DYLAN
Thanks to Shana, I achieved my dream of getting into college. Thanks to Shana, I grew as a person and am set for the rest of my life.

"Through all the tough times, the tedious back and forth with people who didn’t seem to care nor understand my goals, Shana was by my side to help me every step of the way. As I watched her guide and communicate with me every day, I saw that she was just as determined as I was. I realized just how dedicated and caring she was, not just about the task of getting me into college but about me. I saw how she worked firsthand and I even took life skills from that process that I use every day. Life skills that I use now as a college student and a young adult who is ready to take on adult life.
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"The summer after my senior year in high school, I was in a very difficult situation and I thought that my dreams of going to college were crushed as the summer began to end. Just when I was about to lose all hope, a friend recommended that I talk to Shana Bloom. From the first day I spoke with her, I realized that my dream was no longer just that but it was going to become a reality."
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Dylan
The University of Rhode Island
How I worked with Dylan
Dylan and I met following his graduation from high school. He reached out because his dream of college was slipping away. He had been accepted at URI, but he was self advocating and needed support handling all the details on his own. When we began working together, I explained staying motivated and consistent would yield results.
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For the first few weeks, I coached Dylan on navigating the various departments that could provide technical assistance towards his goal, such as Enrollment Services, Admissions and Academic Advising. Since I had worked in higher education, I knew the college system. However, while Dylan quickly achieved momentum, his application stalled which quickly began to discourage him. Therefore, he and I then made an appointment to go to the campus together, where I accompanied him as support. He spoke with a supervisor to confirm his status and the conversation cleared up the issue. In the end, his application was processed and he was accepted into the University, thereby realizing his dream of admission into URI.
Today, Dylan and I chat via text and catch up over coffee. He updates me on his status, often sharing stories of how he advocated for himself in college and in other areas of his life. His story is inspiring, and I look forward to seeing him do great things in the future.