Do you speak Setswana? Are you a big Cowboy Carter fan? Do you like taking time for self-care, journaling, or other creative outlets to keep a good balance in life? If any of these sounds like you, meet Ms. Tayler Page, a Higher Education Professional based at Post University! Over the course of this spotlight interview, you will not only learn about her experiences conducting education-based events and college readiness workshops, but how she advocates for students beyond New England. So, follow along to what Ms. Tayler Page has to share with us today, and how she would define “success.”

Meet Ms. Tayler Page!

Q: Tell me about your background.

“I was born in Washington, D.C. and spent my early childhood in Prince George’s County Maryland. When I was about 9 years old, my dad became the director of environmental service at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, CT. So, we (my parents, younger brother and I) moved to Waterbury CT, where my father grew up. Being in Waterbury was a big adjustment coming from Brandywine, Maryland. It was colder, grayer, and everything was so different. Although there were some challenges, my family made it easier. I was suddenly surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles and extended family members. All of the neighbors seemed to have known who I was and/or knew my family. This is because during the industrial revolution my great grandparents, along with a host of other black families from the south migrated up north for better opportunities. I didn’t know at the time, but the community I was getting acclimated to was part of my history for at least 3 generations. My biggest support system growing up was both my family and my community. The community was my family. With my dad working at the children’s hospital, I was able to spend a lot of time with my cousin, who was a few years older than me. She was positive, funny and she really loved Lil’ Bow Wow. I knew she lived in the hospital, but it never occurred to me that she was sick. At the time I thought she was lucky enough to have a TV in her room, toys galore, free ice-cream and unlimited toys! The cold truth was that she was born with HIV. When I was about 12 years old, my favorite cousin passed away due to her illness. As devastating as it was, her passion inspired me to help others. In 2016, I joined the United States Peace Corps as an HIV/Education Facilitator. My sole mission was to collaborate with the host country nationals of both Botswana and Zambia to reduce their HIV contraction rates. I completed fieldwork for my master’s thesis in Zambia where I researched the impact of a USAID initiative called DREAMS. During my time in Southern Africa, I learned a lot about stigma, empowerment and access to opportunities. Pairing my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer with my education in Anthropology, I’ve been able to make impactful changes in the communities I served, overseas and in my own backyard.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: Do you own a pet? If so, what is their name and how has your pet impacted your life? Share a bit about them.

“I’m not a pet girly! I do like cats, but right now I love pets from a far.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: What’s a fun or unique fact about you? What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies, passions, unknown talents, or special interests? If so, what are they?

“In my free time, I work on self-improvement and self-development. I prioritize therapy, reading, journaling, exercising, traveling and anything that makes me feel whole. Doing things that I love makes me feel complete. Things that I love are acting, modeling, exploring new places, being in nature and meeting new people to name a few. I enjoy theatre, cinema and cooking. I also enjoy grounding, praying and studying scripture.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: Did you join any extracurriculars when you were younger? Any after school clubs, organizations, programs, or sports in the past? If so, explain.

“When I was younger, I was involved in so much! Similar to how I am now. I had many interests, and I was convinced if I set out to do it, I could accomplish it! I was a cheerleader and a dancer. I joined a double-dutch team as well as a drill team. I swam recreationally at the local YMCA. I competed in oratorical competitions (where I often placed 1st) I also competed in beauty pageants. I was the chairperson of the youth committee at my church and sang in the choir. While at Sacred Heart High School I was a part of the international club, which I think is a testament of my love for travel and anthropology. While Attending Southern Connecticut State University, I was the chairperson of FACE Models and help turn what was a black student union initiative into its own club. I was an orientation ambassador, a peer mentor, a resident advisor, I also worked on campus fund raising for the school and monitoring the desks at the residence halls. I was a member of the residence hall association and often attended on-campus events. During my time at American University, I was a part of the Improv Acting team.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: Do you have any notable achievements or awards that you’ve received in the past?

