The Way to College Podcast

Coach, mentor, and author Adam Sarancik returns to The Way to College Podcast to talk about helping young people build independence, confidence, and direction.We explore the everyday skills students need beyond graduation, from preparing meals and managing a calendar to taking effective notes, communicating clearly, and asking for help. We also discuss identity beyond athletics, the importance of listening, and how parents and educators can give students room to advocate for themselves.Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or coach, this episode offers practical starting points for preparing for life after high school.What’s one skill you wish you had learned before leaving home?Follow The Way to College Podcast, rate the show, and share this episode with someone helping a young person take their next step.Adam is the author of five Amazon best-selling coaching books: Coaching Champions for Life – The Process of Mentoring the Person, Athlete and Player Takeaway Quotes for Coaching Champions for Life A Ground Ball to Shortstop – How and Why Coaches See Their Game Differently Than Anyone Else Teacher, Role Model, MentorLessons Learned from a Lifetime in Coaching The Car Ride Home – Respecting Youth at a Vulnerable Place and Time For more, see Coachingchampionsforlife.com

On this very special episode of The Way to College Podcast, I'm joined by Maria Fernanda Martinez-Donaus of Rio Progress, a non-profit organization committed to helping students and their families navigate the ever-changing college admissions landscape. Maria skillfully guides us through the FAFSA. She addresses some of the myths and misconceptions about the FAFSA and also offers guidance on how to complete it. We're sure this is an episode that will help countless families out there. So don't forget to share it with your network or with anyone you know who needs help understanding and completing the FAFSA. Below are some of the links Maria referenced during our interview.Flow chart for which parent is the contributor: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/parent-info?os=___&utm=Who should enter as a parent on the FAFSA form? https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-apply/parents?utm_=Identity Verification Inrformation: https://studentaid.gov/help/identity-verificationRioProgress website: rioprogress.org

In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, I talk with Dr. Eugene Manley Jr., scientist, engineer, nonprofit founder, consultant, and first-generation student advocate.Eugene shares his journey from growing up in Detroit to engineering school, cancer research, graduate education, and a career that has continued to evolve far beyond any single degree or job title.We discuss first-generation college experiences, the hidden curriculum, rejection, graduate school, career pivots, mentorship, neurodivergence, and why students need access not only to opportunities, but also to the unwritten information that helps them navigate those opportunities successfully.One of Eugene’s strongest messages is simple:Where you start is not where you will end. And sometimes the smartest thing you can do is find someone who knows what you don’t, and ask the question.At the end of the episode, Eugene reminds us to approach others with dignity and respect because we rarely know what someone else is carrying.

In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, I sit down with Pedro J. Rivera to talk about education, career transitions, resilience, and the importance of learning to advocate for yourself.Pedro shares how a professor first encouraged him to consider law school, how he navigated imposter syndrome and academic challenges, and how he later learned that doing good work is not always enough, you also have to make sure people know what you can do. We also discuss failure, including Pedro’s experience not passing the bar exam on his first attempt and the confidence he later drew from coming back and succeeding. Pedro’s advice to students and young professionals is simple:Apply. Ask. Speak up. Don’t let fear make the decision for you.And at the end of the episode, he leaves us with this challenge:“Be fearless about your life and your career.” Check out Pedro's work: https://pjrconsultingllc.com/https://www.somoselpoder.org/

On this episode of The Way to College Podcast, I sit down with Eric Rath, founder and president of Rath Tutoring, to talk about curiosity, test-taking, asking for help, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning.Eric has spent more than 20 years in tutoring and test prep, and one of the most common things students tell him is, “I’m not a good test taker.” His response is a reminder that many students were never taught how to perform well on tests and that there is a difference between knowing the material and knowing how to demonstrate that knowledge. We also talk about the power of asking questions. Eric credits much of his own success as an entrepreneur to being willing to admit what he didn’t know, find someone who did, and ask for help. His advice is simple:Be comfortable saying, “I don’t know.” In this conversation, we explore:Why asking for help is a strengthThe difference between knowledge and performanceWhat wrong answers can teach usHow curiosity shaped Eric’s educational journeyWhy tutoring should focus on the individual studentEntrepreneurship, ownership, and purposeWhy learning should never end when school doesEric also reminds us that college is not the finish line. It can be a jumping-off point for lifelong learning. Eric Rath🎧 Listen now to this week’s episode of The Way to College Podcast.

