Mara Sammartino

I may look like the typical Latine Female, but I feel I am far from it. I am a rarity in the Latine family dynamics; I am an only child and the eldest of the grandchildren. I am not the first to go to college in the United States but am the first in my generation. So why am I a First-Gen? Well, because I live in two worlds, I navigate between Nicaragüense and Nicaraguan-American. Early on, I learned that I was an interpreter of Spanish to English and Latine to American values. My experiences from early childhood to adulthood have created a map of sorts for others.

I am the first in my family to complete a Master’s in Social Work, the first to go away to college and not return home, and the first to a lot of things, and because of that, I am First-Gen. My story is not unique, but it is also extraordinary. I use my lens and my experiences to create a safe space in therapy to address things that I certainly know I did not have support for.

I am challenging, direct, and authentic. I believe the human experience improves us, so I am a storyteller and listener. I am a guide and an accomplice so that you can meet your goals.

That they have a sanctuary to be authentic and vulnerable. That they have a support person and someone who will challenge them but also cheer them on so they can make better versions of themselves.