How It Started… How It Went 2020

It’s the first day of 2021, but before the busy-ness of every day life starts up all over again, I wanted to reflect on what a wild, interesting ride the past year has been.

All pandemic stuff aside, it was (thankfully) a good year, but not without ups and downs. It’s been a little over 2 years since I’ve started Admissionisms. Like most small business owners, letting people know you’re out here, how you help others, and how we can work together is a challenge. There’s so much noise, so many distractions to contend with, to reach the people who need you most.

Before all of the craziness, I was invited to facilitate my own college preparation workshop at the Broward Student Leaders Day Conference. I delivered my “What’s In A Best Fit College?” workshop, prompting students to think more deeply about what matters most when you’re choosing a college, and how to research whether the colleges you’ve chosen offer an enriching environments where you’re best able to thrive.

Two weeks later, shutdowns began.

Can I also be transparent? This is where a lot of anxiety and uncertainty took front and center in my life. IDK about you, but I was emotionally drained – with a hint of overwhelm and COVID-induced depression.

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I’m still teaching at Broward College, so I had classes to teach and college students to take care of. I switched to 100% virtual instruction on a dime. I fielded in-class conversations on some “No, how are you REALLY doing?” After I wrapped class, students wanted to stay and have “life chats,” so we did. In my business life, I felt a bit lost and confused. Who the heck knows how to CEO through a pandemic?

When 2020 began, my plans were to co-host another series of back-to-school college preparation workshops here in South Florida, because they had gone extremely well the year before…. when outside was still “open” and there wasn’t a virus on the loose.

Very literally, the book stores were I hosted both events shuttered – one for good. (There now stands a Trader Joes where the Barnes & Noble bookstore used to be). Needless to say, in-person events were out.

There were opportunities to show up virtually. In June, I shared my entrepreneurship story with VoyageMIA. I began pushing out more videos to social via IG Live and IGTV. I recorded several interviews: Melissa Dunn Morning Show (my favorite interview to date!), Real Talk for Teens, and Baddies With Business. All article/interview links can be found here.

Showing up works. Several students reached back out whom I had met the year prior. Clients I worked with referred new clients. People got in touch who had discovered me through social media. I was invited to participate in a virtual application essay feedback event for low-income students in the DMV area.

I was able to help so many more students than the year prior. I am really super proud of everything that was accomplished in 2020. There are so many colleges that have not released their decisions yet, but more than anything, I celebrate the hard work that my students put in, and the acceptances they’ve received so far:

And many more to come…

As we settle into 2021, my plan is continue doing what works. Showing up. Giving my best. Helping sort through which colleges are a best fit. Creating easy-to-follow application plans. Conveying their ideas clearly in application essays. Formulating effective resumés. Starting scholarship search. Making sure their applications adequately represent their strengths. And more.

I’ve got a lot of exciting developments lined up for the new year. I’ve been working super hard on translating what I do for students one-on-one into a small group program. My goal is to make this the college preparation class you *wish* was offered in schools.

This virtual program will be engaging, interactive, and highly effective. More small groups will enable me to reach my goal of multiplying the number of students that I can assist. More details are dropping soon, but if you wish to be the first to know about the inaugural launch, please reach out via email.

I’ve been working on adding more digital products to the College Ready Vault. Inside, you’ll find a number of resources to help you at various points along your college preparation and application journey. Several products will be debuting soon. By popular demand, Scholarship Strategy, as well as a college application workbook/planner.

Also by popular demand, we created a way to gift our services to your favorite college-bound teens. Super clutch if the kid you’re looking out for is a niece, nephew, godson, cousin, or mentee.

It was a busy year, but also a productive one. I’m joyful. I’m proud. I’m looking forward to serving more students and connecting with you in 2021.