Adam Sarancik has spent decades coaching and mentoring young athletes, but his work goes far beyond sports. Through Elevate Sports Academy, he helps students think critically about college, career, identity, and what comes next when athletics is no longer the center of their world. In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, Adam shares his own journey through adversity, law, real estate, teaching, coaching, and mentoring, and explains why young people need to understand their gifts, interests, and purpose before simply following the path everyone expects of them.We talk about:Why identity can become too closely tied to one activityThe question, “Who am I beyond this?”Why students should reflect on their strengths and interestsThe importance of work ethic and independenceHow parents can help young people explore without over-directing themWhy college and career planning should begin with self-awarenessAdam’s question for every student: “What’s your why?” Adam’s message is especially powerful for student-athletes, but it applies to anyone entering a new chapter of life:You don’t have to abandon who you were, but you do need to give yourself room to discover who else you can become.🎧 Listen now to this week’s episode of The Way to College Podcast and check out Adam's work:Coaching site: https://www.coachingchampionsforlife.com/Adam's books: http://amazon.com/author/adamsarancik

What happens when the path you imagined for yourself turns out not to be your path at all?Laura Cortez grew up in San Benito, Texas, believing she might become a lawyer. Instead, her educational and professional journey took her from the Rio Grande Valley to Drake University, Spain, AmeriCorps, graduate school, a Ph.D. at UT Austin, community engagement, and eventually entrepreneurship. As Laura puts it, her story has had plenty of “windy roads.” In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, Laura shares what it was like to leave South Texas for college, including the homesickness that almost led her to transfer after her first semester. She also explains how friendships, campus involvement, and finding a community helped her create a sense of belonging far from home. We also talk about changing majors, studying abroad, learning to advocate for yourself, listening to your gut, recognizing when it's time to change direction, and paying attention to the people who see possibilities in us that we may not yet see ourselves.Laura's journey is a powerful reminder that a closed door doesn't mean the journey is over. Sometimes you have to go looking for the next one. 🎧 Listen to Laura Cortez's story on this week's The Way to College Podcast.

Brian Eyster describes his professional journey as a “25-year internship.”It's a journey that has been filled with successes, failures, experimentation, and learning what he was good at. Today, Brian is helping families navigate one of their biggest financial challenges: paying for college. In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, Brian and I cover everything from career exploration to allowing young people to fail safely, and why students shouldn't be expected to have everything figured out at 18 or 22.We also get into college planning and funding, including financial aid, FAFSA, college savings, and why families should ask better questions before making major financial decisions about college. Brian's final advice is one worth remembering:It's okay to ask for help. Whether you're a student trying to figure out what's next or a parent trying to figure out how to pay for it, there's something in this conversation for you.🎧 Listen now to The Way to College Podcast.

In my conversation with Cesar Quezada, we discussed his experience as a first-generation college student and his remarkable academic turnaround, mentorship, career pivots, leaving his comfort zone, serving students, and learning to navigate uncertainty.We also talk about something especially close to the mission of The Way to College: the power of sharing our stories.Cesar eventually began speaking publicly about his own experiences so educators could better understand and support students. He then encouraged his students to share their stories at professional conferences as well. For Cesar, representation matters because hearing people's experiences can change how others think and act.If you know a student or an adult whose plans aren't working out the way they expected, share this episode.

What if you don’t know exactly what you want to do with your life?Rick Margo will tell you to keep going. Eventually you'll find out.In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, Rick shares a career journey that was anything but perfectly planned. Growing up in Rio Grande City in a family with deep ties to Texas A&M, college was always an expectation, but Rick admits that even after arriving at A&M, he had no idea where his career would take him.From federal service to college recruitment, helping launch Texas A&M’s presence in McAllen, and now serving his community through Texas A&M Health, Rick’s story is a powerful reminder that careers aren’t always linear—and they don’t have to be.Along the way, we talk about:Why you don’t need to have your entire career mapped outThe value of internships and real-world experienceWhy attitude, customer service, and teamwork can matter as much as a 4.0 GPAHow your reputation can open—or close—future opportunitiesKnowing when it may be time to make a career changeWhy you should still give your best effort even when you’re ready to move onThe importance of relationships, trust, patience, and serviceRick also shares one of the lessons his father gave him growing up: “If you’re going to be a beach bum, be the best beach bum you can.”It’s funny—but the lesson is serious: whatever you choose to do, do it well, treat people well, and become the person others know they can count on.Whether you’re a student trying to choose a path, a recent graduate entering the workforce, or a professional wondering what comes next, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to know the final destination to keep building a meaningful life and career.