“I have been awarded many honors in my lifetime. The ones that are most important to me are certificates of completion. For example, completing a spartan race or an educational training; being a member of Sigma Alpha Pi honor society; having my DOS (description of service) signed by a peace corps country director etc. Some of my proudest moments are when my students succeed. For example, in Botswana, I gave private tutoring to a group of students who had mild-severe learning disabilities. Due to post colonialism, in many ways, students in Botswana have to be proficient in English to be successful; however this is a great challenge for some students in rural areas who only speak Setswana or another local language. After a few months of tutoring, they started scoring higher on their tests, and eventually passing their English test, which was a huge accomplishment for them, and in turn for me as well. Another example would be when my students win the school wide FYRE contest! As an adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State University, one of the courses I instruct is INQ, a first-year experience course. Students spend the semester researching a topic that is meaningful to them that can invoke positive changes to the campus community. At the end of the semester, they present their projects. They compete with over 1,000 of their peers. The past two years in a row, a student of mine placed 1st in their department! Nothing makes me prouder than being able to inspire, encourage or assist others the same way many mentors have done for me.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: What were some challenges you had to overcome during High School? Any advice to Highlanders?

“In high school, I struggled with people pleasing and finding my voice. I often justified mistreatment by peers. My best piece of advice for Highlanders would be the following. “NO” is a complete sentence. It’s okay to set healthy boundaries and—Lastly, “the people who matter don’t care, and the people who care don’t matter.” If you’re stressed about your outfit, making a mistake, or not fitting in perfectly; take a breath. The people who truly matter in your life won’t judge you for superficial things like your clothes, your house, or how “cool” you look. They’ll care about who you are, not what you wear. The ones who do judge you for those things? They’re not the ones worth impressing. Focus on being yourself and finding people who accept you for that; and most importantly, accept yourself!” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: What are your hot takes right now?

“Peace and Love. Lorato le kagiso! PLEASE. There is so much devastation in the world the only way we can heal as people is to love one another, be empathetic, and put ourselves in the shoes of others.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: Do you have any tips on self care, and how do you approach it? What’s your daily routine like? Why do you believe it’s important?

“I always say “Self-care is a full time job. Every morning, I pray, read my scriptures and practice gratitude. I make sure to show myself some love by making healthy food choices, moisturizing, doing a face mask or drinking plenty of water. Anything that looks like me showing up for myself, is what I consider to be self-care. That can also be, getting a task done, having a hard conversation, or just giving myself the grace to sit in my feelings.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: What’s something you feel nostalgic about? Is there anything you feel very grateful towards? What are some of the most memorable school moments or events that have still stuck with you?

“I often think back and laugh at this particular story. Saint Margaret School was closing for good. 13 others and I were going to be the last graduating class of SMMS (St. Margaret Middle School). While it was sad, there was a big celebration at Hop Brook park for the entire school. There was food, fun, music, games face painting, you name it! My 8th grade teacher Mrs. Fitzpatrick found a lighter on the ground, she immediately turned to the boys “Whose lighter is this?” “I don’t know… not mine” They all replied. “Tayler will tell me!” She declared in front of everyone. My jaw dropped and I yelled “Miss Fitz!!” I couldn’t believe she ratted me out as a snitch in front of everyone. We all laughed! While the moment was hilarious, it always stood out to me, because even though it was a miniscule situation, my teacher knew she could rely on me to speak up and tell the truth, even when it wasn’t the “cool” thing to do. That’s something that I value to this day.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: Do you have any music recommendations?

“Two words. Cowboy Carter!” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: Do you want to share a few words about a loved one? What role do relationships—whether with family, friends, or colleagues—play in your life? Do they inspire, motivate, or offer valuable lessons to you?

“I’ve gone through so many phases of growing and shedding that I’ve cultivated a network of people in my life who are all kind, caring, honest and full of integrity. The people I associate with at work are transparent, compassionate and advocate for our students as well as what is right in the world. My inner circle of friends encourage me, push me and inspire me. My family are all amazing! My mom and brother specifically. I often think of the person my dad was to me, and all the many lessons he taught me. I’m truly grateful for every single person in my life.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

What Does Ms. Tayler Page Do for a Living?

