Mya Andersen

I’m Mya Andersen, founder of The Student Empowered and an Academic Life Coach for college students.

Most students don’t struggle because they aren’t capable. They struggle because no one ever taught them how college actually works.

With over 20 years in higher education, I help students navigate the transition to college by building the systems, strategies, and skills they need to succeed. From managing academic expectations and communicating with professors to making decisions and following through, I help students move from overwhelmed and reactive to clear, structured, and in control.

Many students feel overwhelmed, unstructured, or unsure how to succeed once they’re on their own. Transitioning to college can feel like a big shift — full of new freedoms, responsibilities, and unwritten expectations. Students often struggle not because they aren’t capable, but because they don’t know what they don’t know.

My coaching philosophy is simple: I’m the map, not the GPS. I don’t give step-by-step directions. I help students understand how college works so they can navigate it independently with confidence.

My work focuses on college transition, academic systems, priority management, self-advocacy, and communication.

As a first-generation college graduate, I understand how confusing higher education can be without a roadmap. My experience across admissions, advising, and student success has shown me where students struggle and how the right support makes a difference.

My work is not tutoring or therapy. I focus on the hidden curriculum of college — the expectations and systems students are expected to know but are rarely taught.

If your student is capable but overwhelmed or unsure how to navigate college, I can help them build the structure and confidence to succeed.