Education & Opportunity

My column for Nov. 9 focused on the college application process as an opportunity for tremendous personal growth and change in the student. This was certainly the case for me. What college and scholarship applications taught me to do was to believe in myself and to also persuade others to believe in me, too.

That's a skill that proves useful in virtually every aspect of life--whether it means getting that great internship in college, securing your first job, or rallying the support of your peers and colleagues. I don't know if I would have had the courage to write and self-publish my first book, How to Go to College Almost for Free, if I hadn't learned such skills from my college and scholarship applications. There are now more than 250,000 copies of my first book in print and it all goes back to the lessons I learned from the college admissions and scholarship process.

Here's a little secret: To get admitted to the college of your dreams, you become worthy of being admitted. You don't have to be the perfect college applicant when you begin the process.... you grow into the role. Looking back, that growth is the lasting legacy for me. Perhaps it can be for you, or your kids, too.