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“Liminal space… the term comes from the Latin word limen, meaning threshold. A liminal space is a place of transition, an in-between space that exists on the boundary of what came before and what has not yet arrived. It can be a physical place. It can also be a psychological state, a transitional period in a life where the old structure has dissolved, and the new one has not yet formed.”
– Meridian University, Liminal Space Meaning: The Psychology of In-Between
A Reflection on Student Success
In our most recent annual report, I shared that it has been a humbling experience to lead the work to ensure young people across the country have the support they need to transition into post-high-school pathways that lead to long-term career success, especially when one of those young people is in my home. The responsibility I feel to all kids weighed heavily on me when I watched my own kid struggle with the weight and consequences of the decisions he was making around cost, return on investment, belonging, and the uncertainty of future AI-disruption of the labor market, all while still showing up every single day for senior year. But you, know what? …my kid and OneGoal kiddos are going to be alright. Ash found his home in Mizzou, and like him, the vast majority of OneGoal kids are defying the odds and entering a pathway to opportunity.
Supporting Students
Through Major Life Transitions
And yet, before they do, they must sit in the liminal space between senior year and what’s next. It is a stretch of time colored by a range of emotions, more questions than answers, and every decision feeling more consequential than the last. It is a time when “the ground has shifted, but not yet solidified.” After nearly two decades of supporting students in this transition, we have learned that this moment for young people requires them to:
- create opportunities to slow down, center themselves, and anchor in their purpose and values,
- increase their reflection and introspection to be more intentional about their decisions,
- and connect with community to help provide the hope and optimism required to be bold and courageous in their next steps.
Pausing to Prepare
for System-Wide Impact
There is something analogous that the entire world is feeling right now. The rapid pace of technological evolution in an AI-driven labor market and shifting economic and political dynamics are enough to produce the sense that we are preparing for a new reality on several fronts, putting us all in a liminal space. As the CEO of OneGoal, I am committed to doing the hard work of using the liminal space in the same way we would expect of our young people, so we can best achieve our mission in a dynamic environment.
As I prepare to send my firstborn off to college and as we launch a strategy at OneGoal that goes beyond individual classrooms and begins to address the gaps in student preparation in partnership with entire school systems, I, too, must center myself. I will be taking my first professional sabbatical in July and August to do just that, and I am confident I will return at the start of the school year as an even bolder, more courageous leader.
Finding Hope
and Solace in Change
I hope that you all (and my son) find some solace in whatever liminal space we find ourselves in, knowing that something new and better will take shape. Because of your belief in us and your commitment to young people, I know that we will all soon see the day when all young people feel clear, confident, and cared for in their pursuit of economic opportunity.
Melissa Connelly is the Chief Executive Officer of OneGoal. As a first-generation college graduate, Melissa’s path to and through college was not easy. She started high school in a truancy program, but with the support of caring educators, she went on to obtain three college degrees with a 4.0 GPA. Melissa has spent more than 15 years in education, leveraging her experiences, empathy, and drive to make certain her accomplishments are not an anomaly but the norm for underserved youth.
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