College Counseling
1,700 +
families supported across four continents over nearly 20 years, guiding students from middle school through young adulthood.
15
to 25 students per counselor at Interface, versus an industry average of 60–100, enabling deeper relationships.
50 +
of the world’s most selective universities represented, with students placed at every Ivy League institution.
Journey
By high school, the pressure is no longer subtle.
For families facing the college admissions process, the process can feel increasingly complex, where each decision carries weight and the path forward is not always clear. What is often misunderstood is where the real risk lies. It is not a lack of achievement, but a lack of clarity.
Students are high-performing, deeply committed, and surrounded by opportunity, yet that alone is no longer enough. The admissions landscape has fundamentally shifted. It is more competitive, less predictable, and defined by expectations that extend well beyond what appears on paper.
At Interface, we see students who are accomplished on paper but struggle to articulate their meaning, value and purpose in life.. They have learned how to succeed academically, but not how to define a clear point of view about their lives. In a landscape where intelligence is assumed, a strong sense of self matters.
Interface approaches this differently by treating college admissions as the outcome of a deeper process of development and positioning. Through structured guidance, we empower students to clarify their identity and direction early, so that each academic choice, activity, and experience builds with intention over time.
Alongside that work, we guide every step of the admissions process with precision, ensuring that each element reflects not just what a student has done, but how they think and who they are becoming. The result is a process that is both strategic and aligned, leading to a compelling application and a student who moves forward with clarity and confidence.
Services
We work with students across the full arc of their high school years, guiding each stage of academic, extracurricular, and personal development while shaping a thoughtful, well-positioned path through the college admissions process.
Full Service College Counseling
Comprehensive, end-to-end guidance spanning early academic and extracurricular planning through final application strategy, positioning, and submission
Writing & Narrative Development
Intensive, individualized support to help students articulate their experiences, perspective, and voice with clarity and authenticity across all application materials
Academic Performance & Well-Being Coaching
Targeted support to strengthen focus, resilience, and consistency, helping students manage pressure and perform at a high level over time
Customized College Tours
Thoughtfully curated campus visits designed around the student’s interests, goals, and evolving college list to inform stronger decision-making
Interface–USC Marshall Summer Program
Exclusive academic and leadership experience for high school students, offering early exposure to university-level expectations and environments
Additional Advisory Services
Specialized guidance for boarding school, transfer, and graduate school admissions, tailored to each student’s path and objectives
TESTIMONIALS
Real transformation is best described by the families and students who experience it.
“Before Interface, I assumed my job was to push. What I realized is that I needed to change. Listening differently, asking better questions, showing up without an agenda. Interface helped me see my son as a person, not just a project. He got into a great school. We also came out of it closer.”
Interface Parent
“I followed a path that felt safe but was never really mine. Interface pushed me to slow down and think about what I actually cared about, not what looked good on paper. Once I stopped building something impressive and started being honest about my interests, everything got easier to explain.”
Interface Student
“I wanted my daughter to develop a genuine sense of herself, not just a strong application. Interface gave her the space to do that. What I noticed over time was how she approached difficulty. She became deliberate, less impulsive. The hard moments ended up mattering just as much as the wins.”
Interface Parent
“Interface worked with me to start early, and do fewer things well. I had time to explore without pressure, which made it easier to figure out what I actually wanted to commit to. By the time applications came around, I was not scrambling to pull everything together. I was just showcasing what I had already […]
Interface Student
“There was always pressure to do more. At some point I stopped listening to it. Interface helped me see that depth matters more than volume. Once I focused on things I genuinely cared about, the work got better and decisions got easier. I was not building an image. I was just doing the work.”
Interface Student
Case Studies
EXPERTISE
Interface is unique among counseling services, offering a true partnership of American and global expertise. Our veteran educators have spent years as counselors, admissions officers, and teachers at selective universities and high schools around the world, providing unique insights into the application process
Dr. Megan B.
Senior CounselorDr. Megan B.
