Merry U, Nassau County, NY (2026)

01/17/2023

Do you believe that life is best lived in full color?

I most certainly do.

This may not always look like a rainbow of variety outwardly.

Sometimes this looks like allowing yourself to be so vibrantly yourself, that your own unique bold color lights up the world around you and gives it the brightness it needs.

At Merry U, you will find that one of our core values is Authenticity. Eventually, that authenticity translates into beautiful college essays and applications. But first, that authenticity is honed and honored in reflecting on each part of what makes you uniquely you.

Part of what makes you magical is your lived experience, your family and background, and the cultural diversity you embody. Yes, sometimes your color is truly your color, too. Your color is beautiful.

Today, I want to share two messages loud and clear:

✨All are welcome at Merry U. We embrace differences and diversity, and nurture you to share these unique elements of yourself authentically.

✨Your job isn’t to be the best. Your job is to be the best YOU. We need you. We love you.

I’d like to honor and thank Martin Luther King, Jr. for being an example of motivating young people to be their best selves, embracing whoever that “best self” is.

In this excerpt from a speech to students at Glenville HS in Cleveland, OH in 1967, he references Douglas Malloch’s poem emphasizing that bigger isn’t better, and success is found in being true to yourself.

"If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill, be a scrub in the valley -- but be the best little scrub on the side of the rill. Be a bush, if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be the sun, be a star. It isn't by size that you win or you fail. Be the best of whatever you are!"

01/12/2023

Are you designing a life you love?
Or waiting for life to happen to you?

And when I say a life “YOU” love… I really mean YOU.

Not a life you’re told you want by:
Society
Parents
Friends
Neighbors
Instagram

The one you actually deeply desire in your spirit.

For most, those two visions of life are two wildly different things.

👉🏼Which vision do you find yourself spending more time creating?

✨Part of my Merry U mission is to give teenagers the tools to live life by design earlier than most of their parents got the memo. If that sounds like a mission you’re on board with, stick around and follow:

12/27/2022

Congratulations! I know you’ve recently received your PSAT scores (or maybe even actual SAT or ACT scores). And there’s one BIG secret I need to tell you about them: Getting accepted into college is not just about getting good grades and test scores.

What's important is knowing what colleges are really looking for (you might be surprised to learn what this actually is), so that you can apply to schools that are the best fit for YOU, your personality and interests.

As we all know, it's hard not to worry about your PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores. Whether you're aiming for perfection, or just hoping to beat your older sibling’s score, it’s important to know how test scores play into your college plans and preparation.
But what happens if you see the numbers and aren't sure whether they're good enough? Or if you already know you did awesome - or bombed?

You still need to know… what’s next?

Here's a magical lifeline! Get INSTANT ACCESS to a FREE Workshop that you and your family can watch anytime, any day, starting TODAY.

LINK HERE: bit.ly/3WP1YEn to get your PSAT Release FREE Workshop for Families with 10th and 11th graders ready to craft a joyful journey toward college.

PS: If you’re looking for a less stressful, more joyful approach to college prep–this is the place for you!

10/08/2022

Free fall or Parachute?

When you’re about to take a big test, in school or in life, do you want to feel like you’re jumping out of a plane, white-knuckled and fearful with an unknown free fall ahead of you?

Or would you prefer to confidently step out onto the clouds, with a peaceful, parachuting pathway to your destination?

Students and parents often come to me when they’ve opted for the free fall and are looking for a safety net to catch them. And, while I open that reassuring net with full faith in my ability to rescue them, I’d much rather we could avoid the need for rescue entirely.

If you are a student in, or a parent of a child in 10th or 11th grade, I need you to pay very careful attention to what I’m about to say next:

Your journey toward college does not require free falls.
It is your choice to pack your parachute to peace, starting today.

I’m here to guide you on your journey so that when you jump, it’s with joy!

Want to test out how that can feel for you and your family?

Join me for FREE at my PSAT Peace workshop this Monday evening.
10/10, 6:30-8pm Eastern
Live on Zoom.
Register at my link in bio or at www.HelloMerryU.com

Can’t wait to see you there!

09/21/2022

Yes, you.

07/14/2022

See that butterfly?

She’s flitting around, blissfully beautiful.

She isn’t concerned that she’s surrounded by equally beautiful bright flowers and foliage.

