KIM F — parent — DENVER, CO

There I was at the place in life with my almost-legally-adult child. She has planned on music school since the age of 7. I had no idea what to do to help. I knew this is something she needs to do without her mom hovering. She plans to go very far away and be independent, so mom blindly micromanaging the process made no sense. I have a life-long friend who retained a college coach for his twins. It was a few years back, but I knew it was expert-adult guidance that was not a parent. I found Steve on Google and did some checking around. One parent told me, “Whatever level you can afford, DO IT. He knows what he is doing.” Good, because I certainly did not know what I was doing. I found a woman I knew from years ago who now teaches at Berklee College of Music who remembered Steve very well and verified he is a great choice. We did a few meetings and retained Steve. What an amazingly great choice. Steve built rapport and trust with my daughter swiftly and they got to work. I was out. At first this made me sad, but I realized I was also out of asking questions that are accountability questions. Managing deadlines was Steve and Caroline. Making plans and practicing for interviews was Steve and Caroline. Reviewing essays and resumes was Steve and Caroline. I got to do the fun parts. I got to show her the cities where the schools are located that were of interest. I got to celebrate when an acceptance and merit scholarship came through by email. I got to help her manage a return call to a prestigious music department leader when that school was not the first choice. I attended parent meetings virtually (year of COVID) for her top picks so I could have some input, but she and Steve ran the show. This process was helpful not just because I was not an expert and Steve is an expert, but it was a great first step to handling a goal as an adult does. None of us accomplish the big things in life solely on our own. We always have a tribe to support us. Being a grown up is expanding naturally outside of the family unit to increase that village of people you support and who support you. Steve is now part of our village and I write this so that I may return the tremendous support he gave Caroline and our family.