Senior Counselor
Dr. Megan believes the strongest college applications are built through years of intentional growth, not last-minute résumé building. With a doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Boston University and a bachelor's degree in Economics from Duke University, Megan brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective to college counseling. Her doctoral training in human development, motivation, and learning gives her a deep understanding of how students grow, develop confidence, and build the habits that allow them to thrive. Throughout her career, she has helped students earn admission to many of the nation's most selective colleges and universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Yale, Penn, Duke, and other leading institutions.
Families appreciate Megan's ability to recognize connections that students often don't see themselves. Rather than encouraging students to accumulate activities, she helps them develop authentic projects, deepen existing interests, and weave together experiences that tell a cohesive story. Whether she's helping an aspiring engineer transform technical interests into real-world impact, guiding a student toward a signature project, or coaching families through the complexities of highly selective admissions, Megan combines thoughtful strategy with genuine partnership. Her calm, responsive communication and clear guidance help students and parents feel confident throughout what can otherwise be an overwhelming process.
For Megan, college counseling is ultimately about helping young people develop the confidence, curiosity, and sense of purpose to thrive well beyond the admissions process. She believes students are most successful when they take ownership of their learning, pursue opportunities that genuinely excite them, and grow into thoughtful, self-directed adults. By balancing high expectations with authentic encouragement, Megan helps students discover not only where they want to go, but also the kind of person they hope to become along the way.
Chloe M.W.
Senior CounselorChloe M.W.
Senior Counselor
Drawing on more than a decade of experience as an educator and college counselor, Chloe helps students discover what makes them distinctive and transform those strengths into compelling college applications. A Stanford graduate with a bachelor's degree in History and a master's degree in Education, Chloe brings the perspective of both an educator and an experienced admissions strategist. Throughout her career, she has helped students earn admission to many of the nation's most selective colleges and universities, including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Princeton, and other top institutions.
What families value most about Chloe is her ability to help students feel genuinely seen. She believes the strongest counseling begins with understanding who a student is, what excites them, and how they naturally engage with the world. From there, she helps students turn authentic interests into meaningful opportunities, whether that's launching a new initiative, pursuing leadership, or elevating a long-standing hobby into a compelling part of their story. Her calm, thoughtful communication also makes her a trusted partner for parents. Chloe is known for listening carefully, providing clear guidance, and building the kind of trust that allows students to stay confident and focused throughout an often stressful admissions journey.
At the heart of Chloe's work is the belief that the college admissions process should prepare students for much more than college. She challenges students to take ownership of their goals, strengthen their decision-making, and develop the confidence to navigate increasingly complex opportunities with independence and purpose. By combining high expectations with genuine encouragement, Chloe helps students leave the admissions process not only with exceptional college options, but with the maturity, resilience, and self-awareness to thrive long after they step onto a college campus.
Jessica S.
Senior CounselorJessica S.
Senior Counselor
Jessica has spent her career helping ambitious students stand out in some of the country's most selective admissions pools. A former admissions officer at Rice University, she reviewed more than 12,000 applications while recruiting students, advising families, and evaluating candidates through the committee-based admissions process. That experience gave her an insider's understanding of what distinguishes memorable applicants from simply accomplished ones.
Jessica is especially skilled at helping high-achieving students build an application that feels authentic, intellectually cohesive, and unmistakably their own. Rather than encouraging students to collect impressive activities, she helps them discover the connections between their interests and develop a clear, compelling story that reflects who they are and where they want to go. Families appreciate her ability to explain even the most competitive admissions landscape with honesty, clarity, and optimism.
Students quickly feel comfortable with Jessica because she combines thoughtful guidance with genuine warmth. She meets students where they are, asks insightful questions, and creates the kind of trusting relationship that allows them to think more deeply, take intellectual risks, and grow in confidence throughout the process. By the end of their work together, students haven't simply built stronger applications. They've developed a clearer understanding of themselves and how to communicate what makes them distinctive.
Dr. Toby B.
Senior CounselorDr. Toby B.
Senior Counselor
With more than 15 years of experience in university admissions and counseling, Toby helps students develop thoughtful, compelling applications to leading universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and around the world. His work focuses not only on where students apply, but on helping them understand who they are as learners and how to communicate that clearly through their applications.
