The placement of quotation marks is important here, though the title of this post is probably still misleading. It is not my intention to explain why you should listen to me. This is more an attempt to explain the theme of this site. 

The inspiration came from a trip I took in the spring of 2017. At the time, and for most of my adult life, I had grown increasingly aware of the voices of doubt in the back of my mind. And for all those years, I had responded by going through the motions, by attempting to smile uncynically at church, and by ignoring my evolving frustrations, assuming naïvely that I would eventually figure it out. And then I finally came to realize that I would never have the time or space to do so unless something changed. In an uncharacteristically reckless move, I decided to drop everything and walk across Spain on a network of ancient pilgrimage routes called the Camino de Santiago. Over 500 miles, I walked with other “pilgrims” from around the world, sleeping in hostels and living on a pork-heavy diet until I reached Santiago de Compostela. And then in the summer of 2019, I walked the Camino again—a different route and much less recklessly this time. There is something about walking that has always helped me seek clarity during uncertain times.

The Camino has been one of the most significant experiences of my life. On a personal level, I am constantly reminded of the many people that made the experience so special. Their stories and advice allowed me to reflect on my own reality and think about who I was, where I wanted to be, and what I wanted to do. And what I do now is interact with students who are thinking about their own futures. As much as I enjoy sharing knowledge, I enjoy listening to young people share their stories even more. It is with students where I am able to live in the moment, live in a world of possibility, and live vicariously. As I continue to work within the context of these overlapping worlds, I understand how stressful and daunting the college application process has become. However, this is also an opportunity for students to approach this experience as a pilgrimage. 

Just hear me out.

To any high school student reading this, if you perceive admission to college as merely an accomplishment or a reward for a job well done, you are truly missing out on what could be a deeply reflective experience. Even (or especially) if you matriculate to your first-choice school, you run the risk of becoming even more anxious or singularly focused down the road. If you’re not even sure why you are doing the things you do, then it’s time to focus more on purpose than passions and appreciate progress over perfection. The goal of the college search will always be about finding the right fit. It sounds so cliché, and yet, it still must be said. If we are ever to meet, I would be happy to help you with all aspects of the college research and application process, but also to help you think about this current iteration of who you are, where you want to be, and what you want to do.