celebrating a star student

Last year, around this time, I started a college consulting practice.  After helping my son with his college essays, I felt I’d become somewhat of an expert.  I’m a good marketer, and getting into a top college can be helped with the right packaging.  That’s assuming you already have the requisite outstanding board scores, top grades, ridiculously impressive extra curriculars, and maybe even authoring a best-seller.  In other words, there are more qualified students than there are places for them among the handful of top 20 schools.

I may be a good marketer, but I’m not good with no marketing budget. To start this business, I ambitiously wrote letters, sent email blasts, made calls, asked my friends to ask their friends, and borrowed and used school directories from local private schools.  The result of this effort was:  a reprimand from my son’s elite high school reminding me that I am not allowed to use the directory for business purposes; a few nasty letters from parents asking me how I got their names; and two lovely clients (both from friend-referrals).

One of my students was a beautiful, smart, accomplished girl named G.  She is feisty, motivated, and creative in her thinking and writing. I loved working with her, and was not surprised when she got accepted to many top schools.  Who wouldn’t want this girl?  

Tonight G and her mom B are generously taking me out to celebrate.  B has chosen a new Greek restaurant in my neighborhood called Yefsi.  It comes highly recommended and lives up to its hype.

I arrive a few minutes before G and her mom.  It’s early and I’m the only diner.  I am solicitously asked four times if I’d like anything to drink while I wait.  The ponytailed 50-something maitre-d is welcoming, despite trying too hard to appear hip.

When B and G arrive I ask the waiter to take a picture.  I thought I looked good until I printed this photo out later.  I need spanx and summer sun.

The night is wonderful.  Amazing food, great conversation, lots of shared stories, and promises to do it again soon.  And for anyone who cares, Yefsi’s Greek fries are among the best in the city.