Recently, a parent and longtime client of mine texted me a question: "Do you know anything about keywords in college application essays?"

I’ve seen how these four skills can build student confidence and transform their writing.

I’ve never forgotten Mr. R’s patient guidance as he walked me through the essay basics.

Four years in, I was at a crossroads. I wanted to carve my own path as I worked with young people, earned a comfortable living, and followed my dream of writing—but I wasn’t sure how to do it all.

A sense of panic set in as I realized that somehow, I knew almost nothing about essay writing.

The abyss is not specific to professional writers—students experience it, too, often getting stuck before they’ve even started a writing assignment.

I tell students that in writing, voice includes details and perspective of our lived experiences, and the meaning we make from them.