We recently connected with Charmisse Morency and have shared our conversation below.

Charmisse , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

I think in order to better prepare students for life and the choices they’ll have to make, we must have certain conversations earlier. Oftentimes, families don’t discuss college, finances, etc until high school. Why not begin sooner? I think by introducing these ideas and planting seeds, you’ll have more than enough time to nurture a child’s interests, ask and answer questions as well as plan accordingly.

I never felt prepared for college or adulthood, although I was in a program to help me get there – I felt like a fish out of water. I say this because I was a first-generation college student and my mom wasn’t able to really introduce those things early on. She did the best she could and I learned how to navigate college as best I could and in real-time.

My college journey inspired my first book Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Started College. There are so many things I wish I had known. Although I went to an awesome high school, one of my pain points has always been how high school counselors treat students. If I could truly change something in the education system, it would be the flow of information from primary to high school so that the idea of post-high school is planted early. I would ensure college counseling at all grade levels as well as integrate life and career conversations and prompts into curriculum.

In addition to writing, I teach at two colleges where I specifically work with dual-enrollment students. Many of them express to me how ill-prepared they feel for college and I always think back to what if all these things were introduced in elementary? Consider how much more developed each students plan would be. They could try out possible majors and careers, get a real understanding of the path and how to get there as well as the financial responsibilities required to make it happen. Imagine the possibilities if this were put in place.

Charmisse , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a wife, mother, professor and authorpreneur. I write books to encourage and empower caregivers and educators to have the necessary conversations with children so they are equipped for higher education.

Using my passion, and whit, I share my lessons learned, best practices and resources with parents, teachers, counselors and students who are eager to get college ready. As a true Clark Atlanta University alumna, my motto has always been to “find a way or make one.” My goal is to help youth (and their families) to decide their path and forge their own way by being practical, self-motivated and staying ready!

My first book, Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Started College was inspired by my journey as a first-generation college student as well as my 6th grade students at the time. Shortly after I published this book, I coordinated a book tour in my hometown (Los Angeles, CA) and I learned that I was pregnant with my first child. Needless to say, a lot of things changed, included my mindset and future bodies of work. I never imagined becoming an author, let alone a children’s book author but these books are love letters to my son. In addition to wanting to inspire my son, I hope to do the same for others and their families. It is never too soon to have the college conversation.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Throughout my adulthood, especially as a mom and wife, I have had to unlearn a few things. I am such a perfectionist at heart and I like to have control of everything. Since I started my business and began publishing multiple books I have had to remind myself to let things be and also learn to pivot. I forced myself to do these things in my personal life, but I especially have to do them in my business. I network and try to create opportunities for myself and things don’t always work out the way I planned. In most instances, I would spiral out of control, but I am still learning the power of NO. I recently attended a bootcamp for authors, and the founder shared an acronym for NO, which is Next Opportunity.

Just because you make a plan doesn’t mean it will come to fruition. Just because you want to work with someone or a certain opportunity doesn’t mean it will happen. I have learned that everything and everyone isn’t for me. I want to work with and inspire the audiences that I wrote my book(s) for. I want to connect with people that have the same mission as I do. All that being said, a person or organization could still say, NO. That answer has nothing to do with me. It simply means that I should seek the next opportunity. It took me years to develop this mindset because I would always focus on how the answer made me feel – rejected, sad, disappointed. When I take myself out of it and just let things be, I then have the ability to move on, quickly. It is more important to be consistent and continue showing up for myself, and things will turn out exactly how they are supposed to.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One time, I did a speaking engagement and I was a months pregnant. Usually, I do a call to action as I wrap up my speeches but my pregnancy hormones had gotten to me. I was looking at the young children in the room and holding my stomach imagining that I was speaking to my son. I wanted the children to feel optimistic about their future and supported at the same time. I encouraged them to bet on themselves and focus on their futures. In the midst of my ending, I started crying. I held it together as best I could and finished my speech. I was so disappointed because I thought my emotions had messed up my speech. To my surprise, I had made multiple connections in the room and so many people were also moved to tears. As a result, the coordinator of the event bought all the copies of my book that I had on hand.

This particular instance, is something I always reflect on. It is important to share your story as well as be as transparent as you can possibly be. This has truly helped me to continue to make connections and sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://charmisse.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charm1sse/
• Facebook: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZvwqSNkLxANcgvBOvJvr9Q
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charmisse-morency-31961168/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/charm1sse
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZvwqSNkLxANcgvBOvJvr9Q

Image Credits
Derek Wilson