Maria Lorena
You do not have to have your whole life figured out.
You just need to figure out what's next.
I help young adults navigate life's crossroads, reconnect with what they truly want, and turn that clarity into an intentional plan for what's next.
For students & young adults who are:
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Figuring out what comes next
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Choosing a college, major, or career
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Feeling stuck, uncertain, or ready for more
You were never supposed to have it all figured out.
Today's world places an enormous amount of pressure on young people to have their lives figured out before they've even had the chance to discover who they are.
At 18, you're expected to choose a college, a major, and a career path. Then you're supposed to graduate, find a good job, become financially independent, and somehow know exactly what you want your life to look like.
Meanwhile, the economy is changing, the job market can be unpredictable, and the definition of a "good career" doesn't always translate into a life that feels good.
And somewhere along the way, it's easy to lose yourself in the process.
Maybe you're following a path your family envisioned for you. Maybe you're checking all the boxes because that's what you've been taught success looks like. Maybe life has simply kept moving so quickly that you haven't had the time or space to stop and ask:
Who am I? What do I actually want? And who do I want to become?
You might know that something needs to change. You might have a dream you've pushed aside. Or you might genuinely have no idea what you want—and that's okay, too.
You don't need to have your entire life figured out. You need the space to pause, reconnect with yourself, and figure out what comes next.
YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE YOURS.
Your future doesn't have to look like anyone else's.
You get to decide what you're building.
Listen to yourself
Find clarity
Think intentionally
Take the next step
Honor your heart. Make a plan. Build a life that's yours.
About Maria.
Your life should be yours.
Maria is a solar developer, speaker, and lifelong learner who believes we can be ambitious about our futures without forgetting to enjoy the lives we're building.
Professionally, Maria works in clean energy, supporting the development of solar projects across the United States. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business with a minor in Environmental Policy.
Maria arrived in the United States from Venezuela at 15 without speaking English and had to learn how to navigate a new country and an unfamiliar education system. She worked hard to create opportunities for herself, earning scholarships, graduating high school with honors and college credits, and working throughout college to help fund her education. By 21, she had graduated from the University of South Florida debt-free and with a clear sense that she could create opportunities even when she didn't have all the answers.
Helping young people find their own path has become an important part of Maria's journey. She has served as a speaker and mentor with Futuro Nashville and the Smithsonian Latino Center’s Young Ambassadors Program, returning in 2024 and 2025 to mentor incoming college freshmen.
Outside of work, Maria is a former professional flamenco dancer who finds joy in movement, creativity, travel, and learning about different cultures and traditions. She is especially inspired by the connections we discover across languages and cultures.
Maria believes you get to dream boldly, choose intentionally, and build a life that feels like your own
Coaching and Mentorship
1:1 COACHING
A space to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and get clear on what you want and what to do next.
Whether you're facing a big decision, questioning your current path, starting something new, or simply feeling stuck, we'll work together to understand where you are, explore what's possible, and create a path forward that feels like yours.
THE NEXT STEP SESSION
45-minute 1:1 coaching session
Come with a question, a decision, a dream, or simply a feeling that you're ready for something different.
You don't need to have the answers before we begin. That's what we're here to explore.
You’ll leave with:
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More clarity about what you want
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A better understanding of your options
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A decision or direction to explore
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A practical next step
Maria's Talks.
I help students overcome adversity and navigate life transitions so that they can develop resiliency and clarity to crush their goals.
What Makes You Feel Alive?
You Don’t Need Permission to Dance
We have never had more ways to stay connected—and yet so many of us feel disconnected from ourselves. We are constantly informed, entertained, stimulated, and expected to keep going. Somewhere between the notifications, responsibilities, and pressure to be productive, we can forget how to simply be present and enjoy being alive.
In this inspiring and energetic keynote, Maria uses her personal journey with dance to explore how movement can help us slow down, reconnect with ourselves, and make room for joy and play. Through storytelling and an interactive experience, she invites audiences to step out of their heads, get back into their bodies, and rediscover what makes them feel alive.
Audience members will leave inspired to create more space for joy, movement, and presence in their everyday lives—and reminded that they don't need permission to enjoy being human.
Because you don’t need permission to dance—you just need to give yourself permission to feel alive.
Navigating College: Discover Your Passion, Map Your Future
In this inspiring talk, students will be challenged to think creatively and strategically about their career goals while taking full advantage of their college years. Students will learn strategies to analyze the different career outcomes related to their major, understand their options, and start designing what their future looks like.
Maria encourages the students to connect with multiple life passions and values while maintaining practicality to create their unique paths with confidence.
Building Resilience: Overcoming Hardships with Grace and Determination
Life is full of unexpected challenges, but our ability to rise above them defines our success. In this inspiring keynote, we will explore how to cultivate resilience, adapt to difficulties, and push through obstacles with grace and determination.
Through a blend of personal stories and research-backed strategies, we will first identify the goals we strive for and the obstacles standing in our way. We'll then dive into practical approaches for building confidence, navigating hardships, and finding creative solutions when faced with adversity. Attendees will learn how to embrace adaptability, tap into their resourcefulness, and develop a strong support system to sustain them through difficult times.
This talk is designed to empower high school and college students to take control of their journey, shift their mindset, and develop the drive necessary to achieve their dreams. Because in the face of adversity, resilience is not just about surviving—it’s about thriving.
Maria Morales is a Venezuelan immigrant that shares her experience and life lessons in resiliency, grit, and achieving goals in a difficult environment.
Amidst life’s unique challenges, Maria is a passionate and energetic speaker that encourages others to do the best that they can within their life circumstances and be driven by purpose oriented goals. As a Venezuelan immigrant that fled with her family in her teenage years and a decade of hard-earned lessons living in the United States, Maria shares life lessons of resiliency, purpose, and overcoming obstacles to encourage first generation students to make the best out of their time in college and position themselves for success post-graduation. Maria graduated Cum Laude, debt-free, and without federal financial aid with a Bachelors of Science from the University of South Florida and is currently working in the Solar Energy industry. With humility, hard work, and determination, Maria has learned to take advantage of the opportunities presented in her life and wishes to inspire others to live their most fulfilling lives.
Maria helps the audience find clarity within unexpected life transitions by encouraging the practice of purpose driven goal setting that withstands the ups and downs of life.
"Maria is empathetic and kind when she speaks in an auditorium. She is very knowledgeable on the topic and communicates in an easy going way that makes you want to know more and more! Thank you, Maria, for sharing the wisdom of a teacher while speaking to us like a friend."
Paola Salazar
Let's Connect.
I help students overcome adversity and navigate life transitions so that they can develop resiliency and clarity to crush their goals.
386-344-4679