Meet Tonica Johnson of Cardinal College Planning

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonica Johnson

Hi Tonica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I am someone who attributes who I am today to my upbringing. I know that my parents did the best they could with what they had, but it definitely wasn’t sunshine and rainbows. My family struggled financially, which caused a lot of stress. I witnessed many things I wish I hadn’t liked the sad cycles of addiction and abuse. However, there was a great silver lining in all of this. When I sometimes didn’t want to hurry home, I found myself finding reasons to stay after school with my teachers. I was fortunate enough to have them see something in me that pushed me to be very driven in my academics. I’m not sure exactly how or when it happened, but at some point, I remember feeling like education was going to be my ticket to a better future. Neither of my parents graduated high school, but I was determined to go to college and become a teacher like my role models. And I did just that- I not only worked to earn one degree, but 3, by the time I was 23! I also taught English at a Cleveland high school, my dream job. Over the years of teaching, I particularly enjoyed mentoring students about their futures and encouraging them to build resiliency while overcoming obstacles in their lives as I had. Students began to come to me about their plans for college and were overwhelmed by the process. Like me, many of my students were first-generation and had no one to guide them with all of their decisions, from choosing a school to figuring out how to pay for it. I fell in love with guiding my students through their college planning journey and began teaching a course at the school to help them with just that. After a couple of years of doing that, I decided to go for a massive life change! I packed up and left Cleveland, where I had spent my whole life, and moved out to Colorado to begin a new chapter and start my college planning business!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think if anyone tells you that starting and running a business came without struggles, they’re definitely not being honest! It is downright HARD. For me specifically, I had no background in anything business-related- marketing, sales, taxes, legalities, none of it! The amount of webinars, workshops, podcasts, books, coaching, you name it I’ve done to set myself up for success is more than I can remember. I have a very serving heart and just want to help people. The first free event I tried to put on to teach families about the ins and outs of the college planning process had ONE person RSVP… I was devastated. I thought everyone would want this information! However, it’s just not that simple. I’ve had to learn how to advertise and network, something teachers don’t really have to do. Another challenge for me was that I moved here shortly before COVID hit, knowing only two people. So, I didn’t already have a group of people that I knew and had to figure out how to promote a brand new business in very uncertain times. However, just like so many others, I learned how to be flexible and open-minded with my practices. In the end, I have met some of the most incredible, supportive people who have helped me so much both personally and professionally!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cardinal College Planning?
I created Cardinal College Planning to help students and their families in the college selection process. College is one of the largest investments a family will make, so the stress that comes with making the right decision is understandable! I still remember feeling SO lost as I researched colleges and tried to keep all of the requirements and deadlines straight. It’s quite simply not an easy undertaking, and my goal is to ease the anxiety and makes the process as enjoyable as possible for everyone involved. Something I am most proud of is my ability to counsel families to think of the process differently. Many people focus on the “name brand” schools, but there’s really no proof that there is a direct correlation between where you go to college and your “success” later. Also, there are literally thousands of colleges- many schools, as long as they engage with their professors and fellow students, reach out for, or creates opportunities, can be a dream school. A special passion of mine is helping families understand the affordability piece. People know that college is expensive, but I don’t think they always realize that there are a ton of strategies to help make it more affordable. When I’m able to show them the ins and outs of how to maximize their financial aid, it brings me so much joy to see their gratitude and realize that schools that they thought were out of budget can actually be a reality for them! I offer flexible packages to meet families where they’re at- both in the process and their budget! I can help with anything from major/career and standardized testing guidance to analyzing financial aid packages and making the final college decision. My goal is to help every student end up at the school that is the best fit for them- academically, financially, and socially.

What’s next?
My plans for the future are just to keep expanding and improving! I am looking into creating a few courses and group programs where I can hopefully help even more families at a reduced price point. Something I’ve also been thinking of lately is expanding services to be able to accommodate those students who aren’t interested in the “traditional” route. While I think college has many benefits, including personal growth, critical thinking development, gaining independence, etc., I definitely don’t think it’s for everyone. I would love to also help the students who are looking into other options and help them figure out what the best path is for them, too!

Contact Info:

• Email: tjohnson@cardinalcollegeplanning.com
• Website: www.cardinalcollegeplanning.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardinalcollegeplanning/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cardinalcollegeplanning