Before joining Interface, Toby served as an admissions officer at the University of Oxford and later worked closely with students applying to highly selective universities internationally. He also served as an examiner for Oxford's History Aptitude Test while completing his DPhil in the History of Science at Oxford.
Toby works with students pursuing admission to highly selective universities in both the U.S. and abroad. His students have earned admission to institutions including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, LSE, ETH Zurich, and Sciences Po. Families value his calm, thoughtful approach and his ability to help students transform complex interests and experiences into clear, compelling application narratives.
Dr. Chris T.
Senior CounselorDr. Chris T.
Senior Counselor
Chris helps students navigate the college admissions process with a combination of deep expertise, thoughtful mentorship, and a strong commitment to student growth. With more than a decade of experience in college counseling and admissions, he works closely with students to develop ambitious goals, identify meaningful opportunities, and build authentic application narratives that reflect their strengths and aspirations.
Chris earned his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and both a master's degree and Ph.D. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, where his research focused on access to higher education. He has served as Director of College Counseling at both Saint Martin de Porres High School and Cristo Rey High School, and later as Director of College Access with Thrive Scholars, a nationally recognized organization supporting high-achieving students through admission to highly selective colleges and universities.
Throughout his career, Chris has helped students gain admission to institutions including Harvard, MIT, Northwestern, Georgetown, Cornell, and Washington University in St. Louis. Families value his collaborative, student-centered approach and his commitment to helping students develop the confidence, self-awareness, and skills needed to succeed both in college admissions and beyond.
Keith G.
Senior CounselorKeith G.
Senior Counselor
Keith Gramling brings more than 25 years of experience in college admissions and counseling, including over two decades leading university admissions and recruitment efforts. He helps students and families navigate the admissions process with clarity, confidence, and a deep understanding of how colleges evaluate applicants and build incoming classes.
Throughout his career, Keith's focus has remained consistent: helping students identify their goals, understand their options, and make informed decisions about their educational futures. His extensive admissions leadership experience provides students and families with a unique perspective on the admissions process from the inside out.
Since joining Interface in 2015, Keith has worked closely with American and international students, guiding them through thoughtful application strategies tailored to their individual backgrounds, interests, and aspirations. He believes college counseling is not simply about gaining admission, but about helping students and families understand the admissions landscape, develop confidence in their choices, and find the institutions where they will thrive academically and personally.
Dana Z.
Counselor + Portfolio SpecialistDana Z.
Counselor + Portfolio Specialist
Dana Zullo is the author of The Creative Candidate: A Guide to College Admissions for Teen Artists and a college admissions counselor who specializes in helping students discover and communicate what makes them distinctive. She is particularly skilled at working with creative students, including artists, designers, musicians, performers, and other students whose talents and interests may not fit traditional admissions narratives. Families value her ability to help students develop authentic portfolios, essays, and application strategies that showcase both their accomplishments and their individuality.
A graduate of Columbia University and former NCAA Division I athlete, Dana brings a diverse background in education, admissions, writing, and the arts. She has served as a college counselor, a Senior Enrollment Representative for the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and a Columbia alumni interviewer. Following graduation, she also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, an experience that continues to shape her commitment to personal growth, cultural understanding, and educational opportunity.
Dana is a published writer whose work has appeared in literary and arts publications, and she has helped students gain admission to selective universities throughout the United States and internationally, as well as leading art and design schools where students have earned significant portfolio-based scholarships. Her counseling philosophy centers on helping students identify their strengths, communicate their stories with confidence, and pursue opportunities that align with their goals, talents, and values.
Kathleen S.
CounselorKathleen S.
Counselor
Kathleen has spent her career helping students gain admission to leading universities around the world. She has led college counseling programs at highly respected international schools across Europe and Asia, helping students navigate admissions to selective institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Australia, and beyond. Families value her global perspective, deep admissions expertise, and commitment to helping students find institutions that align with their goals, strengths, and aspirations.
In addition to her counseling work, Kathleen serves as a reader for undergraduate applications at UCLA, where she has personally evaluated thousands of applications. This experience provides firsthand insight into how admissions decisions are made and what distinguishes successful applicants in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Kathleen is widely recognized as a leader in the college admissions profession. She has written articles and book chapters on admissions best practices, regularly presents on admissions topics, and has served in leadership roles within the International Association for College Admission Counseling (International ACAC), one of the most respected professional organizations in the field.
