Cristal Garcia response to the importance of laddered mentorship
and how she gained a seat at the table
1. Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a little about yourself and where you were in your academic journey before attending Big For A Day.
“I am a proud first generation Mexican–American student from The Bronx entering my senior year at Baruch College, where I major in Marketing with a concentration in Advertising. I’ve been a mentee in Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City since my sophomore year of high school. Their mentorship has played a huge role in both my personal and professional growth. When I started college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in business but wasn’t sure which path was right for me. I explored several different fields including public affairs, consulting, and human resources before ultimately discovering my passion for marketing. Attending the OAAA x BBBSA Big For A Day Mentorship Market Ride in March 2025 was a turning point that helped me realize I could pursue advertising and media beyond my marketing work on campus clubs. It introduced me to an industry I hadn’t known much about before and motivated me to work hard toward finding opportunities where I could continue learning. I’m incredibly grateful to BBBS for the guidance, encouragement, and opportunities they’ve given me throughout these important transitions in my life.”
2. What was it about the Big For A Day experience that changed your perspective on
marketing and ultimately inspired you to change your major?
“Before attending Big For A Day my understanding of marketing was mostly limited to social media and TV commercials. I had never really thought about the world of Out of Home advertising or how much strategy goes into the ads we see every day. Growing up in New York City I had always walked past billboards, bus ads, and subway station takeovers without thinking much about them. After attending Big For A Day I started looking at the city differently. Suddenly I noticed campaigns everywhere and found myself wondering how they were planned and the impact they had on consumers. The opportunity to meet professionals across the industry and learn about their roles gave me a completely new perspective on advertising. That experience inspired me to continue exploring the media industry and ultimately gave me the confidence to change my major.”
3. How did the relationships and connections you made through Big Brothers Big Sisters,
OOHU, and OAAA help lead to your internship at Horizon Media?
“One of the biggest lessons I learned from Big For A Day was that the experience doesn’t end when the event is over. I stayed connected with several professionals on LinkedIn, continued following their careers, and even had virtual coffee chats to update them on my journey and seek advice. Later on I met Horizon Media’s recruiting team while they were tabling at another event. Because of everything I had learned through Big For A Day, I already had a strong understanding of the media industry and was excited about the opportunity. Those relationships gave me the confidence to apply and played a big role in leading me to my internship at Horizon Media.”
4. Now that you’re working in the industry, what’s been the biggest lesson or surprise from
your internship experience so far?
“The biggest surprise has been just how supportive and collaborative the people at Horizon Media are. When I first met the Horizon team during Big For A Day everyone was incredibly welcoming and genuinely invested in helping me learn. I experienced that same culture throughout the interview process and it’s continued every day during my internship. I’ve learned so much from my team, but what has stood out the most is how willing everyone is to answer questions, share their knowledge, and encourage interns to grow. It has reinforced that finding a workplace with a positive, people first culture is just as important as finding what you’re passionate about.”
5. Looking back, how important was it to have mentors and industry leaders who invested
their time in you and showed you what was possible?
“Having mentors has been incredibly important to my journey. As a first generation college student, there were many career paths I simply wasn’t aware of until professionals took the time to share their experiences with me. Even something as simple as a 15 minute coffee chat made a lasting impact. Those conversations helped me understand different roles, ask questions I didn’t know I had, and explore career paths that I may have never considered otherwise. Their willingness to invest their time in me gave me the confidence to continue exploring different industries and ultimately helped me find a career that truly excites me.”
6. If you could speak to another student who may not see themselves in marketing or
advertising today, what would you tell them? And what would you say to industry
professionals about the value of opening doors through mentorship?
“To students, especially those who come from first generation backgrounds where careers in media and advertising aren’t often talked about, I would say to stay curious and never be afraid to explore opportunities outside of what you already know. Marketing and advertising are much broader than many people realize, with so many different paths where you can combine creativity, strategy, technology, and business. I didn’t grow up knowing anyone in this industry and I never imagined I’d one day be interning at a major media company. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, apply for opportunities even if you don’t feel 100% qualified for and reach out to professionals. One conversation can truly change the direction of your career just like it did for me. To industry professionals, thank you for taking the time to invest in students. You may think it’s just a quick conversation, a coffee chat, or a networking event, but those moments can have a much bigger impact than you realize. You may just be planting a seed in someone who goes on to follow a similar path because of the guidance and encouragement you shared. Because of the mentorship and guidance I’ve received, I hope to one day pay it forward by becoming a mentor myself and being that familiar face for other first gen students who are just beginning to explore this field. Thank you for believing in students like me and for helping us see what’s possible!”
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