Q: Do you have any community work, volunteer work, or internship experiences you want to share with us?

“I conduct college readiness workshops in my community as well as other events geared toward education.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: How did you get started in your current profession? What attracted you to your current line of work, and has your passion for it changed over time?

“Interestingly enough, I somehow always found myself in education, even when I didn’t intend to be. Sometimes you just have to do what you love and let the pieces fall into place.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you at your job? How has your role evolved since you first started? What skills do you think are the most essential for success in your profession? What do you find most fulfilling about your current position?

“Well, I wear many hats within the field of Higher Education. I’m the kind of person who welcomes change and new adventures. So, for me, a typical day at work can look different depending on the day. My primary responsibilities as an admissions counselor with Post University are recruiting new students and assisting them throughout the admissions process. In admissions you’ll often find that representatives are assigned territories. My territory is all of New England! So, during college fair season, a typical day for me might look like driving to New Hampshire for a college fair, staying a night in a hotel, then heading to Boston the next morning. When the college fair season is over, a typical day for me might look like calling students, assisting students with their applications and making sure they understand their next steps. While another day could be me back on the road conducting a presentation or a high school visit. The skills that I believe are most essential in my profession would definitely be flexibility, adaptability, confidence and good communication. Many roles within higher education are interpersonal, whether they’re student facing or not, so having those communication skills will go a long way.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: How would you define success, and do you believe you can reach success despite bad grades? Would you say it’ll be a more difficult experience than others with a good education? What role does having an education play on an individual’s future?

“I define success as completing! Never giving up. Success in my opinion is anytime you set out to achieve a goal and you accomplish it, no matter how small. Also, knowing it’s okay to pivot. Maybe you started college and realized it’s not for you. That’s okay! Ask yourself how do you pivot? Do you join a trade school or beauty school instead? Do you complete a real estate course, or do you head straight into the job market with the skills you already have? All of those options sound like success to me. I think the only time you fail is when you quit or give up completely. Same with students who choose college. Maybe you don’t get into the nursing program, or maybe you fail an exam worth 50% of your grade. How do you pivot? Never give up. The only way to be successful is to not quit. I believe education is important, there’s a saying in Botswana “Thuto ke petlwana ya botshelo,” which means “education is the door to the future.” However, a traditional college education is not the only way to learn, nor is it the only way to prepare yourself for a promising future. As far as grades, your GPA is not on your diploma. Just finish, and if you can’t finish, pivot.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Q: Can you share a story where your job made a positive impact on someone or your community? What are you most passionate about?

“There was one former student of mine. Brilliant young lady from Waterbury, Jayda. She was dedicated, and hard-working. She studied with Post University’s High School Academy, which is a dual enrollment program for high school students, where they earn college credits while still in high school. We also paired her with university scholarships that she was eligible for. Now something I tell students in the community while conducting college readiness workshops is “Cast your net far and wide! There is a scholarship for anything you can think of.” Jayda paid attention and took heed. Along with her Post University Scholarships, she applied to a plethora of external scholarships as well. She ended up with a $0 out of pocket cost for her education, on top of finishing high school with an associate’s degree from our High School Academy. Everyone in the community was so proud of her, and she was a true testament of the positive impact Post University can have on the community.” – Ms. Tayler Page.

Now that you’ve gotten to know Ms. Tayler Page and her line of work, what can you take away from this interview? Do you feel inspired to make an impact in your own community? Would you consider exploring new creative outlets? This spotlight interview not only shed light on Ms. Tayler Page’s work and experiences, but it also showed how important it is to follow your passions, stay adaptable, and make a positive impact wherever you can. Thank you for following along, and do not forget to click the comment button on the right-hand side to share your opinions and critiques on this matter! To read more articles, scroll down and click the ‘The Journey to Success’ tag in red! Tune in for more articles.

Get in Touch with Ms. Tayler Page!

• • Email: [email protected]
  • LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayler-page/