It’s Giving Tía Energy: Building What Didn’t Exist for Us

Written By Adri Rodriguez

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, Adri is joined by Dra. Aeriell Armas to talk about first-gen leadership, mentorship, and building community in higher education. Together, they explore what it means to become the person you needed, especially in spaces where you never felt fully seen.

This one is for you if you’ve ever felt like the only one in the room and you’re dreaming of making it easier for those coming after you. Adri is joined by Dra. Aeriell Armas, a first-gen PhD, content creator, and founder of Grad Life Grind, to talk about mentorship, visibility, and doing it your own way.

From navigating systems that weren’t built for us to creating resources and community from scratch, Aeriell shares what it really looks like to step into your tía energy with heart and purpose.

This episode is for the ones who have ever had to Google their way through grad school. The ones carrying the weight of being the first and the blueprint. The ones who are becoming the guides they never had.

✨ Together, we talk about:

  • Growing up in NYC as a first-gen eldest daughter

  • What made her say “I want to be a psychologist” at age 12

  • How mentorship (or the lack of it) shaped her academic journey

  • Why she created Grad Life Grind and how it’s helping others

  • What it means to build what didn’t exist and make it joyful

Closing Reflection

Dra. Aeriell Armas reminds us that:

  • You don’t need to wait for permission to lead.

  • That being first is hard, but it’s also powerful.

  • And that healing means turning around, reaching back, and building for those who are still finding their way. 🌿

This is for everyone who's felt invisible in a system that wasn’t made for you, but showed up anyway. Tune in when you’re ready to step into your brilliance and claim your space.

About Dra. Aeriell Armas

Dra. Aeriell Armas (she/ella) is a titi, daughter, dog mami, friend, Christian, New Yorker, and academic content creator. She recently earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology and is the founder and CEO of Grad Life Grind, a platform that supports first-gen and underrepresented students through the grad school process and beyond.

For over five years, Aeriell has shared her journey through academia and adulting on social media, offering guidance, real talk, and community. Her signature programs, the Pathway to PhD webinar and 12-Week Grad App Grind Bootcamp, have supported students all over the country. Her clinical work and research focus on trauma and intimate partner violence (IPV) in the Latine community. She is deeply committed to addressing disparities in mental health and education by using the wisdom, creativity, and faith passed down through her family.

Follow Aeriell:

Adri Rodriguez

Adri Rodriguez (she/ella) is a therapist, educator, and generational healing expert who creates space for cycle breakers to reflect, grow, and reclaim their stories. As an immigrant, first-gen professional, and proud tía, Adri blends clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others in navigating identity, relationships, and family dynamics with clarity and compassion.

She’s the host of Entre Tías y Amiguis, a Spanglish podcast uplifting stories from Latine, queer, and first-gen voices. Through conversations rooted in cultura, comunidad, and corazón, Adri helps folks unpack what they’ve been carrying and reimagine what’s possible, for themselves and, for future generations.

She believes healing starts at the root, and that understanding and sharing our story is one of our most powerful tools for transformation.

https://www.adrianarodrigueztherapy.com
Next

Reclaiming My Voice: Healing in a World That Told Me to Hide