From Stressed Out 2 Stand Out

My Story

Why I built this differently

For 20 years, I've sat across from students and families at one of the most exciting — and overwhelming — moments of their lives. And I've watched the college admissions process take a real toll on the young people it's supposed to serve.

That's why I built From Stressed Out 2 Stand Out differently.

As both a licensed school counselor and a licensed mental health counselor, I bring something most admissions guidance simply can't offer: a deep understanding of both the strategic side of college admissions and the very real emotional and psychological weight students carry through it. My approach is research-backed, results-driven, and grounded in one core belief.

Getting into a great college and protecting your wellbeing are not competing goals.
They go hand in hand.

Over two decades I have helped students find the colleges that are the right fit for who they truly are, build applications that authentically represent their strengths, navigate the process with confidence instead of anxiety, and ultimately stand out — not by becoming someone they're not, but by understanding themselves more deeply.

Credentials & experience

Two decades of working at the intersection of admissions strategy and student wellbeing.

Doctorate

EdD

USC Rossier School of Education.

Licensed

School Counselor

Trained in the strategic and academic side of college admissions.

Licensed

Mental Health Counselor

Trained in the emotional and psychological side of the process.

Two Decades

Years guiding students, families, and counselors.

My Approach

Research-backed. Results-driven. Wellbeing-grounded.

Three principles that guide every conversation, every workbook page, every coaching session.

Growth Mindset

Students stand out not by becoming someone they're not, but by understanding themselves more deeply. The work is internal first, external second.

Resilience

The admissions process will test you. The goal isn't to avoid the hard moments — it's to build the skills to move through them with steadiness.

Wellbeing

Strong applications and protected mental health are not a trade-off. The most authentic, compelling applications come from students who feel like themselves.

Wherever you are in this journey, you're in the right place.

Whether you're a student just starting to think about college, a parent trying to support your teenager without adding to their stress, or a school counselor looking for trusted resources to recommend — there's a path here for you.

For Students →For Parents →For Counselors →

Twenty years.One belief.