MAAC April 2025 News
- Andrea Smith-Morgan
- Apr 18
- 7 min read
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MAAC College Day Inspires a Rising Class of Scholars
Hope. Inspiration. Movement. We had all of this and more in the first two stops of our three-college tour!
"This empowering event is a union of love," said Andrea Nicole Smith-Morgan. "College Day transcends the usual by pairing youth who have experienced home instability with our caring and capable volunteer mentors."
MAAC extends its deepest thanks to inspirational keynote speakers, Dr. La'Tesha Sampson and Dr. Simone Flowers-Taylor, our exceptional workshop facilitators, Amethyst Charette, Gladys Pirruccio, Candace Pryor-Brown, and Kathryn Tam, and the entire team from Essex Regional Educational Services Commission, led by Pheobie Thomas.
On this day of connection and empowerment, scholars enjoyed breakfast, lunch, giveaways, inspirational speakers, and interactive workshops. The first College Day, held at County College of Morris, included a campus tour, while the second event, held at Union County College, included a special delivery—a busload of promwear for the scholars to choose from, brought by students at Pascack Hills High School as part of the nonprofit, Becca's Closet. All College Day scholars were provided with a link to choose free clothing from Morris County nonprofit, Nick's Hope. Wellness kits and copies of Tiffany Haddish's book, The Last Black Unicorn, were donated by The Links of Morris County. And as a special parting treat, the ERESC team handed out bags and scoopers, and invited the scholars to bag up their favorite sweets at a bountiful candy station!
In addition to all the perks and resources offered on this day, Andrea Nicole announced that all scholars who attend College Day are eligible for free scholarships to MAAC's seventh annual Summer College Readiness Boot Camp, an immersive two-week college preparation program (see flyer below).
MAAC and ERESC will wrap up their College Day tour on May 1 at the West Caldwell campus of Essex County College.
Olivia Horne: Paving Her Own Winding Path
Success is rarely a straight shot. Along the way, there are decisions to make, actions to take, and most importantly, the unexpected challenges that arise in each of our journeys that we must navigate. Sharing her story this month, MAAC scholar Olivia Horne offers a candid glimpse into her own journey, and how listening to her needs helped her grow on her own terms.
How would you describe your high school experience? My high school experience was pretty difficult. In my sophomore year, I suffered a lot with my mental health, and had to be taken out of school for about a month. Ironically, the week I was meant to return to school was the same week everything shut down for the Covid-19 pandemic. Spending a year doing Zoom learning was a very jarring experience, though it was strangely helpful for me to reacclimate back into school life, while not being too stressful for my health. Things definitely got better my senior year, when everyone was back in school. Once the stress of finishing college applications passed, I probably felt the happiest I ever felt while in school. I got to reconnect with my friends and spend more time on my hobbies.
You didn't go right to college. What made you decide to take a gap year?
I’ve had the idea of taking a gap year for a long time, probably even before I started high school. At first, I just thought a year off from school sounded like a dream come true. But once I was committed to my university and finally graduating high school, I realized I needed a break for my mental health. I took the year to do things I always wanted to do, but never had the time to do. I finally got my driver’s license, which I wouldn’t have been able to do while studying in a different state or during one summer. I participated in National Novel Writing Month, a global event that challenges people to write 50,000 words during the month of November, which I’m still proud to have accomplished. By the time my gap year was up, I felt like a more mature person, and was more ready for college than I would've been fresh out of high school.
From here, you spent two years studying abroad. Tell us what inspired you to do this.
I'd always wanted to study abroad, due to my family's love of traveling. Originally, I planned on doing it during my junior year, which is what most students do. But my decision changed when my family and I had to move across the country for my mom's job. One of the reasons I chose my school, Marist University, was because it wasn't far from where we lived in New Jersey. But I figured, if I was already going to be far away from my family at Marist, I may as well take the leap and be far away in Italy.
Marist has a special program for freshman students to study abroad for their whole first year of school, either in Florence, Italy or Dublin, Ireland. I chose Florence, and while the experience definitely had its ups and downs, it really helped me feel more independent. I decided to continue this experience in my sophomore year, studying in Dublin for a new environment. As unconventional as it is, I think it worked best for me.
What was the most exciting part of studying abroad?
My favorite part of studying abroad has been getting to travel solo. I'm really grateful to have grown up in a family that got to travel frequently, and I've been to many countries around the world. But studying abroad not only meant I got to visit new places, but I got to travel how I wanted. I could go to whatever attractions and museums I wanted to, without following someone else's itinerary. My solo trips have been really fun journeys of exploration, and while I've definitely had some unsavory experiences, they've taught me important lessons I won’t forget.
And the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge studying abroad is facing loneliness. Yes, you're away from your friends and family, but you're also in a different country with a different culture. As an introvert who has trouble in social situations, I didn't expect this to be too much of a problem. But loneliness affects everyone. It was easier to deal with during my first year in Florence. I was surrounded by other people in the same situation, all from Marist and all starting college in a new environment. It was easy to become familiar with everyone and make friends. But in Dublin, I'm part of a program that isn't hosted by my school, and there are only a handful of other Marist students. Also, in Florence, I was able to start a creative writing club to meet other writers, which is how I met a good friend of mine. But I haven't been able to do that in Dublin, and the clubs at this college don't meet very often. I fortunately have some family friends in Dublin, so I always have someone familiar to visit and talk to. But, it's still been really difficult to make friends; something I'm still working on.
What would you say to a high school student considering a gap year?
To anyone considering a gap year, my short answer is a definite “yes.” My long answer is to consider what you want. It's easy to feel left behind when taking a gap year, having your friends and classmates a year ahead of you in their studies and moving on quickly with their lives. But we're all different. Some of us are comfortable jumping straight into the beginning of adulthood, others need time to adjust. Don't feel pressured to not take a break just because those around you aren't. Maybe you want to get a job and save money, or write a book, or travel somewhere new. Maybe it's as simple as just wanting a break from school. At the end of the day, it's your education, your well-being, and your life.
You have three younger siblings. As the oldest, do you feel a responsibility to set the example for them?
As the oldest in my family, I definitely feel I need to set a good example. It doesn't mean I'm the perfect, golden child sibling—my siblings and I haven't stopped bickering or being ridiculous just because we're all older. But I feel like I've become more of a “mother hen,” always keeping an eye out for them and making sure they're getting their homework and chores done. Since college began, I've been trying more to impart the life lessons I've learned onto them. I want them to make the most out of their school experiences, and to not follow the same patterns that led to my mental health worsening.
What advice would you give another MAAC scholar?
Remember to take care of yourself. Studying is important, but taking care of yourself is, too. Set some time apart to work on your hobbies and spend time with your loved ones. When you're away at school, you may realize you've taken the time you spent with friends and family for granted.
Register Today for Summer Boot Camp 2025!
Rising high school seniors, what are YOU doing this summer? Join us for our seventh (lucky 7!) year of Summer College Readiness Boot Camp! Click the QR code below and get in on the action! Breakfast, lunch, and fun times all included.
MAAC Board Members
Eleanor Gil-Kashiwabara | Tanya Isler-Home | Nadine Verna | Tamara Williams
Mindful Awareness Academy for Children (MAAC), PO BOX 338, Montclair, NJ 07042
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