“We really are all in this together,” said Monique Coleman as she ended her inspiring conversation at the Student Union Theatre on Monday, Sept. 8, for Student Health and Wellness’s Suicide Prevention Week. Coleman is an award-winning actress best known for her role as Taylor McKessie in the “High School Musical” movie series, but she’s also an incredible advocate for mental health who came to the University of Connecticut to share her story with others.
The event started with a brief introduction by SHaW and SUBOG, followed by an introduction by Monique Coleman. “I know many of you know me from ‘High School Musical’, but my story doesn’t start there,” Coleman began.
From the start, she was vulnerable about her struggles in life. She spoke of breaking her femur at the age of five and having to relearn how to walk — an early life experience that taught her how quickly things can change. Coleman talked about how she was bullied relentlessly in middle school, being shoved in lockers and constantly feeling both lonely and isolated.
“The opening speech was what grabbed my attention,” said Liya Edwards, a third-semester biological sciences major. “I was taking notes and writing down the quotes she said. People may think that she’s a star, but in reality, she’s just a person, and I think her just being so real and vulnerable with telling us her story really touched home for me and got me thinking about my own life.”
Coleman described her college years as a period filled with “mental gymnastics.” Her college was competitive, and she felt pressure trying to fight for her spot.
“In the 90s, mental health wasn’t talked about,” she said. “I was taught that girls should be seen and not heard. So, this moment is healing for me as well.”
After returning home from filming “High School Musical,” Coleman found a three-day eviction notice taped to her door. While her castmates moved on to new opportunities, she struggled to land auditions. She mentions being proud of her castmates, but when thinking about herself, she felt punished and like she wasn’t enough. Coleman then moved on to four lessons that she wanted to share with the crowd.
It is ok not to be ok
“I used to think struggling meant I was failing.” Coleman reminded the audience here that we are all human and struggling is normal.
Rejection is protection
“For a long time, I thought rejection meant there was something inherently wrong with me,” she said. “But sometimes the things we don’t get are the things that aren’t meant for us.”
Trust yourself — even through the hard stuff
Coleman opened up about a personal betrayal. After launching a production company with a friend, she had her identity stolen and money embezzled by this friend—ironically, during the same period she received an Emmy nomination. “Everything was falling apart behind the scenes, but I had decided not to take legal action and began trusting myself again,” she said.
Give yourself permission to pause
After separating from her husband, Coleman found herself starting over in her 40s. She described writing affirmations on the beach, letting go of her ego, and asking the universe for one thing: “To be surprised and delighted.” Days later she received a collaboration that changed her life. She journaled about this experience only to realize that the date marked exactly one year since separating from her husband. Coleman teared up before telling the crowd, “I realized that my life was just starting.”
The event concluded with a brief Q&A session, where students asked Coleman about her travel experiences, how she thinks the industry has changed for Black women and her mental health routines.
“I think the Q and A section stood out to me,” said Dayna Mbugua, a third-semester molecular and cell biology major. “It reminded me once again that you don’t know what everyone’s going through, so don’t judge them. Not everyone knows what I’m going through, so don’t judge me.”
Monique Coleman’s visit to UConn was more than a celebrity appearance — it was a reminder that vulnerability is strength, and healing is possible.