The Parent Venture: The Golden Ticket - A Life in College Admissions Essays

College admissions expert and author Irena Smith has spent over two decades in the world of high-stakes college admissions—first as a Stanford admissions officer, then as an independent college counselor in the San Francisco Bay Area. While her students and their parents worried about gaining admission to selective colleges, Irena's own children were struggling with challenges exacerbated by the relentlessly competitive culture of the Bay Area.

In her forthcoming book, The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays, Irena Smith explores the disconnect between our achievement-driven culture and young people who struggle to fit into that culture and suggests a broader, more generous way to define success. In addition to discussing her book, Irena will answer questions and identify ways in which parents can reframe how they think about the high school years and help their teens find joy in learning and growth.

This event is sponsored by Sequoia Healthcare District, Sequoia Union High School District, Peninsula Health Care District, and The Parent Venture.