After three decades of sitting with students at some of the most pivotal moments of their lives, Melissa knows one thing for certain: every teenager has a story worth telling — including the ones who don't yet believe it themselves.  Melissa loves working with students who are quietly remarkable — kids who sit down and say "I don't know what to write about, my life is pretty boring" — and helping them discover that the opposite is true. Working collaboratively and hands-on, she generates writing in real time with students, helping them think things through out loud until they find the essay topic that reveals something genuinely core about who they are. The result isn't just a strong application. It's an authentic, joyful celebration of who that student is right now.

This approach is grounded in an unusually deep understanding of teenagers. In addition to her nearly 30 years in Oakwood School's college counseling program — where she guided hundreds of students and families through the college search and application process — Melissa led and taught in Oakwood's Human Development program for nearly two decades and provided social-emotional support through the school's advisory program. She didn't just help students get into college. She helped them grow.

After 33 years, Melissa was ready to work differently — with a smaller, carefully chosen group of students. She founded her LLC to channel her expertise and care into something more intimate and focused, bringing that same commitment to families from around the country.