Back to School Special

Scenes from this summer: Lillie at Civics camp in Arizona w. one of my mom's best friends.

Last week marked the point that all kids are back in school – including me.
 
I may be the age of my teacher, and may not have finished paying off my last school loans, but what is life if not a wild series of adventures?
 
I haven't blogged for two months now, because I’ve definitely been up to something. In addition to going back to school, I started my own company.
 
What (we both say)?! How on earth did I get here? (And with no alcohol involved, I might add).
 
I point to my word of the year, “surrender”.
 
Here I should also point out that if you’re going to have a concept guide your days, choose carefully. I’m not sure back in January that I understood what “surrender” actually meant. Its mystery, frankly, added to its allure. Yet in daily studying surrender, the concept has transformed my life in ways I couldn’t have fathomed. In a nutshell, I’ve opened myself up to what is in front of me. Rather than resist or repress (or wishfully think otherwise, something I have an advanced degree in), I'm learning to accept what is: the good, the bad, the ugly.
 
What I see in front of me: a big ugly mass of bills. And hideous debt. Growing scarier by the day.
What I do not see in front of me: A book contract. Or a job. Or an agent with the hopes of a job. Or a husband with a full-time job.

Girls' trip to Los Alamos in June to visit my friend Barbara 

 I had been wishing that a book agent would agree to publish the Jewish book I wrote last year with my good friend (no agent did). Turns out Jewish books are not so popular with a war going on, and the Jewish family on which the book is based didn't want it published.

Time to pivot. How can I earn enough money to keep our girls in school? My friend Connie (name change) actually told me that audio porn makes decent money; how desperate was I? 

In response, I make two phone calls: one to Silvana, who owns Atelier Tutors, and the other to a friend of mine, Gen, who is an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC).
 
I had begun coaching college essays for Silvana at Atelier Tutoring back in 2010, when the kids I had been tutoring for three years became seniors. As a writer, I intuitively knew how to help them, and through experience, kept getting better at coaching. My students gained acceptance to top schools around the country. I didn’t think much of the difference I was making, as I rationalized that this was just an enjoyable way to make money while I established myself as a writer. Now, being challenged with audio porn, I remembered how much I enjoy tutoring and coaching.  Silvana thankfully needed help with a few students.
 
Mercifully, a few days later, my IEC friend Gen referred me to a colleague of hers named Tiffany Bond (name change), who was looking for college essay coaches to join her company. I interviewed first with Tiffany, next with Tiffany’s associate, and then was tested on how to fix essays. It was a match.
 
Or so I thought. I am stunned to get the email, “Thanks for your time BUT…”
 
Curiosity overtakes surprise. I know I’m good: what gives?
 
As graciously as possible, I asked Tiffany why she didn’t hire me. Artfully dodging my questions, Tiffany focused instead on how much she has enjoyed meeting me, making the whole thing more baffling. (Then, a few months later, clarity!! On her website, I saw the two women she hired: both half my age. A month later, only one still remained on the website).
 
This is where the surrender concept comes in handy. It is what it is. I gave my level best. Move on gracefully, Silver Girl. 
 
But little did I realize what it really was: The best rejection I’ve ever received.

Tyler and his friend got summer passes to our local amusement park

A month later, I received an email out of the blue from Independent Educational Counselor Gaby Stronger (name change) in Pennsylvania, telling me that Tiffany HIGHLY recommends me, and could we talk? As an IEC, Gaby hires her essays out to coaches like me. By the end of the conversation, she has sent me two students. By mid-summer, that has grown to five.
 
Then I received an email from an upcoming senior, saying that while Tiffany has no room left on her roster, she highly recommends me. I now have six students. Thanks Tiff!
 
I casually mention this to a friend who runs an essay boot camp. She calls a few weeks later: would I be interested in coaching two weeks of her boot camp? My roster grows from six kids to 13.
 
I love working with these teens at such a stressful time on the most important essays of their lives. It’s akin to being a delivery room nurse: you guide this process into a joyful and triumphant memory.
 
It starts to dawn on me (you, dear reader, probably got here a lot sooner): why is Steph giving over half of what is paid to someone else? Why does she not just hang out her own shingle?
 
I finally tune into your thought, and call my IEC friend Gen for advice on fair pricing. But she, to my surprise, takes it up a notch: “Why are you stopping at essay coach? They get a much lower pay rate. You should become certified as an IEC. I’m on the board of HECA (the Higher Education Consultants Association). I’ll mentor you. You can do this!”
 
She basically challenged me as to why I was going to stay a delivery room nurse when I could become a doctor.
 
By the end of the phone call, my new mentor has convinced me to register for the two-year program at the highly recommended UC Irvine, which specializes in IECs.  She says it's far superior to other courses around the country.

Lillie went to her first sleep away camp and LOVED it.

With Jory’s help, I came up with a website: www.syrcollegecounseling.com
Check it out if you have a minute.  LMK what you think.
 
I let a few friends know what I am doing, and my roster swells to 20 clients.  Thankfully, my summer writers are done, so I’ve finished my work with 9 of those clients so far, and have room for more!
 
Having banged against the door of the Entertainment Industry for 20 years, knuckles bloody and head pounding, I remain amazed at the ease and grace with which this is happening.
 
I love working with teens, setting my own schedule, and helping anxious souls through the swamps of composition to talk about who they are, what is most important to them, and where they want to go.  I look forward to every day.  
 
It shaped up into  a great summer. Now, that it's fall, it's time to hit the books!!