{"id":227047,"date":"2025-11-26T11:00:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T16:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=227047"},"modified":"2025-11-26T10:53:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T15:53:07","slug":"empowering-future-college-students-advice-from-montclair-leaders-and-professionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/11\/26\/empowering-future-college-students-advice-from-montclair-leaders-and-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Future College Students: Advice from Montclair Leaders and Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a high school student exploring college opportunities, Montclair State University professionals have a message for you: you belong on campus and your journey is uniquely powerful.<\/p>\n<p>At the 11th Annual Women\u2019s Leadership Alliance Conference on November 19, nearly 400 young women and girls \u2014 mostly high school scholars from across New Jersey \u2014 gathered at University Hall to hear from leaders, educators and alumni who understand the challenges and possibilities ahead. Their counsel was clear \u2014 your story matters, and the next chapter begins with believing in your potential.<\/p>\n<p>Sponsored by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/fcga\/\">Future College Graduate Academy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/educational-opportunity-fund\/\">Education Opportunity Fund Program<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/inclusive-excellence\/\">Office of Inclusive Excellence<\/a>, the conference fosters leadership and career exploration by inspiring and equipping women to pursue meaningful career trajectories.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe conference empowers women at every stage of their academic and professional journey by bringing together high school scholars, college scholars and professionals to learn, connect, and inspire one another,\u201d says Montclair EOF Associate Director <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=lierak\">Katrina Liera<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Here, leaders and mentors from the event share more advice for all college hopefuls:<\/p>\n<h2>Finding Strength in Your Story<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re the first in your family to attend college and wonder if you\u2019re smart or prepared enough or \u201ccollege material,\u201d Nicole Pulliam, a strategic higher education leader, certified executive coach and tenured professor, offers assurance that you belong.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour worth and potential are not measured by what you already know but by your courage to step into something no one in your family has ever done,\u201d says Pulliam, Ph.D. in Counselor Education \u201914. \u201cTrust that you belong, even when the environment makes you question it. Surround yourself with support, ask questions, and allow yourself to learn along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227045\" class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/11192025_39309_EOF-11th-Annual-Womens-Conference.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/11192025_39309_EOF-11th-Annual-Womens-Conference.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A speaker gestures as she addresses an audience of young women.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Executive coach and professor Nicole Pulliam \u201914, encourages attendees to embrace their authenticity and stories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Advice to Inspire the Start of Your College Journey<\/h2>\n<p>In keeping with this year\u2019s conference theme \u201cHer Path Her Power: Honoring Every Woman&#8217;s Journey,\u201d here\u2019s more excellent advice for high schoolers from Pulliam:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your greatest power is owning your narrative\u2014 Your career path will have twists, turns, and moments of uncertainty, and that\u2019s okay.<\/li>\n<li>You get to define what success looks like for you \u2014Your path is powerful because it\u2019s yours.<\/li>\n<li>You don\u2019t have to have it all figured out to take the next step with confidence.<\/li>\n<li>Your story is your strength \u2014 Everything you\u2019ve lived through is preparing you for what you\u2019re becoming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You are worthy. Always have been. Always will be. \u2014 Nicole Pulliam<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227043\" class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/11192025_39259_EOF-11th-Annual-Womens-Conference.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/11192025_39259_EOF-11th-Annual-Womens-Conference.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Conference attendees laugh and applaud in response to a fashion show.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Conference attendees react to fellow attendees walking the runway during a fashion show, which is a crowd favorite \u201cnot for the fashion, but for the celebration of one another,\u201d says Angela White. \u201cIt\u2019s a lesson of how powerful it is to let one another shine, even for just a short moment.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>How to Prepare for the College Application Process<\/h2>\n<p>Montclair EOF Counselor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=whiteang\">Angela White<\/a> offers the following tips for high schoolers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Start planning early \u2014 Choose meaningful classes, get involved and stay organized.<\/li>\n<li>Build strong study habits now \u2014The skills you develop in high school will carry you through college.<\/li>\n<li>You must believe that college is within reach.<\/li>\n<li>Stay focused and remember that there are teachers, mentors and higher education professionals rooting for your success every step of the way.<\/li>\n<li>Embrace who you are \u2014 Be your authentic self in academics, activities and socially.<\/li>\n<li>Let your passions and strengths guide your future career \u2014 Even if it feels far away, trust that you are already on your path to greatness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227042\" class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/11192025_39246_EOF-11th-Annual-Womens-Conference.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/11192025_39246_EOF-11th-Annual-Womens-Conference.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Jayme Ganey holds her arm in the air as school leaders and students walk the runway.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u201cIt was just explosive, happy, positive energy,\u201d says Jayme Ganey, left, who encouraged many participants to walk the runway to hype the crowd.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Advice for All Ages and Life Stages<\/h2>\n<p>Jayme Ganey, engagement specialist for Inclusive Excellence Programs, Office of the President, reminds students and professionals alike:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We&#8217;re all leaders; you don&#8217;t need a title to be one.<\/li>\n<li>Never dim your light, ever.<\/li>\n<li>Always remember who lifted you, and make sure you lift others.<\/li>\n<li>Change is a constant, inevitable, beautiful force of nature. Embrace it, use it, create it.<\/li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t be afraid. Someone needs what you have to give. Don&#8217;t be the obstacle in the way of their receiving it. Be a vessel.<\/li>\n<li>Laugh and have fun as much as humanly possible \u2014 and get your work done.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_227055\" class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/11192025_39276_EOF-11th-Annual-Womens-Conference.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/11192025_39276_EOF-11th-Annual-Womens-Conference.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Row of conference attendees\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of high school scholars from across New Jersey gathered at University Hall to hear from professionals who understand the challenges and possibilities ahead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Starting Your Journey at Montclair<\/h2>\n<p>There are many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/11\/10\/why-montclair-state-university-is-a-top-choice-for-affordable-tuition-fastest-payback-and-real-student-success\/\">advantages to enrolling at Montclair State University<\/a>, such as affordability and accessibility to New York City (a mere 12 miles away). Montclair is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/10\/01\/why-montclair-state-university-is-a-nationally-recognized-dream-school\/\">nationally recognized \u201cDream School\u201d<\/a> with higher-than-expected graduation rates, personalized belonging programs and meaningful career pathways. It is also among the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/09\/30\/2026-college-rankings-montclair-named-no-1-public-institution-in-nj-top-30-public-in-the-nation\/\">Top 30 public institutions in the nation<\/a>, according to <em>The Wall Street Journal<\/em>\/College Pulse <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/rankings\/college-rankings\/best-colleges-2026?mod=salary-impact-2026\">2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.<\/a> rankings and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/09\/30\/2026-college-rankings-montclair-named-no-1-public-institution-in-nj-top-30-public-in-the-nation\/\">No. 1 public institution in New Jersey<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Ready to Begin Your Montclair Story?<\/h2>\n<p>Explore our nationally ranked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/academics\/program-finder\/\">programs<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/admissions\/visit-us\/\">visit campus<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/apply.montclair.edu\/register\/inquire\">connect with an advisor<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/apply-to-montclair-state\/\">apply today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/\/ Output tags as a list for Google Analytics custom dimension\nwindow.MSU_TagList = [];\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Practical college-readiness tips, confidence-building guidance and uplifting insights shared at Montclair\u2019s Women\u2019s Leadership Alliance Conference<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":270,"featured_media":227044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[123,1,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-227047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homepage-news","category-uncategorized","category-university"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/270"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227047"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":227057,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227047\/revisions\/227057"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}