants shared they don’t carry it

One survey participant– wrote anonymously –that they sometimes forget their medication or they don’t have enough of it when going out with friends

It leaves them to watch what they eat– asking for fries

But- that’s not the end 

There’s other ways people have been careful 

Another survey participant wrote that they research the menu and ask questions

That’s sometimes not enough– they experienced severe pains after a meal 
Many survey participants shared they want to enjoy a meal with friends— never worrying about their bowel’s future 

One thing can change– if you have friends or family with lactose intolerance– Maybe let them pick the restaurant once in a while

Invite them to coffee instead of ice cream 

Till Next time, this is Emelie Cuellar,  on Socializing with Lactose Intolerance- thank you

Emelie Cuellar

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