She Almost Joined the Navy. Then She Built a Life of Leadership and Service at Bloomfield College

Back in 2021, college wasn’t even on Lisha Brito’s mind.

“I was going to go into the Navy,” she says. “But circumstances changed, and I decided I wasn’t ready to leave home. I wanted to be around my family.” 

She started looking at local schools, including Bloomfield College of Montclair State University — then still Bloomfield College. But walking into orientation, her heart was still with the Navy.

 “I was kind of discouraged,” she admits. “I went in like, I don’t want to talk to anyone. I’m just in it for the school. I’m not here to make friends.”

Everything changed when a student ambassador – known at Bloomfield as a storyteller – noticed her sitting alone and invited her to join a table.

That one moment of connection was all it took. “Ever since that day, Bloomfield became home to me.”

“They Gave Me Advice My Parents Couldn’t Give Me.”

As a first-generation college student and the daughter of Dominican immigrants, Brito had to figure out a lot on her own. “Filling out my FAFSA? I couldn’t lean on my parents for that. They didn’t know how any of this worked.”

That’s where Bloomfield’s EOF and TRIO SSS programs stepped in. “EOF really helped me a lot. My counselor was very supportive,” she says. “They gave me advice my parents couldn’t give me – academic, financial, and emotional.”

She also found support in unexpected places. “Even the people in the mailroom and the dining hall – they made a huge difference. They always noticed if I was there, and asked how I was doing. When I was a pescatarian, they’d make sure meat never touched my plate. And when I started eating meat again, they all noticed!”

Cheer, Sisterhood, and Showing Up for Others

Brito joined the cheer team as a freshman and eventually became its president. “My coaches really do run a strict program,” she says with a laugh. “But Cheer helped me hold myself accountable. It made me a better public speaker, helped me handle criticism, and made me less afraid of life in general.”

That confidence laid the foundation for her next big leap. “I don’t think I ever would have joined Sigma Gamma Rho if I hadn’t done cheer,” she says. “Being on the team taught me how to show up, how to be seen, and how to lead.”

In Fall 2024, Brito crossed into Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., drawn by its mission and community service. “One of their main partnerships is with St. Jude’s, and my family has been donating to St. Jude’s since I was in high school. I took that as a sign.”

Now, she mentors younger girls through the sorority’s affiliate programs. “We go to high schools, do tabling events, even slumber parties and etiquette dinners. I never had that kind of guidance growing up, so I love being part of it now.”

After Graduation: Generational Wealth and Giving Back

Graduating with a degree in accounting and a minor in Africana Studies, Brito plans to open her own business and a nonprofit for financial literacy.

“I want to help minorities, emancipated minors, and small businesses really start building generational wealth,” she says. 

Eventually, she hopes to become both a financial advisor and a college professor.

Advice to Her 18-Year-Old Self

“If I could go back, I’d tell myself: go to the events. You’re not just getting free stuff – you’re building relationships and knowledge.”

And if your friends don’t want to go? “Go by yourself. Don’t let anyone hold you back. The party will always be there. Take advantage of every opportunity. Bloomfield’s always doing something. Just show up.”

This story is part of a series celebrating Montclair State University’s graduates – students who embody the University’s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.

Story by Jayda Brown. Photography by University Photographer Mike Peters

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