Her counseling philosophy centers on helping students identify their strengths, explore opportunities that align with their interests, and present authentic applications that reflect both their accomplishments and their potential. She is known for building strong relationships with students and helping them approach the admissions process with confidence and purpose.
Dr. Lei Y.
CounselorDr. Lei Y.
Counselor
Dr. Lei Yu advises both undergraduate and graduate school applicants, drawing on doctoral training in student development, behavioral research, and statistics to provide highly personalized admissions guidance. He helps students identify their strengths, develop meaningful academic and extracurricular plans, and build authentic application narratives that reflect both achievement and personal growth.
Lei holds a master's degree from the University of Southern California, a Ph.D. in Social Gerontology from Miami University, and a graduate certificate in Applied Statistics. His academic background provides a unique perspective on how students develop interests, motivation, confidence, and identity over time. Students and families value his ability to build high-trust relationships while maintaining clear structure and accountability throughout the admissions process.
Lei has successfully guided students to admission at highly selective colleges and universities, including Ivy League institutions and leading public and private universities across the United States. His counseling philosophy is grounded in both empathy and rigor, helping students pursue ambitious goals while developing the self-awareness, independence, and resilience that will serve them well beyond admissions.
Susan G.
Special AdvisorSusan G.
Special Advisor
Susan Goodkin helps students develop distinctive academic, extracurricular, and personal profiles that reflect their genuine interests while positioning them for success at highly selective colleges and universities. Families value her ability to identify opportunities that move students beyond conventional activities and toward experiences that demonstrate intellectual curiosity, initiative, and authentic engagement.
Susan is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. Before transitioning to education, she practiced law, developing the analytical thinking, persuasive communication, and strategic problem-solving skills that now inform her work with students and families.
At Interface, Susan works closely with students to identify meaningful academic interests, design unique projects and experiences, and build compelling application narratives that stand out in an increasingly competitive admissions landscape. She is particularly skilled at helping students connect their interests across disciplines and pursue opportunities that align with both their strengths and long-term goals.
Hope M.
Special AdvisorHope M.
Special Advisor
Hope Murtaugh is a Special Advisor at Interface, where she provides strategic guidance on selective college admissions and works closely with students and families navigating high-stakes application processes. A graduate of Princeton University, Hope began her career in admissions at her alma mater, where she served as an Admission Officer and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions.
Since then, she has spent more than two decades counseling students around the world on admission to top U.S. and U.K. institutions, while also leading counseling teams and advising programs. Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of how highly selective admissions decisions are made, as well as a strong commitment to helping students present themselves with clarity and authenticity.
Hope is known for her calm, perceptive approach and her ability to help students think more clearly about who they are and how they want to move forward.
Rob A.
CounselorRob A.
Counselor
Rob is a graduate admissions counselor with more than 14 years of experience helping students gain admission to top graduate and professional programs. A graduate of Harvard University and Cornell Law School, he combines firsthand admissions experience with deep expertise in law school admissions, graduate education, and professional development.
Before joining Interface, Rob served as an admissions officer at Harvard University, where he developed a nuanced understanding of how highly selective institutions evaluate applicants. He later built a successful career as an attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, one of the world's leading law firms, giving him unique insight into both graduate education and the professional pathways that follow.
Rob's students have earned admission to leading graduate and professional programs including Harvard, Columbia, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, NYU, Cornell, Georgetown, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, and Washington University in St. Louis. Families value his ability to help applicants articulate their experiences, goals, and strengths in ways that resonate with admissions committees while remaining authentic to who they are.
In addition to his admissions work, Rob is a published author and former test-prep company founder. His counseling philosophy emphasizes thoughtful self-reflection, strategic positioning, and clear communication, helping students present compelling applications while preparing for long-term professional success.
Claire D.
CounselorClaire D.
