Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Rising.
Hi Maria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Rising Project: My Journey from Passion to Purpose Born on a small rural farm in Clayton, Michigan, surrounded by cows, chickens, and horses, I grew up immersed in the natural world. My childhood was spent riding horses, tending to animals, and learning about the land. These humble beginnings shaped my values, instilling a deep work ethic and a connection to the things I loved—nature, animals, and the pursuit of meaningful work.
As a first-generation college student, going to college, let alone pursuing a master’s degree, felt like an impossible dream. My parents didn’t attend college, and the idea of advanced education was unfamiliar in my community. I had to pave my own way, but I had the support of key people who saw potential in me. During my undergraduate years, I built relationships and a strong community around me, and through their guidance, I worked hard, eventually achieving what once seemed impossible—earning a master’s degree.
It was during my master’s program that I experienced my first entrepreneurial success. While juggling coursework and expenses, I discovered a unique opportunity. On weekends, I began working as a horse judge, evaluating youth competitions. Nearly every weekend, I traveled to different competitions, where I could earn income while staying connected to my passion for horses. This experience not only allowed me to fund my studies but also taught me the importance of pursuing work that aligns with your passions.
Around this time, I also launched my first official business endeavor: turning the spare rooms in my apartment into an Airbnb. The extra income allowed me to focus more on my studies and less on working long hours in traditional jobs. It was a creative solution that made my academic goals feel more achievable and gave me more control over my time—a theme that would continue throughout my life.
After completing my master’s, I still never dreamed of pursuing a PhD. The master’s program itself had seemed unreal, but through the relationships I built and the community of mentors and peers, I was encouraged to apply. It was through this community and hard work that I eventually entered a PhD program—something I had never envisioned for myself.
As I delved deeper into PhD life, I found immense joy in intellectual conversations, research, and mentoring others. My academic career took off, and two years into the PhD program, I landed my dream job as an academic editor and research methods coach at Michigan State University. I was living my dream, combining my love for learning with a passion for helping others reach their potential.
However, in November 2021, life took an unexpected turn. I suffered a stroke while working on a grant application during Thanksgiving weekend. I had left my family’s gathering early, prioritizing my academic career, and suddenly, in an instant, everything changed. Lying in a hospital bed, unable to speak or move, I realized how fragile life is. My professional goals and achievements no longer seemed important. What I longed for most was connection—to see my family again, to ride my horse one more time, and to enjoy the simple joys of life that I had often put on hold for the sake of my career.
My recovery was slow. I had to relearn how to speak, and even see clearly, as the stroke damaged the nerves controlling my eye movements. For months, I saw two of everything. MSU did not renew my contract as I was still recovering, leaving me devastated. I had worked tirelessly for nearly a decade to build my academic career, and it was gone. I was faced not only with the physical and mental trauma of a stroke but also with the loss of the career I had built.
But this time of great difficulty also became a time of profound transformation. Without the demands of a traditional job, I filled my schedule with the things I craved—connection, travel, and support for others facing medical trauma. I realized that I didn’t miss my academic life as much as I thought I would; instead, I felt a deep calling to help others, particularly those facing life-changing events like mine.
One day, while sitting in a coffee shop in Idaho, where I had traveled to visit Glacier National Park, a stranger asked what I did for work. I hesitated. What did I do? I wasn’t employed in the traditional sense anymore. I explained how I was helping people on social media, assisting with research trials, and writing grants. The stranger’s response? “So you’re a consultant?” That moment was a revelation for me. It clicked. The Rising Project, LLC, was born.
I realized that all the skills and experiences I had developed over the years—whether through academic editing, research support, or social media sharing—could be used to help others meet their goals. Whether it was applying to college or grants, developing leadership or team-building skills, or managing large projects, I had the ability to guide others. But The Rising Project also became a creative space, where I could explore my artistic side, teaching others the joy of creation through art and DIY projects.
Another key aspect of The Rising Project is the world of social media. I had always shared extensively about my horse life—being a judge, competing, and connecting with the equestrian community. But after the stroke, my social media presence transformed. I started sharing everything—my huge plant collection, DIY projects, art, and my recovery journey. People resonated with my authenticity, and my accounts grew rapidly. Before I knew it, I was doing brand deals, and managing multiple social media accounts about plants, pets, PhD life, and wellness. These platforms became another vital part of The Rising Project, showing that creativity and personal connection could be a powerful tool for both healing and business growth.
Today, The Rising Project is thriving. I work with 75+ students a month, assisting with writing for college applications and scholarships. I consult for local businesses, helping with marketing, grant proposals, and social media management. The Rising Project allows me to combine my skills, my passion for helping others, and my creative outlets into one cohesive business. It’s my love story—of rediscovering life after trauma, finding purpose, and continuously rising above the challenges that come my way.
THE IDEA BEHIND THE NAME
The Rising Project got its name from something deeply personal and meaningful to me—my last name, Rising. Many people assume it’s a chosen or symbolic name, but it’s actually my real last name, and I’ve always adored it for what it represents. It symbolizes my constant path forward, a reflection of growth, progress, and resilience in all aspects of life. Additionally, my middle name is Rose, which is another name I love for its uplifting nature and connection to plants, a passion of mine.
The idea behind The Rising Project stems from a major shift in how I view my journey. For a long time, I focused my career goals on what I worked for, who I worked for, or the tangible outcomes of projects, papers, and achievements. But after my life took an unexpected turn with my health, I realized that the most important investment I could make was in myself. I am not just working on a specific project or helping someone else achieve their goals—I’m constantly evolving, and the biggest project I’m working on is me. This was a profound revelation for me.
