EP 15: My Mom Didn't Finish College & Built a Successful Business Anyway | Is College Actually Necessary?

EP 15: My Mom Didn't Finish College & Built a Successful Business Anyway | Is College Actually Necessary?

Harper is back with her mom Tera — and this time they're tackling the big one. Do you actually need a college degree to be successful? Or is that just something everyone says because it's what everyone does? Tera went to college, felt completely lost, dropped out, built a hair salon from the ground up, and then went back to school at 50 — on her own terms. And she has a lot to say about the pressure put on teenagers to figure out the rest of their lives before they're even old enough to rent a car. This isn't an anti-college episode. It's an honest one. We talk about: * Tera's real college experience — the pressure, the confusion, and leaving * How she built a successful salon without finishing her degree * Whether happiness or a diploma should come first * What parents should actually say when their kid doesn't want to go to college * The societal pressure around college and why it's worth questioning * What real-world experience can teach you that a classroom can't * Debt vs. a degree vs. building something yourself — the honest breakdown Sometimes the unconventional path is the one that actually makes sense. If you're feeling the pressure to follow a path that doesn't feel right — or you're a parent trying to figure out how to support a kid who thinks differently — this conversation is going to hit. Drop your thoughts in the comments. 👇

EP 14: I Changed My Mind About College & I'm Not Sorry | Choosing Your Own Path After High School

A few months ago Harper was all in on college. Now? She's questioning everything — and she's talking about it out loud. In this episode of Rarely Said, Harper gets honest about why the traditional college path stopped feeling right for her, what she actually wants her life to look like, and why success doesn't have to come with a diploma and a mountain of debt attached to it. This isn't about telling you not to go to college. It's about giving yourself permission to actually think about whether it's right for you. We talk about: * Why Harper changed her mind about college almost overnight * The pressure to follow everyone else's path after high school * Real alternatives — podcasting, cosmetology, entrepreneurship, community college * Why student debt scared her more than starting over * Her mom Tera's story — hair school first, degree at 50, successful salon owner * What it looks like to build something on your own terms Your path doesn't have to look like everyone else's to be valid. If you've ever felt judged for not fitting the college mold — or just quietly wondered if there's another way — this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air. Drop your thoughts in the comments. 👇

EP 13: When You're Not Sad But You're Not Happy Either | The In-Between Feeling

Not sad. Not happy. Just... there. Harper is talking about one of the most disorienting feelings she's experienced — the in-between. That weird emotional flatness where nothing is technically wrong, but nothing feels fully real either. Like you're watching your own life happen from a few steps away. She's been there. She talked to her therapist and her mom Tera about it. And this episode is her sharing what she learned. We talk about: * What the "in-between" actually feels like and why it's so hard to explain * Why emotional numbness can be just as uncomfortable as sadness * Simple things that actually help — sun, beach walks, stillness * What it means to be present with yourself when you feel disconnected * Normalizing the days that aren't high or low — just quiet Not every day has to feel like something. Sometimes neutral is where the healing happens. If you've ever felt disconnected from yourself and didn't know how to name it — this episode is going to feel like someone finally said it out loud. Share this with someone who needs to hear it. 👇

EP 12: Why I Stopped Partying in High School | Choosing Goals Over the Weekend Scene

She used to be the life of the party. Then she got alcohol poisoning at a festival. And everything shifted. Harper is being completely honest in this episode — about what partying actually looked like, what it cost her, and the moment she realized that the version of her life she actually wanted didn't include any of it. This isn't a lecture. It's just her story, and what came after. We talk about: * What freshman and sophomore year party culture actually looks like * The moment that made Harper rethink everything * Why partying can feel exciting but leave you feeling empty * Choosing deep friendships over big crowds * What her life has looked like since — grades, goals, clarity The highlight reel looks fun. The reality is a different conversation. If you've ever felt pressured to show up to things that don't actually make you happy — or wondered if it's okay to just opt out — this episode is for you. Let us know in the comments where you're at with this.

EP 11: Outgrowing Friends Who Are Still Around | When Friendships Change in High School

What do you do when you haven't had a falling out — you've just... grown apart? Harper gets into one of the quietest, most confusing feelings in high school: outgrowing someone who's still right there. No drama. No big fight. Just two people slowly becoming different versions of themselves and realizing their paths aren't really going the same direction anymore. It happens. And nobody really talks about it. We talk about: * Outgrowing friendships without any drama or conflict * Why people drift apart even when nothing "goes wrong" * Cherishing old memories without holding onto something that's changed * Finding people who actually match where you're going * Why it's okay to let things fizzle — and why that doesn't make you a bad friend Growing up means some friendships evolve. Some fade. Both are allowed. If you've ever felt guilty for outgrowing someone who didn't do anything wrong — this episode is going to make you feel a lot less alone. Drop a comment if you've been here too. 👇