Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Messing.
Leah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After I graduated from college, I lived in New York City and worked in the healthcare practice at an international PR firm. At the time, I had debilitating knee pain and could barely walk five blocks. Going up and down the stairs in the subway station was too painful, so I had to take a taxi to and from work. I came to realize that my physical limitations would make living in New York City too difficult, so I moved back home to Miami and lived with my parents.
While I was recovering from two major knee surgeries, I had a lot of time to think about what type of career would be fulfilling. Guiding individuals throughout difficult times has always been rewarding for me, and the college admissions process particularly resonated with me. In high school, I started the first chapter of the Challenge Success Program outside of California. The goal was to change the definition of success to include more qualitative factors than quantitative and create a healthier school environment. I considered becoming a College Counselor to help students through this stressful time in their lives, but I decided to start helping people with college application essays to gain some initial exposure to the field.
My first office was located in my parents’ apartment, and I met with my first few students in a wheelchair after my second knee surgery. I’ve always loved to write and to teach, and teaching others how to tell their stories through the art of writing is incredibly rewarding for me. People always asked me if this job was just temporary until I recovered. From their tone, I could sense that they thought it was, but deep down I knew that I would be doing this forever.
Six years later, I’ve helped hundreds of students in Miami and all over the world with college application essays, graduate school application essays, speeches, research papers, and time management. There is nothing that brings me more happiness than seeing my students thrive and mentoring them along the way. I now have my own office on Sunset Drive in South Miami and have two essay coaches helping me to meet the growing demand for our services.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest challenge has been taking the leap and growing the business. The seasonal nature of the college application process makes it challenging to hire essay coaches as the demand only exists for certain months of the year.
Please tell us about your work.
Admission Ignition is most widely known for helping high school seniors with their college application essays. However, I work with students of all ages to help them improve their writing skills. From five-paragraph essays in middle school to research papers in high school and college, I support students with all types of writing. Working with students of all ages allows me to develop long-term relationships with my students and help them achieve academic and personal growth. I’ve helped students in high school with writing and organizational skills, then helped them with their college essays as high school seniors, and then continued working with them on time management and writing skills in college. The nature of my work is very personal and relationship-oriented.
Admission Ignition’s college essay process is distinctive from others because I do not simply read an essay and provide feedback. I spend 90 minutes getting to know the student before we even start brainstorming essay topics. I consider the whole person and suggest what topics students can write about for the personal statement and supplements so colleges can view them holistically. While revising essays, I never simply make changes to a student’s essay without explaining them. An integral part of my work is teaching. My job is not merely to achieve the task of helping someone write a compelling personal statement; rather, I teach students along the way so they learn strong writing skills throughout the process that will benefit them in college and in life. The college essay process is also an opportunity for students to reflect upon their values and experiences; it is very introspective.
In addition to the emphasis on teaching strong writing skills, what sets Admission Ignition apart is the organizational framework I put in place for students so they complete all of their essays well before the deadlines. This system significantly reduces the stress for students and their families. The process is also student-centered, encouraging the student to take control of their schedule and essays. I limit involvement with parents to achieve this goal.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t do anything differently. Everything has evolved organically, and I’m happy with the outcome. Ultimately, a huge challenge that I thought would limit my potential has tapped it and has helped me discover a career that I love.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5825 Sunset Drive
Suite 207
South Miami, FL 33143 - Website: www.admissionignition.com
- Phone: 305-213-8397
- Email: leah@admissionignition.com
Image Credit:
Shay Cohen
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