Counselor
Claire brings more than four decades of experience in college counseling and student advising, helping students and families navigate the admissions process with clarity, structure, and accountability. A former high school counselor and one of Interface's earliest counselors, she is known for her hands-on approach and unwavering commitment to helping students stay focused, organized, and on track throughout the admissions journey.
Throughout her career, Claire has guided hundreds of students to successful admissions outcomes at colleges and universities across the United States. Families value her ability to quickly identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth, providing practical guidance that helps students make meaningful progress toward their goals.
Claire's counseling philosophy is rooted in the belief that successful outcomes come from consistent effort, thoughtful planning, and strong communication. She works closely with both students and parents, serving as a trusted advisor who provides honest feedback, clear expectations, and personalized support every step of the way.
Max He
Writing CoachMax He
Writing Coach
Max He understands the terrain his students are navigating because he grew up on it. Raised and schooled in the Bay Area, he knows the competitive pressures and particular expectations that Interface's local students and families face from the inside, not from a distance. He earned his BA in English from UCLA through the College Honors Program, made the Dean's Honors List, and completed a thesis on identity and technology in modern storytelling. Since 2023 he has worked as a college admissions counselor with a strong record across highly selective universities, including students admitted to Stanford, and deep familiarity with UC and CSU strategy, the Common App, and personal statement and PIQ development.
Max especially enjoys working with students who are still developing confidence in their writing. He has a gift for helping students recognize gifts they don’t yet see in themselves and creating an environment where they feel comfortable taking risks, exploring ideas, and finding their voice.
Max brings a student-centered mindset and real curiosity about the people he works with. For Interface's families, that means a writing relationship in which the student feels truly seen, and in which that feeling makes its way into the work.
Rachel Herron
Writing CoachRachel Herron
Writing Coach
Rachel Herron has been on both sides of the admissions desk. An award-winning playwright and filmmaker who graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, she served as an Admissions Ambassador at NYU and has spent years coaching students through everything from first high school essays to Ivy League personal statements. Her experience as a managing editor and writing instructor shapes feedback that is honest, constructive, and immediately actionable.
She works from a conviction that an application should carry both strategy and soul. Neither alone is sufficient. An essay that is technically polished but emotionally absent does not move a reader. An essay that is emotionally honest but unfocused loses them before it has a chance to land. Rachel insists on both at once, using writing exercises and open conversation to help students locate the story that is unmistakably theirs and then find the clearest, boldest way to tell it.
Whether she is coaching a future engineer, scientist, artist, or entrepreneur, Rachel’s goal is the same: helping students develop the confidence to tell stories that are unmistakably their own.
Cora Clark
Writing CoachCora Clark
Writing Coach
Cora Clark was educated on the great books. At St. John's College there are no conventional courses, only primary texts in philosophy, literature, history, and mathematics, read closely and argued over. That education taught her to look beyond whether writing follows the rules and instead ask whether it was something truly worth remembering. It’s an instinct that shapes every conversation she has with students.She went on to earn an MFA in Poetry at Johns Hopkins University, where she taught as a Lecturer in Creative Writing and served as Lead Assistant Editor for The Hopkins Review. Her own poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals, and that ongoing practice as a working writer keeps her coaching grounded in the craft of writing rather than a formula for admissions essays.
Cora is especially drawn to students who are still discovering their voice. She helps them uncover what makes their thinking distinctive and gives them the confidence to express those ideas with clarity and authenticity. By the end of the process, students aren’t just better writers. They have a clearer understanding of who they are and what they want to say.
Kristen Cosby
Writing CoachKristen Cosby
Writing Coach
Kristen Cosby helps writers finish their books. As a developmental editor and book coach, she has guided debut authors through the full arc of bringing a memoir or work of nonfiction into the world, with results published by Macmillan, Canongate, Nick Hern Books, and other major houses. She has held fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and her own writing has appeared in the Kenyon Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Creative Nonfiction, Fourth Genre, and elsewhere. Before coaching full time she taught memoir, creative nonfiction, and journalism at the University of Pittsburgh and the San Francisco Writers Grotto.
