Join Julie Riga for Part 2 of her most personal episode yet. After years of bullying, isolation, and an undiagnosed illness that stole her high school years, Julie finally got the one thing she needed most: a fresh start. In this episode, she takes us inside the college years that changed everything, from making 12 friends in two days to spending eight hours a day in the library, to walking away from a sorority on induction night to chase the one thing that truly called her. Her voice. Her purpose. Her microphone.
In This Episode:
✨ How starting over in college gave Julie her first real taste of belonging and community
✨ Why she spent up to eight hours a day in the library to earn her place on the Dean's List
✨ The honest truth about showing up with learning gaps and outworking everyone around you
✨ The professor who asked one question that changed the entire direction of her college years
✨ Why she quit a sorority on induction night after Hell Night and never looked back
✨ How she became CJ the DJ and the voice of Rowan College on 89.7 WGLS FM
✨ The internship she thought was pointless that turned into one of the most brilliant series the station ever ran
Key Takeaways:
📌 A fresh start is not a luxury. It is sometimes a necessity for growth
📌 Outworking everyone else is a valid and powerful strategy when raw talent is not enough
📌 Wanting something badly enough will always outperform natural ability alone
📌 Purpose-driven decisions require walking away from things that do not serve your mission
📌 Your earliest passions are often pointing you toward your purpose all along
📌 The will to succeed can override any deficiency if you are willing to put in the reps
📌 Coming back to who you started becoming is sometimes the most powerful journey of all
Memorable Quotes:
"Sometimes that is just what you need in life. You need to start over." - Julie Riga
"You will do it if you want it bad enough. You will do it." - Julie Riga
"Nothing in my life was handed to me. Nothing. And so I had to push forward." - Julie Riga
"I am here to get an education, sir. And that moment changed everything for me." - Julie Riga
"Learning was the remedy to my problems. I could learn." - Julie Riga
"When you start to remember what you did as a young person and you are able to come back to who you started becoming, this is the journey I have been on." - Julie Riga
Perfect for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone who has ever had to work twice as hard as everyone else just to keep up. This episode is proof that grit, purpose, and the willingness to start over are the most powerful ingredients for success.
Connect with Julie:
🌐 julieriga.com
🎧 Stay On Course Podcast
📱 LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
🔗 https://stacklist.app/julieriga
Services:
💼 One on One Coaching: Purpose discovery and leadership development
🎨 Brand Building: Design support to build your authentic brand
👥 Leadership Programs: Team development and organizational growth
📚 Training Programs: Skill development for your next level
🎧 Subscribe for more raw, real conversations about leadership, purpose, and transformation!
💡 Share this episode with someone who needs to be reminded that starting over is not giving up. It is stepping up.
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