Successful college application essays are increasingly very personal, and must reflect individuality, self-knowledge and critical thinking skills. The experience of writing these essays can be challenging, not only from a skills perspective but also from an emotional perspective. These skills are also crucial to succeeding at a high level in the fields of English and the humanities. Each paper you write, each book you read asks you to think about yourself within the scope of the task, to fully engage with the materials intellectually and emotionally, and to be vulnerable. Self-knowledge and the capacity to look inward and challenge yourself to think deeply and honestly is critical to writing well, to analyzing correctly, and to obtaining admission to the colleges of your choice. As an English teacher for ten years and a reading and writing tutor for fifteen years, I have experienced so many different students' fears, concerns, and challenges with reading, analysis, writing, and college application essays. I can say with confidence that I will help you move towards your individual goals in these areas of English, and I will give you skills that will stay with you for the rest of your academic life. I have a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters degree in English Education from Rutgers University. Some of my personal hobbies outside of teaching English include directing plays and musicals, telling stories on the stage, hiking and kayaking, with the occasional rock climbing and camping adventure thrown into the mix. I look forward to working with you!