🎓 College Connections
From First-Gen to First Class: Empowering Students to Rise Authentically
I know what it’s like to sit in a college classroom full of uncertainty—balancing dreams, pressure, pain, and the pursuit of something more.
I was the first in my family to graduate college. I went on to earn my MBA . Now I teach students how to embrace their story, ignite their purpose, and become who they were born to be no matter what they've been through or are currently going through.
Why I Speak to College Students..
Because I was one of them.
I’ve walked the halls of campus with a heavy heart, wondering if I belonged.
I’ve battled imposter syndrome while trying to chase success and still honor my roots.
And now? I turn my story into strategy, and I am passionate about helping students do the same.
Belong Anyway: Creating Space When You Feel Invisible
Topic: Sense of belonging, self-worth, first-gen struggles.
Core Message: Many students walk onto campus and still feel like outsiders—especially first-gen, transfer, or marginalized students. In this deeply personal talk, Michale shares how she navigated college as a first-generation student with no roadmap, no support, and no idea if she even belonged. Teaching students they don’t have to look like everyone else, talk like everyone else, or come from what they came from to belong.
Takeaways:
- Tools to cultivate internal belonging even when external support is missing
- How to stop shrinking and start owning your space
- Reframing your journey as strength, not shame
“You don’t need permission to belong—you just need truth and courage
No One Showed Me, But I Did It Anyway
Topic: A raw and inspiring session about navigating college, business, and healing with no blueprint—just grit, faith, and self-discovery.
Core Message: This talk speaks to the students who are “firsts”—first to go to college, first to try something new, first to believe in themselves. Michale walks students through the messy, empowering process of becoming the leader, the healer, or the trailblazer when you didn’t grow up with examples. Even if nobody paves the way for you, you still get to win. You can be the catalyst paving the way for your future generations and leave a lasting legacy even if all odds are stacked against you.
Takeaways:
- How to be the first and not the last
- How to keep going even when you don’t feel equipped
- How to build a personal support system and show up for yourself
“Sometimes the support you’re waiting on is the version of you you haven’t met yet
Do It Anyway: Leading Through Loneliness, Doubt & Delay
Topic: Resilience, motivation, doing it scared
Core Message: Not everyone claps for your journey. In this motivational session, Michale shares how she kept moving forward while grieving, raising a family, and chasing dreams with no guaranteed outcome. Students will learn how to lead themselves—even in silence.
Takeaways:
- How to show up when you feel unsupported or unseen
- Mindset shifts for pushing past doubt and fear
- Anchoring in purpose when the “why” feels stronger than the “how”
“You don’t need a crowd to walk in your calling. You just need courage to keep going.”
We all need a little space to grow. Give yourself the space you need to find your inner you. – Buddha
