ESSAYMOM'S ORIGIN STORY
In the summer of 2009, a friend told me her daughter Annie was having a hard time finding topics for her college essays and asked me to help. Annie and I sat in my backyard and she filled me in on swim team, babysitting, and her dad’s cancer. By talking through all this, we identified a few stories that felt central to her personality and demonstrated how she operates in her world.
We then adapted these stories to the essay questions and jotted down the key points to hit on in each essay. Annie then got busy and got it all done. (She graduated from Kenyon College with a BA in English).
Working with Annie, I realized I was good at coaxing students to recognize the merit of their experiences, and that their stories could humanize and strengthen their college applications.
That September, I volunteered at our local high school and went into private practice.
I have since worked with hundreds of students on application essays for college, graduate school, medical school and post-doctoral programs.
In 2015, our school district recognized me with the Volunteer of the Year Award for my free summer workshops and lunch period appointments. Currently, I volunteer with C5-Los Angeles and United World Colleges/East Africa.
PERSONAL STUFF
Grew up on Long Island. Still trying to get rid of the accent. Went to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY where I majored in theatre and English. Worked in publishing in NYC for 9 years.
Left publishing to write a book – What You Can Do for Your Country: An Oral History of the Peace Corps. Also wrote for The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR and Grown & Flown.com.
Moved to Alexandria, VA with spouse. Raised 2 kids (lots of Little League, softball, voice, drum, ballet & guitar lessons, school plays, emergency room visits, and college essays).
Our son teaches middle school in Vermont. Our daughter teaches kindergarten in San Francisco. (Not sure how they both chose teaching).
Spouse got cool job in LA so we moved here in February, 2019. I love reading essays at hipster coffee bars, and am proud to be only one there wearing Land’s End corduroys and cardigans. I hope the coffee bars reopen soon.