Actress and advocate Monique Coleman brought a message of growth, courage and self-worth to Elizabethtown College on Thursday night as the featured speaker for this fall’s Leffler Lecture Series. The event, held Nov. 13 in Leffler Chapel, coincided with Coleman’s 45 birthday, something she noted with joy as she reflected on the lessons that have shaped her life.
Rather than offering polished slogans, Coleman shared the themes and ideas that have guided her through setbacks, reinvention and unexpected opportunities. She encouraged students to recognize the value in their experiences and to approach their futures with purpose, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
Throughout her talk, Coleman emphasized that adversity is inevitable, but defeat doesn’t have to be. She spoke about how moments that knock a person down can become turning points for transformation. What matters, she said, is the willingness to rise again and to understand that resilience is a skill developed over time.
Her reflections resonated with many in the audience, including first-year legal studies major Elle Egrie. “You can really come from anywhere and still succeed in amazing ways, even after so many hardships in your life,” she said.
Coleman also encouraged students to consider how having a sense of purpose can shape both their decisions and their voices. Finding meaning, she explained, can help people speak with confidence and navigate difficult moments with a clearer sense of direction.
She discussed how fear can expand when given too much attention; growing larger, louder and more restrictive. Instead, she urged students to acknowledge fear without allowing it to dictate their choices. Pursuing passions doesn’t always need justification beyond genuine love or interest.
That message stood out to first-year occupational therapy major Matt Wojcieshowsky.
“I took away that it is important to be dynamic and able to react to bad situations and keep moving forward,” he said.
Coleman spent part of the lecture addressing the role of rejection in shaping a person’s journey. She explained that closed doors can hold just as much meaning as the ones that open, helping guide people toward places they might not have considered otherwise. Rather than viewing rejection as a dead end, she framed it as a form of redirection that can ultimately protect someone from opportunities that aren’t meant for them.
The idea that experiences carry purpose left a strong impression on students. First-year occupational therapy major Hailey Rubenacker said the message helped her consider her own journey differently. “Everybody has different experiences, and it’s the way you grow from, what you experience, that affects the way you live,” Rubenacker said.
Weaving her themes together, Coleman reminded students that their worth isn’t determined by achievements or setbacks. Every event contributes to shaping who they are becoming.
Her birthday lecture concluded with warm applause from the audience, who responded to both her openness and her encouragement. In offering students a blend of wisdom, personal reflection and practical perspective, Coleman left them with a reminder that growth is ongoing and that their stories are still unfolding.