As both a working writer and developmental editor, Kristen helps advanced students push their writing beyond what they thought was possible. Kristen is at her best with students who are ready to be challenged: those taking on long-form or publication-minded projects, those who already have a voice and want to refine it further, those who are serious about writing as something more than simply another admissions requirement.
Kristen believes that serious writing has the power to shape how students think, create, and communicate. Her coaching helps young writers develop the confidence and discipline to tackle ambitious projects, skills that will serve them well beyond a single manuscript or application.
Stephanie Schneider
Associate Director of Writing Programs wtiStephanie Schneider
Associate Director of Writing Programs wti
Stephanie Schneider believes that great college essays begin long before the first draft. They begin with a student learning to think clearly, reflect deeply, and write with a voice that is unmistakably their own. Families value Stephanie’s ability to help students discover that voice and communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence.
Over years as a critic for RT Book Reviews she wrote more than 1,400 reviews and interviewed bestselling authors, a practice that trains something rare in a writing coach: the ability to feel within a sentence whether a piece of writing is alive or merely correct.
She brings that instinct to nearly two decades in the classroom, teaching Honors and AP English across grades six through twelve, serving as Vice Principal and English Department Chair at WorldEd International School, and building curricula meant to give students a real relationship with written expression rather than mere competence at it. She holds a dual BA in English Literature and Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill, is AP-certified in Literature and Language through UCLA, and has developed specialized material for English language learners.
Stephanie believes that writing is one of the most powerful tools students have for understanding themselves. Her coaching goes beyond helping students produce stronger essays. She helps students become more confident writers and more thoughtful communicators, skills that continue to serve them long after the admissions process is complete.
Grace Musante
Writing CoachGrace Musante
Writing Coach
Grace Musante spent years on the other side of the admissions process, reviewing more than 500 applications annually at Northwestern University, coordinating interviews, and reading submissions for TriQuarterly, one of the country's most respected literary journals. She knows how an admissions officer reads because she was one, which means she can tell a student not just whether an essay is well written, but whether it resonates with a real person at the end of a long day.
She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Northwestern and a BA in English from Gettysburg College. Her background as both a writer and admissions professional uniquely positions her to help students craft essays that are deeply authentic and compelling to admissions readers. She enjoys connecting with students across a wide range of cultural backgrounds and experiences.
What Grace has discovered across years of coaching is that the students who write the most compelling essays are almost never the ones who tried hardest to sound impressive. Her work, inside the application and beyond it, helps students discover and reach the most authentic version of themselves on the page.
Mel Song
Writing CoachMel Song
Writing Coach
Across more than six years and more than 1,000 essays, Mel Song has helped students earn admissions to top universities including Cornell, Williams, UVA, Georgetown, Wellesley, UC Berkeley, NYU, UCL, and HKU. Her students have also earned Gold and Silver Keys in the National and Regional Scholastic Writing Awards, and one won first place in The New York Times Teeny Tiny Memoir Contest (a competition that accepts approximately 1% of entries).
She holds an MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago, studied classical literature and poetry at Oxford, and is a published nonfiction author. As a practicing writer, she helps students move beyond formulaic essays to create writing that is compelling and impossible to mistake for anyone else’s.
Her coaching begins from a conviction that outlasts any admissions decision: writing is thinking. A student who learns to say what they actually mean, with precision and honesty, has developed something every selective university is looking for and no test score can capture.
Sam Niu
Writing CoachSam Niu
Writing Coach
Sam Niu approaches a college essay the way a historian approaches an argument: by bringing clarity, evidence, and careful reasoning to complex ideas. He helps students organize their thinking so readers not only understand what they have accomplished, but why it mattters.. He studied History at Princeton, minored in East Asian Studies, earned his MA at Columbia, and is completing a PhD there in United States history. That training sits behind how he coaches.
Between degrees he lived in Hong Kong as a Princeton in Asia Fellow, teaching English language and academic writing to university students. Proficient in Mandarin, he understands firsthand what it takes to write with precision in a second language and brings patience and expertise to students navigating that challenge.
Sam helps students develop their voice as the primary instrument for expressing what they think. His students leave with a deeper understanding of how to build an argument, communicate with precision, and earn a reader’s trust. Those lessons carry forward into everything they write next.