At the beginning of summer in 2014 I had my first meeting with Ferah. Based on my increased heart rate, sweaty palms, and twitching eye, I think a may have had a little panic attack. All I could think as I sat there between my parents was my future and everything that this lady wanted me to do to prep for it. Questionnaires, personality tests, multiple worksheets about what I like in a college and what I don’t, and not to mention all the essays and drafts of a resume she wanted me to complete during the summer. The list seemed endless and I had just got off of my toughest year of high school and was ready to do some major relaxing, but that is not what Ferah nor my parents had in mind. My second meeting with Ferah was a lot less stressful and she really took the time to get to know my personality and me. Now that I look back on all those questions I answered to find out what college best fit my personality, I realize it wasn’t a waste of time because I would have never known that I wanted to go to a smaller school rather than a large university, or wanted a discussion oriented classroom, or to be close to a big city for internship opportunities. The more and more I went to see Ferah the more and more I got excited. Not only excited about my future and where I would be next year, but excited to just talk about my life to someone who truly cares and should get an award for being the best listener. A couple of my friends also go to Ferah and we have a little inside joke that not only is she our college prep coach, but like a therapist as well. She will listen to you if you are stressed, excited, sad, happy, or angry and will try and figure out her role in helping make things better or celebrating alongside with you. I cannot count the amount of hours I have spent contacting admissions counselors, researching/visiting schools, following suggested tips, and filling out applications, but I am thankful that I had Ferah and my parents pushing and supporting me each step of the way. Without the guidance of Ferah I would have never gotten into my top schools and received scholarships from them. I don’t know where I would be today in my college process without Ferah. As a student who went through launchphase2, I can confidently say that I know my college decision will provide me with a bright and successful future.

“launchphase2 hit the ball out of the park with our son, a freshman at Mesa State. His coach expertly helped him choose a great major, and by second semester, he was able to choose courses that would count for his new major (which will save us money). Our son is really excited about his future career, and it’s a great fit for him. “ “I want to extend my gratitude for the coaching received from my son’s college / career counselor. He graduated from his state university within four years and received tips to enhance his academic achievement (GPA). He was guided to build an exemplary resume which included meaningful experiences like an overseas internship with the United Nations. His resume and college experiences should help lineup prospective employers. His coaching was worthwhile and was a wise use of time and money. Thank you so very much.”

Ferah coached my son on how to approach college applications when he was a senior in high school. She had many suggestions about schools that might be a good fit, and helped him develop criteria to prioritize his choices. Ferah reviewed his essays and applications many times, giving feedback on content and organization. She was extremely helpful and my son benefited a great deal.