She isn’t intimidated by the enormity of the Swiss Alps all around her.

She knows where she belongs, and arrives there with certainty.

She is happily herself.

Let’s all be more like this butterfly.

Especially, you know, when applying to college.

06/22/2022

Do you know how to make your application show off how awesome you are? ⁣
⁣
The questions I am getting this week from my seniors and their parents are:
-Will my application be good enough to get into X school?
-How can I make my application better before the fall?
-Where do I even start with essays and applications?⁣
⁣
And today we added: I just got my June ACT scores-should I submit them or go Test Optional? If I go Test Optional, how do I know the rest of my application is good enough?⁣
⁣
Let’s cut to the chase on those answers: ⁣
⁣
The whole purpose of your college application is to make YOU shine. ☀️⁣
⁣
Your app should reflect the brilliant bright light you put out into the world in your own special way. ⁣
⁣
It shouldn’t tell college admissions officers what you think they want to hear or what your neighbor who got into an Ivy had in their app. It should be unique, it should be clean, and it should be YOU. ⁣
⁣
One way to do this is to prepare your essay, supplements, and activities list with your own voice & special flavor!⁣
⁣
🙌🏼 My FREE workshop tonight at 7pm will answer all these questions and then some!

Families with rising Seniors, register now at www.hellomerryu.com

See you later!
⁣

06/20/2022

Do you know when college planning actually starts?

Moms of 9th and 10th graders are always asking me “I don’t have to worry about college yet, right?!” 🙈🙉🙊

And my genuine answer is, no. You never have to “worry about college.” In fact, my whole mission is how to teach you and your teens how to live the high school life in a way that aligns you for college success with calm and confidence.

Do NOT hide from “college planning” because you’re afraid of what that entails. Get a head start on understanding the timeline, elements, and influence of the early years so that you can actively create a personalized path full of peace and positivity for you and your college-bound teen.

🤔 Ok but where do you get that head start and peaceful approach??

Tonight I kick off my Summer, Simplified Workshop Week with a session created just for families entering 9th and 10th grades. Come join me!

Register at the link in bio or at www.hellomerryu.com

Hope to see you there!

06/08/2022

Moms! One thing you can start today to help YOUR kid get into college. 👇🏽

(And no, this isn’t a Lori Loughlin style secret. 😆)

Moms often tell me they feel helpless or lack confidence when it comes to helping their kid with college prep.

You feel like it’s been years since you went through it yourself and so much has changed. (It has!)

You might NOT have gone through it yourself, so you’re fighting your own feelings of inadequacy that you don’t want to project onto your kid. (You’re so beyond adequate–you’re amazing.)

You may not be able to afford “elite,” done-for-you admissionssupport. (Ahem, that’s a big no from me, dawg. Your kid can do this and so can you. We keep it real over here!)

You have the best intentions, but your teenager just thinks you’re annoying. 🙄 (That’s usually your nervous energy getting in the way. I can help.)

You ultimately just want them to be happy, and would do anything to ensure that for them. (Love them and remind them that their happiness isn’t dependent on a test score or college acceptance 💛).

But the BIGGEST reason you feel helpless is because:
You see the ✨ MAGIC ✨ inside your child and want so desperately for the world to see it too (starting with college admissions officers).

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 #1 𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙬𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙢𝙖𝙢𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙙:
Start a Magical Manual about your kid for YOURSELF, tracking all the marvelous, magical ways your child shines.

🤯 Not only will this help when they’re applying to college, but also whenever they need a reminder of how wildly wonderful they are.

🙋🏼‍♀️Want my Magical Manual template to kick-start your own?
👉🏼Register for my FREE Summer, Simplified Workshop. Workshops by grade to get you in the know on pre-college planning for a peaceful, purposeful summer and beyond.

Link in Bio or visit www.HelloMerryU.com

PS: You help the world see your kid’s magic, and I’ll help your kid see it for themselves. That’s ✨MY Magic✨.
Register for my FREE workshop to get the scoop on early access to Merry U programs supporting 9-12 graders, including Early-Bird Access for my new group mentorship coming this fall!

06/06/2022

Google won’t tell you how to get into college.

It WILL give you an extensive list of the things you need to plan, do, be, write, submit, and perfect. But that only leaves you with more fear, doubt, and procrastination.

But there’s good news:
I see you. And there is a MUCH simpler way.

