When I started working with Rod, he already his topic chosen and his rough draft written. Some students have to start from scratch at that point, but I loved what he chose to write about: overcoming hardship through the lens of his weight loss journey that became so much more than that — a reflection on how poverty impacts food accessibility and the importance of daily habits to create change.

What we worked on together was deepening his self-reflection and building momentum for his conclusion. I always ask how did you feel at the moment and why did you feel that way? What did that moment you wrote about mean to you? If you’re stuck, try asking yourself what you learned, how you learned it, how it’s changed you, and how it impacts your future going forward. Try answering these journaling questions via pen and paper (this really makes a difference, trust me).

Next, we worked on adding specific details of his hardship. An easy way to do that is adding in quantitative examples, like how many hours a day you spend on the field before or after school, how early you wake up to add a session in, how late you stay up with all your other responsibilities, and any sacrifices you make on the weekends. We also made sure he focused at least half the essay on the overcoming part of his story so we see his growth rather than focus on the negative.

Cut to five revisions and a few months later, I got this email from Rod: “I have great news! I was accepted to Stanford early through Questbridge with a full ride. I just wanted to reach out and thank you for all the revisions, but also mostly for all the forms of support you gave me. It means a lot and I appreciate it.”

Naturally I asked for a testimonial. I’m thrilled to share his thoughts below.

“The edits and feedback I received from Yelena enabled me to reflect deeply on my life experiences and their effects on my motivations. Because of this, I was able to write a concise essay that was truly unique to me. Yelena's help allowed me to create a clear, dynamic story that played a huge role in getting me into a top-tier university.”

-Rod, accepted to Stanford University