Dianne Armstrong – Toronto, Ontario
When it finally comes together and the student has told his/her story!
Michelle Ayoob – Emerald Hills, CA
I enjoy the brainstorming part and encouraging kids to think outside of the box.
Marjorie Bertman – Burke, VA
Sara Bittner – Hilversum,
Seeing the progress and seeing the kids be really proud of their essays
Wendy Briley – Wake Forest, NC
Danielle Casas – New Rochelle, NY
I love learning about my student’s stories. I love watching them tell me about something they loveand I am in awe when they share painful events. I volunteer with first generation, low income students and their stories have a depth of reflection and challenge that makes them unique.
Trina Chaudhuri – Kolkata, West Bengal
Finding that one story that can be converted into a stellar college essay
Shawna Cogan – Winnipeg,
Eve Cooper – Novato, CA
Love learning about the student and helping them discover their unique abilities, interests and qualities that helps them gain confidence.
Liz Cooper – Lexington, MA
I love working with students to tell their story. I find the process so introspective and a time of growth for my students.
Diana Daymond – Walnut Creek, CA
I really enjoy getting to know my students and brainstorming but my challenge is to help the students advance their ideas into a personal statement… This is why I am working with your program.
Sheri Denkensohn – Arlington, VA
Kristina DeVesty – Annandale, VA
I’m a former high school English teacher, so I enjoy working with teenagers on writing. I love hearing their stories and watching the culmination of years of effort come together.
Sally Doane – Berkeley, CA
It is important to me to provide students with a space where they feel free and safe to express their thoughts. Fear is such a big factor in writing and I like to provide them with some freedom from that fear.
Lauren Drake – Chapel Hill, NC
Robin Duncan – SANTA YSABEL, CA
I love working one-on-one with students and helping them find their voice through the essay.
Elisabeth dunne – Oak Park, IL
Alyssa Endelman – West Bloomfield, MI
Sarah Falbo – Pittsburgh, PA
Interacting one on one with students and helping them to demystify this process and gain confidence in their writing voice.
Susannah Files – Bethesda, MD
Marissa Fitzpatrick – The Bronx, NY
Kerry Folan – San Carlos, CA
Working with this age group to explore and help them generate ideas.
Kimberly Foster – Clyde Hill, WA
The students! Most are earnest. My favorite part is brainstorming a theme and when the process reveals a “nugget”, the look on the student’s face is so gratifying! The front-end work pays dividends with great voice and engagement.
Graciela Gallinar – Coral Gables, FL
Liz Gessner – Brooklyn, NY
Cate Hanrahan – san francisco, CA
I love building relationships with students and being able to support their vulnerabilities through their writing.
Rose-Marie Hippler – Winter Park, FL
Meghan Jenkins – Melrose, MA
I love hearing the students’ stories and authentic voices develop during the process.
Coco Jin – Livermore, CA
I find essay writing a good opportunity for students to reflect on their strengths and passions.
I enjoy hearing their stories and coach them through the writing process. To get a wonderful story out of them.
Gerene Keesler – Tampa, FL
Finding out more about the students, learning their stories
Stephanie Kennedy – Downers Grove, IL
Helping students grow their stories and recognize that their “small” actions can have big impact in an essay; seeing their writing improve!!
Penny Klein – Essex Jct, VT
Jennifer Kondak – Beverly Hills, MI
I’m new to it, so not sure what I enjoy about it but I do love writing.
Kristin Leffler – Seattle, WA
Karen Leonard – Long Beach, CA
Laura Levitt – Potomac, MD
I function as a writing tutor. The start-to-finish arc of my high school student interactions spans almost 4 months, sometimes more, so I get to know the kids quite well, and I learn so much from the grad school applicants, most of whom are going into tech and healthcare professions. Hearing from former high school students once they’re in college and realize the skills they learned with me are a tremendous benefit, and having many return to me years later for graduate school apps, is tremendously rewarding.
Joanne Levy Prewitt – Moraga, CA
Monica Lorick – Prangins,
Amy Mednick – Rochester, NY
I especially enjoy really getting to know the students on a deeper level and that often happens when we’re working on essays.
Alison Merzel – Columbus, OH
I love getting to know the students better through this process. The essay coaching is where the personal anecdotes come out, where I learn about what the student is truly passionate about, where they have struggled.
Jennifer Moriarty – Terrace Park, OH
I enjoy watching my students reflect on their experiences to see how much they have learned and grown from them.
Gail Nichols – Trabuco Canyon, CA
Jessica Olamit – Santa Cruz, CA
Essay coaching is one of my favorite aspects of this work, because it’s when I learn the most about students. I find out about their interests, passions, and values. I also love seeing students create pieces of writing they are proud of and excited to submit to universities.
Tara Powers-Hausmann – Bainbridge Island, WA
Amy Reardon – Soda Springs/Phoenix, CA
Lindsay Reid – Kansas City, MO
Donna Sakabu – McKinney, TX
During the process, when the students realize I have their backs.
Caryn Sanders-Marcus – Chicago, IL
The brainstorm session and learning more about my students.
Jeanette Sawaya – Salt Lake City, UT
Cynthia Seidel – Sammamish, WA
Julia Sensenbrenner – Seattle, WA
I enjoy brainstorming, hearing in-depth stories from the students, and helping them present their stories in interesting and meaningful ways.
Robin Shoor – Asheville, NC
It’s a time when I can develop a deeper relationship with my students and marvel at some of the life challenges they have confronted and overcome
Beth Silverstein – Bellevue, WA
helping students share an authentic story that addresses a prompt, seeing my students excited about creating a story, encouraging students to reflect on the prompts to find “good” stories
Audrey Slaughter – Walnut Creek, CA
Asking questions to find out what really makes the student happy and engaged. I enjoy hearing the student have an ‘aha’ moment of self reflection when we talk.
Leanne Soulard – Dartmouth, MA
I love helping students discover their creative side, which isn’t something that is encouraged a lot in traditional English classes. It’s inspiring to help a young person set their story free!
Nancy Steenson – Danville, NH
I love brainstorming topics with students. I love to see them dig in, reflect, and go deeper than they thought they could. I love to see their faces when they realize they’ve actually written something great.
Tammy Stepanek – Houston, TX
I enjoy reading things written by my students because it gives me a small window into their world and mind.
Kelly Taylor – Raleigh, NC
I love being a part of my students’ lives during this exciting time. I also enjoy using my teaching experience but on a much more personal level. One-on-one teaching is the way to go!
Rebecca Threewitt – Sunnyvale, CA
Cynthia Torres – LOS ANGELES, CA
Guiding students through the college essay is my favorite part of the college counseling process. I love helping students reflect on their journeys and what they have learned. I am an experienced writer and editor, and I enjoy sharing my comments with students.
Susie Valencia – Temecula, CA
Getting to know my students and helping them tell their story concisely.
Marilyn van Loben Sels – Clarksburg, CA
Helping my students pull out their ideas and learning to appreciate themselves.
Sharon Vann – Denton, TX
Sharon Vann – Denton, TX
Betsy Veidenheimer – Wellesley, MA
Jamie Wallace – Culver City, CA
I enjoy finding out things about the kids that I didn’t know, and which I know colleges would love to hear about.
Abigail Whited – Cincinnati, OH
Essay coaching is one of the best ways to get to know my students more. I feel that many times I can make stronger connections and understand their needs better.