The Gift Center

💜 Founder's Corner with Larissa Jean

To the parents of students preparing to enter high school for the very first time:
This summer marks the beginning of a brand-new chapter. High school brings new opportunities, responsibilities, friendships, and challenges.

My encouragement is simple: focus on helping your student build confidence before they ever walk through the doors.

- Confidence comes from knowing who they are.
- Confidence comes from understanding their gifts.
- Confidence comes from knowing they are loved by God and created with purpose.

The most successful students are not always the smartest students. They are often the students who know their value and believe they can overcome obstacles.
Use this summer to have meaningful conversations, pray together, and encourage your scholar to dream big.

The future is bright.

🏆 Still Celebrating... and Still Giving God the Glory!

As we continue celebrating 5 incredible years of The Gift Center Leadership Academy, we are honored to be recognized as a Best of Gwinnett winner! What began as a vision during a challenging season has grown into a thriving community dedicated to helping students discover their gifts, strengthen their faith, and confidently pursue their purpose.

This recognition belongs to every parent who trusted us, every student who showed up ready to learn, every mentor who poured into our scholars, and every supporter who believed in our mission.

Five years later, we're just getting started.

As we prepare to welcome our next cohort and begin our 6th year of service, we are excited about what God has in store. New students. New opportunities. New stories of growth, leadership, and transformation.

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, prayers, and partnership. The best is yet to come!

✨ Here's to Year 6 and the next generation of leaders.

🎓 Rising Seniors: The Summer Before It All Begins
Believe it or not, your scholar's senior year is right around the corner. While summer is a time to relax and recharge, it's also one of the best opportunities to get ahead.

Here are three things every rising senior should do this summer:
✅ Create a list of colleges, trade schools, or career paths to explore
✅ Begin researching scholarships and financial aid opportunities
✅ Start drafting a resume of leadership, service, work experience, and accomplishments

The students who prepare during the summer often experience less stress and more confidence throughout their senior year.

At The Gift Center, we help students discover their gifts, create a plan for their future, and navigate the next steps with purpose and clarity.
📅 Schedule a consultation with Founder Larissa Jean and start preparing today.

Monday Manna | June 22
📖 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." — Ephesians 2:10

Your scholar was created with purpose. Summer is a wonderful time to discover gifts, passions, and talents that may shape one's future calling.

Encourage exploration, creativity, and faith-filled conversations.
Contact us for more information!
https://www.thegiftcenter1816.com/contact

Summer Isn't a Pause—It's Preparation

📖 Scripture:
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans."
— Proverbs 16:3

Summer often feels like a season to relax—and it should be! But it can also be a powerful season of preparation.

For rising juniors and seniors, the habits built this summer can shape opportunities in the year ahead. Whether your scholar is exploring career interests, preparing for college applications, or discovering their God-given gifts, every small step matters.

At The Gift Center, we believe preparation and faith go hand in hand. When we invite God into the planning process, He provides direction, wisdom, and confidence for the journey ahead.
https://www.thegiftcenter1816.com/contact
✨ Parent Challenge:
Ask your scholar one question this week:
"What gifts has God given you that you want to develop this year?"

📅 The future doesn't begin in senior year—it begins with intentional steps today.

My heart is FULL, my cup is RUNNING OVER, and I remain SPEECHLESS at the goodness of God!! Today, we celebrated The Gift Center 's
5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY with our 2025-2026 Cohort!!🎊🎉👩🏽‍🎓👨🏽‍🎓😍💕💃🤗👑🎁✨️🙌🏾🎊

This is truly the Lord's doing and it is MARVELOUS in our eyes!! Today's Graduation Celebration marked FIVE YEARS of equipping the next generation of gifted Kingdom scholar leaders to discover their gift, sharpen their gift, operate in their gift, and steward their gift for the GLORY OF GOD!! This milestone would not be possible without God's grace & mercy, our phenomenal families, our outstanding scholars, and the loving support of The Gift Center community!

For every guest speaker over these past five years who planted seeds in the lives of each cohort, we thank you!

For every community leader who believed in this vision and has supported this work since our inaugural cohort, WE THANK YOU!

For our generous donars who have sown financially towards the vision and mission of the Gift Center, WE THANK YOU!

For our Gift Center families who entrust us with the joy of partnering alongside you and your gifted learners, we HONOR you and LOVE YOU deeply!

To the BEST TEAM on this side of HEAVEN Rose Jean and Bridgette Rooks --YOU REMAIN ANSWERED PRAYERS and treasured gifts in my life!! So thankful to God for the gift of being on this journey together!! The Father is just getting started!! From the bottom of my heart- I LOVE YOU!!!

To our circle of prayer warriors that have interceded since day one for this assignment concerning the next generation of Josephs, Daniels, Esthers, Deborahs, Davids, and Joshuas, whew! Words escape me...THANK YOU for standing in the gap for The Gift Center! We love and honor you more than words can express. Thank you for your prayers!!!

Last but not least, we are ESTATIC how God has made a dream in our heart a reality! Today, Gift Center was able to award our first Senior Scholar with a $1,000 scholarship!!👨🏽‍🎓✨️👩🏽‍🎓🎊ALL GLORY TO GOD!!🙌🏾💃🤗 Our goal is to bless every Gift Center senior with a scholarship for college expenses! We are overjoyed to sow into the next generation of Kingdom scholar leaders!

Today was a day of both grace and gratitude! We are on the edge of our seat for all that the Lord will do next!! Congratulations to the Gift Center 2025-2026 Cohort!

Thank you Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey Copeland and the Georgia Christian Business Network family for the opportunity to share on the Noon Day Nugget platform today! It is always an honor!

Catch the replay here👇🏾 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EBUPfKdrX/

TOMORROW at Noon EST!

Join us for First Friday Noon Nugget featuring Larissa Jean!

Larissa Dayana Jean is an educator, author, licensed minister, and founder of The Gift Center, dedicated to equipping students and young leaders with the tools they need to thrive in purpose, leadership, and faith.

Hear Larissa unpack:
"SHIFT into 2nd Gear: How Alignment Determines Movement"

If you've been feeling stuck, uncertain, or ready for your next level, this conversation is for you. Discover how proper alignment can accelerate your progress and position you for what God has next.

Join us LIVE in the GCBN Facebook Group at Noon EST!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GCBNetwork

It's graduation season at The Gift Center for our Year FIVE Cohort!! 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉We cannot wait to celebrate our phenomenal gifted Kingdom scholars this week! As the 2025 Best of Winner in the area of Special and Unique options for gifted learners, we are also celebrating God's faithfulness to the Gift Center and the support of our amazing community. We thank God for you!💜🙏🏽 👩🏽‍🎓👨🏽‍🎓🎉