In my Workshop series Summer, Simplified, families of college-bound teens will learn:
😃 What NOT to stress about this summer and beyond.
😃 Basics of what to expect in September so you feel calm this summer and enter next school year with clarity and confidence.

Workshop Details by Grade:

✨9/10 Workshop: Early HS Simple Steps
-Focus on Fun
-Foundations that lead to smooth transitions when 11th and 12th grade come around.

✨ 11th Workshop: Junior Year Jumpstart
-Introduction to the basics of testing, school searching, and college admissions timeline.
-Identify your Personal Pathway to set clear expectations for starting 11th grade strong.
-Beginner tools to connect with your own Magic and how to meaningfully set that in Motion.
-Exclusive early-bird access to my Signature Prep Program coming in August 👀

✨ 12th Workshop: Senior Summer, Simplified
-Introduction to the essentials of college admissions and applications
-Structured Application Season Timeline
🙌🏼 Exclusive opportunity to join “Senior Summer, Simplified” series for rising seniors (think clear, concise, confident plan to apply this summer with ease.)

✨BONUS: Q&A session exclusive for families who join a workshop live!

It’s all happening June 20-23rd.
Register at the link in my bio
Or visit: www.hellomerryu.com

Don’t miss your chance to get on a new path to college, one filled with peaceful, purposeful, personalized preparation.

06/03/2022

𝔻𝕠𝕖𝕤 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕘𝕖 𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦?

Are you putting it off, hoping it will magically get easier if you wait longer to figure it out?

Did you know that the best way to get un-scared is to learn about it early (and from someone who will show you how peaceful and purposeful pre-college prep can really be–hey, that’s me! )?

Good News! I’ve got just what you need!

☀️ 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓, 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅: 𝑨 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑼 ☀️
for families of rising 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade college-bound teens.

In each workshop we’ll cover what your next steps in the high school and college prep timeline are so you can relax and enjoy summer without the fear of the unknown. But, more importantly, you’ll be learning how to make those steps a smooth journey that feels peaceful, purposeful, and totally personalized..

Save the date for the event that best fits your family’s high school timeline (and of course, join me for more than one workshop if you have interest in support for more than one grade!).

6/20 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 (𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀)

6/21 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 (𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀)

6/22 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 (𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀)

6/23 𝗕𝗢𝗡𝗨𝗦 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗤&𝗔: 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

All sessions held Live on Zoom from 7-8pm Eastern

Be sure to register at the Link in my Bio or at www.HelloMerryU.com

06/02/2022

⭐ Which do you think is more important during high school summers?

⭐Work or Volunteer?
Both have their merits, and given the right motivations can be great ways to spend your time this summer. For practical purposes, like parents not wanting to be ATMs, working is great. But it is also a really good way to build skills that will benefit you as a person, in future careers, and when applying to college.
Volunteering is a great idea too. The amount of time you spend on your volunteer efforts isn’t as important as the quality of connection you have with the service you are providing. In short, when in doubt, quality over quantity.

⭐Have fun or Buckle down?
Of course I want to say 100% HAVE FUN. And truly, that will still be the overriding goal of summer, even if that fun is mixed between work, volunteering, test prepping, writing essays, and filling out applications. The goal here is to find balance between fun and what you can do to set your next school year up for succes (more on that below!).

⭐Travel or Hang at Home?
I am a person who truly values traveling near or far and using those experiences to help us grow and enrich our worldview (Follow me now to stay in the loop on my European adventures teaching college essay-writing to international students this summer!).

That said, hanging at home can be just as rewarding and valuable if you spend your time meaningfully. Maybe you’re responsible for looking after younger siblings or caring for an elderly or ailing family member. Perhaps you’re a talented artist and are creating at your home studio all summer. If you’re staying home, make the time you spend there count.

So, do you or your teenager have those summer plans all laid out, or are you still questioning how to best spend your sunny days?

Comment your plans below and I’ll help you finesse them to align with your college goals and big bright future!

⭐ PS: On Friday I’ll be launching my “Summer, Simplified” Series of FREE Workshops coming later in June. But if you already know you need this, you can pre-register at the link in my bio!

Merry U

01/17/2023

01/12/2023

12/27/2022

10/08/2022

09/21/2022

07/14/2022

06/22/2022

06/20/2022

06/08/2022

06/06/2022

06/03/2022

06/02/2022

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