Also known as “Mr. Real Estate”, Jay Morrison is a high school dropout and an ex-felon. But Morrison has not let these factors keep him from becoming successful. A CEO of his own business and multimillionaire before the age of 30, Morrison has successfully turned his life around and is determined to help others do the same.

According to his website, jaymorrisonacademy.com, “Jay made it his mission since the beginning of his journey to teach the value of wealth building, home ownership and financial literacy to those who were historically not provided this critical information.” With his newly published book, Hip Hop 2 Home Owners, he emphasizes his own experiences to build the confidence of others.

On February 11, 2016, Morrison made his way to Kean University to partner with multiple student organizations such as Iota Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc the Mu Pi Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc alongside the Pan-African Student Union (PASU), Kean University's Men of Excellence and Kean University's Women of Excellence to teach students to overcome their shortcomings. When member of Alpha Phi Alpha Javon Brown, junior international business major, took the initiative to invite Morrison to campus, he did it with a greater purpose than just throwing an event.

“This is something that college students and young entrepreneurs need to hear,” said Brown. “How do we learn to build money?”

Throughout his sermon, Morrison established himself as a down to earth and relatable adult, while also radiating the fact that he is a successful business man with designer clothes and stories of experiences to match. But not only does he serve as a reminder to those with rough upbringings that mobility is possible through hard work, he also stressed the importance of education of one’s desired field.

“It’s all about knowledge,” repeated Morrison. “My belief is to create the moves that will advance you. Do what you know; you can’t do anything without knowledge.”

His online institute, The Jay Morrison Academy, is geared towards educating young adults and adults alike on topics such as real estate, wealth development and financial literacy. Within these programs, Morrison himself acts as an advisor with status reports and bi-weekly phone calls with his students. His multiple courses have been considered blueprints and building blocks for many of those who have been able to establish themselves via Morrison’s academy.

A multimillionaire real-estate tycoon before the age of 30, Morrison has had quite the hero’s journey. Towards the end of the 1990s, he found himself incarcerated multiple times and making his living selling drugs with no prospect of change. But one day on a street corner in Newark, Morrison saw the bigger picture: he quit the game right then and there and never went back.

“I asked myself, ‘are you a hustler or a drug dealer?’” recalled Morrison. “I’m better than this, I believe in me. I’m talented and I can do anything.” That’s what brought him into the world of real estate fortune.

The lecture hall became frenzied with questions on how to follow in similar footsteps. Students mulled over the idea of opportunity and wealth development: “what is the first step in changing your life?” and “what challenges will I have to face and how will I overcome them?” Morrison was prepared to advise with finesse and intellect, emphasizing key points such as investing and ultimately learning how to change one’s mentality for success in the business world because without the mentality, a career cannot flourish regardless of one’s knowledge or expertise.

One student, a recent transfer sophomore finance major Giovanna Dessein, took the information offered as a way to beat the system. “I can graduate, make my own work and make my money work for me. They don’t teach you this in school,” said Dessein.

For more information on The Jay Morrison Academy, visit jaymorrisonacademy.com.