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Success Comes In Many Different Forms
The Golden Ticket is a memoir told from the perspective of answering college essay prompts. This approach ties into your background and career path, presenting your story in a unique fashion. Why was it important to tell your story?
I wrote The Golden Ticket because I wanted to address the disconnect—chasm, really— between my professional life and my home life.
At work, I counseled students on how to tell their best story and to gain admission to some of the most selective colleges in the world; at home, my husband and I were struggling to raise three children with developmental delays, depression, anxiety, and learning differences.
In Palo Alto, where we live, everyone talks about getting into college (and not just any college, but the good kind), which doesn’t leave much room for conversations about kids who aren’t ready for college, or don’t want to go, or might be struggling with challenges that go beyond deciding which top 20 school they’ll apply to.
In telling both parts of my story, I wanted to provide a larger context for what Frank Bruni calls “Yale or jail” thinking about success—and to open a broader conversation about what it means to be successful or to lead a meaningful life. Not every success story ends with the name of a prestigious college on the back of a late-model luxury car.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
By far the most difficult thing was describing the struggles each of my children faced. There is nothing more painful than being a parent and feeling powerless to address the challenges your children are facing. Revisiting those moments was agonizing, but I also felt strongly that chronicling what we went through as a family would help other families feel recognized and less alone.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
One of my improv teachers often told me to “say the thing.” I have a tendency to tiptoe around whatever my character’s motivation or thinking might be, and he always encouraged me to just blurt it out. I now have a ring engraved with the words “say the thing” as a reminder.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
That success comes in many different forms at different stages of your life—and that there is, in fact, no golden ticket.
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Irena is a Russian Jewish immigrant, a PhD in comparative literature, a former Stanford admissions officer, and a private college counselor in Palo Alto, California—a city where everyone has to be good at something and where success often means the name of a prestigious college on the back of a late-model luxury car. But as Irena works with some of the most ambitious, tightly wound students in the world, she struggles to keep her own family from unraveling, and that sharp-edged divide lies at the heart of her memoir.
The Golden Ticket is narrated using a form Irena knows best: college application essay prompts. In her responses, Irena weaves together personal history, sharp social commentary, and the lessons of literature ranging from The Odyssey to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Her memoir asks difficult questions—What exactly do parents mean when they say they want the best for their children? What happens when the best of intentions result in unexpected consequences?—and envisions a broader, more generous view of what it means to succeed.
The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays
In The Golden Ticket, author Irena Smith invites readers to embark on an intimate exploration of her life as a Russian immigrant in America. Navigating the complexities of language barriers and the added burden of discrimination due to her Jewish heritage, Irena and her family remain steadfast in pursuing the American dream. Born into a lineage of engineers, Irena defies expectations by embracing her passion for literature, ultimately studying at the prestigious UCLA with her parents’ encouragement.
Post-graduation, Irena discovers her true calling as a college admissions counselor, specializing in guiding students toward the coveted HYPS institutions: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. Her unique perspective gives readers insight into the extraordinary lengths parents are prepared to traverse to secure their children’s admission into these esteemed establishments, often at any financial cost.
Irena’s multifaceted life experiences extend beyond her professional endeavors. As a mother to three children, one autistic and the others exhibiting neurological differences, she exemplifies resilience and devotion. Her candid portrayal illuminates the challenges of raising children with diverse needs while simultaneously working with families whose priorities are strikingly different than her own family’s.
The Golden Ticket is a compelling memoir that unapologetically delves into Irena’s journey. Her emotive storytelling and vivid descriptions forge a connection with readers, transcending its ostensible purpose as a guide to crafting college essays. It encapsulates the essence of Irena’s life, imparting invaluable lessons on determination, the pursuit of knowledge, independence, and curiosity.
The Golden Ticket is an exceptional read for anyone seeking a glimpse into the world of a college admissions wizard. Delving into the intricacies of the application process, this engaging and informative book comes highly recommended for readers interested in both personal narratives and the college admissions landscape.
Pages: 238 | ASIN : B0B8H4K7HZ
LITERARY TITAN 