Being the first to walk a path your family has never stepped on feels exciting… and heavy at the same time.

I’ve always wondered where people like me go to feel understood — people who grew up between cultures, carrying stories that don’t fit neatly into one box.

Spain-born. Nigerian roots. UK-raised as a teenager.
Three worlds that shaped me in ways I’m still learning to articulate.

I didn’t have an older sibling to guide me. No one to show me how to navigate career, culture, or adulthood. So this space isn’t a “how to make it” guide. I’m not there yet — I’m still figuring things out in real time.

This blog is simply a place to share my thoughts, lessons, mistakes, reflections, and the things I learn while navigating life as a first-gen.

I was born in Spain and lived there until I was 15. Back then, my whole world was football, basketball, and chilling with friends. I had no idea what I wanted to be.

I was almost always the only Black kid in class — and that shapes you in ways you don’t notice until later. In Spain, it was rare to see Black people in corporate roles, or even roles like nursing, retail, police… anything that felt “professional.” Representation was almost zero.

Moving to the UK changed everything.
Seeing Black people everywhere — in every type of job, every kind of path — opened my eyes instantly. I finished school, went to university (pressure of being the firstborn Nigerian child), and eventually found my way into tech.

Despite the tech job market being brutal for new grads, I got my first role as a Junior Software Developer last year. I work in a small team, building a SaaS platform. And honestly? Most days I feel clueless. Like I’m scraping by. But that feeling comes from the expectations I put on myself — and even with the doubt, I still push, learn, and grow.

I want to write the things I wish someone told me early:

• Lessons I’m learning in corporate
• Mistakes and setbacks (not just the wins)
• Reflections from the perspective of a Spanish Black kid navigating UK tech
• Thoughts on career, money, identity, and growth
• Ways I’m trying to “escape” corporate while still learning to play the game

I also want this to grow into a small community — a place where we can learn from each other, share opportunities, and help each other level up.

I’ll also be posting experiences and stories from people just like us:
their journeys, their challenges, how they built their careers, and any advice that can help you reflect and plan better.

Short reads. Simple. Honest. Useful.

So for the first post — welcome.
I hope every read here feels relatable, grounding, and worth your time.

I’d love for you to join the newsletter, stay around, and grow with us.
But for now… this is The1stGen — a diary for anyone building a life and career while carrying where they come from.

Welcome in.