“You are not buried. You are being planted.” – Tiffany Barreau

Some events don’t just fill a room. They fill a purpose. WoMen Shedding Light Onto Each Other, hosted by Seniors of 2025, Jasmine Glaude and Sarah Ruilova, was exactly that. A women’s empowerment brunch held at NJCU, the gathering reminded us what it means to root ourselves, lift one another, and grow into leadership with boldness.

I attended not only to support the women in my life but to expose my daughter to the language of Queens. I wanted her to witness the strength in sisterhood, understand her own power as she grows, and hear what it sounds like when women speak truth with grace, grit, and purpose.

Keynote speaker Tiffany Barreau delivered a message titled “Let Me Grow,” and from the moment she spoke, she had the room. Her words were more than motivational. They were medicine. She brought our attention to the journey of the acorn, how it must fall from its starting place to find new ground, how it roots before it rises.

“Before the oak tree grows tall, its roots must grow deep,” she said. That sentence stuck with me. Sometimes we think the fall is failure. But Tiffany reminded us the fall might be where the future begins. It’s not about how tall you grow, but what’s underneath holding you up.

She encouraged everyone to build a personal toolkit. Not just for leadership but for life. That toolkit includes knowing your values, writing your mission, and remembering your why. It includes self-awareness, honest reflection, and the courage to pivot when something doesn’t align.

Tiffany broke down growth with four clear steps:

Grounded in Purpose: Know what anchors you. Stay rooted in your identity and your values.

Rise Above Fear: Name your fear. Speak to it. Move through it. “Call it something,” she said, “then tell it to get out of your way.”

Open to Growth: Embrace feedback. Make room for discomfort. True growth never comes from staying comfortable.

Water Other Women: Celebrate others. Support their journeys. Speak their names in rooms they’re not in. Lift as you climb.

She reminded us that leadership is not measured by status but by legacy. And legacy is what you leave behind in people, not just in accomplishments. “The strongest trees drop seeds that grow into forests,” she said.

Before the keynote, poet and co-host Sarah Ruilova, also known as Vale, stepped up and delivered a poem that left the room breathless. She spoke to the realities of being a woman in a world full of expectations, and how society tries to tame, shrink, and silence them. Her voice was firm but filled with care.

“We are not delicate porcelain dolls,” she said. “We are warriors of our own stories.”

Her poem reminded us that being soft does not mean weak, and being strong does not mean hard. Women are allowed to be full, to take up space, to exist as they are. The applause that followed didn’t feel like a performance ended. It felt like a truth had been spoken on behalf of many.

Throughout the event, student leaders like Crystal Ariosa shared how their leadership journeys shaped their confidence. Special guests, including Jersey City Council President Joyce Waterman, reminded us that empowered women empower others. Every speaker, every moment, felt intentional.

Even the activities held meaning. We were invited to write affirmations on paper leaves and place them on a tree as a symbol of blooming into spring. Every detail of the brunch, every raffle, every table, every conversation, was full of care and community.

The energy in the room wasn’t just inspiring. It was restorative. It reminded us that leadership is less about control and more about connection. Less about power over others, and more about empowering those around you. It’s about healing together, learning from each other, and sharing your tools so someone else has a better chance at growth.

To Jasmine Glaude and Sarah Ruilova, thank you for creating a space where women were honored and affirmed. To Tiffany Barreau, thank you for pouring wisdom into the room like water on dry soil. And to Ashley Lemon, thank you for continuing this legacy of light, leadership, and love at NJCU. Because of you, this event was more than well put together. It was purposeful, powerful, and unforgettable.

This wasn’t just a brunch. It was a turning point. Everyone who showed up walked away with something they didn’t have when they arrived.

Let me grow.

Let her grow.

Let us all grow.