Celebrating National TRIO Day resonates deeply with the CoolSpeak team as a time to celebrate the transformative impact of TRIO programs on the lives of students across the country… including two of our own. CoolSpeak Founder and CEO Carlos Ojeda Jr. and CoolSpeaker Lilyan Prado Carrillo are proud TRIO alumni. 

You already know CoolSpeakers share our stories, so we wanted to shine a spotlight on our TRIO stories to highlight how our team has a shared lived experience with the TRIO community.

Growing up in Texas, Lilyan attended Denton High School and participated in the TRIO Upward Bound through the University of North Texas. Here is how #TRIOworks for Lilyan:

How TRIO Transformed My Life: A First-Gen Success Story

Before joining Upward Bound, college felt like a distant dream—something I wanted but didn’t dare to say out loud. I would occasionally confide in a trusted teacher or the school counselor I trusted, but it was rare.  Not even with my dad, because I didn’t want him to feel guilty if he couldn’t help me, and I didn’t want to burden him with more worries about money. It was tough.

I was surrounded by friends who had clear paths to college, parents who could afford tuition to out-of-state schools could buy them cars without the need for them to work for them, and they could afford summer vacations, and spring break ski trips. Their lives seemed effortless to me, while mine was filled with uncertainty, self-doubt, and a lot of financial pressure. I wanted to go to school, but I didn’t believe I actually could, so I didn’t allow myself to dream too close.

That all changed when my English teacher recommended me for Upward Bound. At first, I didn’t immediately put too much hope into it—until I met a young lady who would become my academic advisor. That moment changed everything. She was this young white lady, blonde, a college graduate, and fluent in Spanish! When she met my dad, she recognized him pretty much immediately—years earlier, she had taught him ESL classes at night at my high school. 

He had once told her about his daughter, and now, standing in front of her, was the girl he had spoken about. My dad had shared with her that he was a single father, that we were from Guatemala, and that my mother had left when I was five, leaving him to raise me on his own. He was doing the best he could, trying to build a life for us in a country that was still new to us. 

What I didn’t know back then was that he had always believed in me. 

That connection created an instant trust and belief in what Jenny told me almost every time she saw me: “You are capable. You are smart. You can graduate high school and go to college.”  That moment started to change how I saw myself. If my dad and this lady could believe in me so deeply, I needed to believe in myself, too. 

Years later, my academic advisor, Jenny, told me how proud my dad had always been of me, how he always thought I was so smart, and how much he wanted me to go to school and have a better life than he thought he could give.

More Than a Program—A Family

The Upward Bound staff wasn’t just a support system—they became my family.

Jenny Jacquot was more than an academic advisor; she was like a big sister and a mentor. She spoke life into me, the way I imagined a mom would have done had I had one that raised me. To this day, we stay in touch, and recently, when she found out that I dealt with cancer, she sent me recipe books to help my diet and even more recently, when she found out I was running for office, she sent me support and well wishes! She is my family and will be for all time.

Rhonda Grundy didn’t just give me rides when I needed them—she gave me responsibility. She never made me feel like a charity case but instead put me to work, allowing me to accept help with dignity. She never gave up on me and was always so eager to celebrate my wins and console me in my losses.

Diane Newman, the Upward Bound director, was a warm demander, someone who loved me while holding me accountable. She had high expectations, and she made sure I met them while always celebrating my accomplishments.  

So many RAs and staff members, like Rodney Mitchell and Stephanie Taylor, created a space where I felt safe, could have fun, take risks, be silly, and act like the teenager I was instead of always having to be “grown”, I felt supported, valued, and loved.

Lessons That Last a Lifetime

UB taught me that you don’t have to be rich to change lives—you just have to show up for people. The TRIO staff members weren’t wealthy, but they were change-makers, and I learned so much from them.

Today, as an educator, speaker, and advocate for first-generation students, I pass on these lessons, ensuring others know they are not alone. 

• Resilience – Pushing through challenges, even when I wanted to quit.
• Confidence – Knowing I belonged in spaces that weren’t always designed for people like me.
• Accountability – Taking responsibility for my future, even when it felt overwhelming.
• Leadership – Understanding that service and advocacy are the most powerful forms of leadership. 
• Take up space – you belong in every room you step into. 
• Ask for help  –  there’s no shame in needing support.
• Let TRIO staff push you –  they see your potential, even when you don’t.
• Believe in yourself  –  even when it feels impossible

Most importantly, stay connected. TRIO isn’t just a program for getting students into college. It is about keeping students in college and being a community that will be there for you long after you graduate. 

For many first-generation, low-income students, TRIO is the only safety net they have. It provides:
✔️ Guidance when families don’t have the experience to navigate college systems.
✔️ Financial literacy so students can make informed decisions about funding their education.
✔️ Mentorship & accountability to keep students on track.

TRIO doesn’t just change individual lives—it transforms families, communities, and futures.

Supporting TRIO means supporting the next generation of leaders, educators, doctors, engineers, and public servants. Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed—TRIO makes that possible.

My TRIO experience taught me that support and advocacy make all the difference. That’s why I dedicate my career to ensuring first-gen students get the resources, mentorship, and encouragement they need to persist.

Happy National TRIO Day!

Let’s continue to share stories of TRIO alumni to remind us of the profound difference these college-access programs make in the lives of students who might otherwise be left behind. 

If you are looking for a keynote speaker or program facilitator who shares the lived experience of your students, the CoolSpeak team is made up of a diverse group of speakers who bring authenticity, inspiration, and actionable insights to everything we do, helping students see what’s possible for their futures.