The word “Project” in the name represents this notion of continuous improvement. I’m never going to be “finished,” and I’ve come to embrace that. There will always be more to learn, more ways to grow, and more paths to explore—even if there are detours or bumps along the way. I see this not as a limitation, but as something beautiful and exciting. The idea of always having a path forward, no matter the circumstances, is a powerful motivator for me.
But The Rising Project isn’t just about my personal growth. Through focusing on my own journey, I’ve learned how to elevate others in the process. It’s about helping others achieve their own goals, find their own path, and rise in their own ways. By investing in myself, I can create a space where others are part of the Rising, sharing in the journey of growth and accomplishment, each on their own unique path forward.
Milestones and Important Details of My Journey
• Childhood in Clayton, MI
o Born on a small rural farm in Clayton, Michigan
o Grew up surrounded by animals: cows, chickens, and horses
o Developed a strong work ethic and connection to nature
o First-generation college student with no immediate family experience in higher education
• Undergraduate Years
o Hard work and building relationships helped me thrive in college
o Key mentors saw potential in me, encouraging me to pursue more than I ever dreamed
o Through this network, I developed an interest in helping others achieve their goals
• Master’s Degree
o Never dreamed of pursuing a master’s degree, but earned it through perseverance and community support
o Began my first entrepreneurial endeavor during my master’s by becoming a horse judge
Judged youth competitions nearly every weekend
Allowed me to stay connected to my passion for horses while funding my education
o Launched my second entrepreneurial venture by turning spare rooms in my apartment into an Airbnb
Helped reduce financial stress and allowed me more time to focus on my studies
• PhD Program
o Entered a PhD program through guidance from mentors and my desire to expand my impact
o Discovered a love for intellectual conversations and research, further expanding my community
o Landed my dream job two years into the PhD as an academic editor and research methods coach at Michigan State University
• Stroke and Health Crisis (November 2021)
o Suffered a stroke while working on a grant application during Thanksgiving weekend
o Realized during recovery that my career goals no longer seemed important compared to connection with loved ones
o Recovery was slow, affecting my ability to work due to impaired vision
o MSU did not renew my contract, which left me devastated and forced me to reevaluate my life
• Transformation After the Stroke
o Used my open schedule to focus on connection, travel, and supporting others facing medical traumas
o Helped an EEG company with marketing materials, boosting client engagement
o Discovered a new passion for supporting others in diverse ways, leading to various contract roles
o Realized I enjoyed consulting, which led to the birth of The Rising Project, LLC
• The Rising Project, LLC
o Launched in 2021 as a consulting firm focused on helping others meet their goals
Services include college application writing, grant writing, leadership development, team-building, and project management
Creative space where I can make art and teach others to explore their creativity
o Thrives today, working with 75+ students a month on college applications and scholarships
o Also assists local businesses with marketing, grant proposals, and social media management
• Evolution of Social Media
o Originally shared extensively about my horse life as a judge and equestrian
o After the stroke, social media became an outlet for recovery, sharing about:
Plant collection
DIY projects
Art and wellness
o My social media presence grew, leading to brand deals and managing accounts about plants, pets, PhD life, and wellness
• Current Role as an Entrepreneur and Consultant
o Continue to grow The Rising Project as a platform to help others achieve their goals
o Focus on maintaining balance between personal wellness, creativity, and business success
o Deeply passionate about helping others rise to their potential
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
• Stroke and Health Crisis (November 2021) o Suffered a stroke while working on a grant application during Thanksgiving weekend
o Realized during recovery that my career goals no longer seemed important compared to connection with loved ones
o Recovery was slow, affecting my ability to work due to impaired vision
o MSU did not renew my contract, which left me devastated and forced me to reevaluate my life
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Specializations:
Project management & leadership development: Helping clients organize and manage large-scale projects.
Writing & editing: Supporting high school students with college essays, doctoral students and faculty with grant writing, and businesses with marketing copy and strategic content.
Art creation & workshops: Offering spaces and workshops to foster creativity and empower others through artistic expression.
Entrepreneurial Ventures:
Horse judging: My first entrepreneurial endeavor was becoming a horse judge, evaluating youth competitions nearly every weekend during my Master’s program.
Horses and my competitive and creative endeavors are something that I am truly proud of and also ground me
Airbnb business: I launched an Airbnb from my apartment during grad school, allowing me to focus more on my studies while reducing work hours.
Social Media Presence:
What started as a creative outlet during my recovery from a stroke grew into managing multiple social media accounts, including those focused on plants, pets, wellness, and my journey as a PhD student.
Brand partnerships have allowed me to turn my passion for sharing tips and inspiration into a business.
I love the creative projects, educational plant videos, and spreading of my animal joys on TikTok @therisingproject
Proud Accomplishments:
Building The Rising Project from the ground up, transforming it from a personal recovery journey into a thriving business that helps clients with everything from college applications to business marketing.
Growing a social media community centered on creativity, wellness, and life as a PhD student.
building so many communities as an academic, artist, teacher, and horse enthusiast and being albe to merge some of those communities and help so many people
Any big plans?
happiness, growth, and following my opportunities!
Keeping in posting joy an educational content
Expanding the rising project beyond just myself
Contact Info:
- Website: https://therisingproject.my.canva.site/creator
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therisingproject42?igsh=ZXIxOG5nbGQ1bWU3&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maria.rising?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Twitter: https://www.tiktok.com/@therisingproject?_t=8qM56c9EMEI&_r=1
- Youtube: https://www.tiktok.com/@tirzepatidetales?_t=8qM56BuAjF5&_r=1
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/tirzepatidetales?igsh=MWhkaHBxYXVrZ3Zqdw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
