My Lively Miniseries: Mindset + Action Focus for College Admission Prep

Here at My Lively, our goal is to foster the growth of a community of well-being seekers like you who challenge the narrative and find value in being in connection with a curated group where you can be met in personal growth, and social play… The My Lively Way.

Each My Lively miniseries is oriented around our theme to CONNECT + TRANSFORM and we’ve done the work to vet high-caliber experts to facilitate unique transformational experiences for you in one of our curated beautiful spaces.

Are you a parent of a 2026 senior...feeling OVERWHELMED by the impending timeline of college admissions and unclear on what’s essential to do now? You didn’t spend lots of $$$$ for private college admission prep earlier on and now summer is closing out + deadlines loom. Join us for this 3-PART MINISERIES where top college admissions experts + mindset coaches guide you with clear action steps and timelines - all while honoring the MENTAL and EMOTIONAL process that both you AND your senior are navigating. Come together with other parents + seniors in a community who gets what you’re going through and is ready to overcome the overwhelm and be prepared for the UPCOMING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SEASON!

Join us for our upcoming 3-part miniseries that will take place from 9a-12pm on Sept 6th, Oct 4th, and Nov 8th in La Jolla, CA.

Each ticket includes admission for one parent and one senior student.

Goal: Equip parents with the knowledge and strategies to support their student during the college application season—without adding extra stress.

We’re Here Already - What’s Next?

This workshop goes deep into the action focus as well as the essential mindset that will support you in the admissions process. It’s an opportunity to be in community with fellow parents who are on a journey similar to yours and can relate to the challenges and the excitement and everything in between.

Here, we explore the following:

Action Focus:

Welcome & Overview of the College Application Landscape

• Key dates & deadlines (Common App, UC Application, FAFSA)
• Overview of holistic review—how colleges evaluate applicants
• Current trends in admissions (test-optional landscape, demonstrated interest, etc.)

Introduction to the Essay Process

• Why essays matter in holistic admissions
• What colleges look for in a personal statement
• Common parent misconceptions about essay

Quick Tips for Parents on Essay Support

• Encouraging brainstorming vs. editing for voice
• Recognizing when a topic may be overused or too generic
• Understanding the difference between Common App Personal Statement and UC Personal Insight Questions

Essential Mindset:

How Parents Can Best Support Their Students

• Balancing encouragement and independence
• Understanding your student’s role vs. your role in the process
• Reducing overwhelm—creating a manageable timeline
• Navigating the emotional process for you and with your senior
• Inviting your senior into a process of discovery and partnership
• Dealing with external infulences and pressures from social media

There will be action steps/homework for the parents to do before the next workshop.

Goal: Help students confidently start their essays by understanding what makes an application essay effective—and what pitfalls to avoid while tending to your mindset along the way.

Here we are together - let's make a plan

In this workshop, we welcome the senior to join the experience. This is a time for you to do the work to clarify what YOUR unique journey will be and what matters most to you, outside of the external influences and cultural pressures. Breakout sessions will enhance the experience where the parents and seniors will be led by mindset and action focused facilitators to encourage clarity and openness to share each others experience.

Here, we explore the following:

Action Focus:

Welcome & Purpose of the Session

• Recap of why essays matter and the role they play in shaping an application

Essay Advisor-Led Workshop: “From Blank Page to Breakthrough”

• The Do’s and Don’ts of the Personal Statement
• DO: Share a personal story, highlight growth, show self-awareness
• DON’T: Repeat the résumé, write for shock value, or make it generic
• Examples of strong vs. weak essay openers

Quick Brainstorming Activity

• Guided prompts to help students surface meaningful personal stories
• Small group or paired sharing to start refining ideas

Introduction to UC Personal Insight Questions

• Overview of the 8 prompts & how to choose the best 4
• How PIQs differ from the Common App essay
• Common mistakes in PIQ responses

Next Steps for Students & Parents

• Suggested timeline for drafting and revising essays
• How to work with the essay advisor for feedback and support
• Tips for balancing essays with the rest of the application workload

Essential Mindset:

The Unique Practices for Parents and Seniors

• Navigating challenges as they arise - the tools you need to make it through
• Celebration - how to bring it forward alongside the challenges
• Staying the course as seasons change
• Non-negotiable practices for maintianing wellbeing throughout the process
• Maintining your unique identity and staying true to your values amidst pressure

There will be action steps/homework for the parents and senior to do before the next workshop.

Goal: The Action Plan + Student Panel: finalizing your checklists, tending to your mindset, and a bonus Q&A with current college students who have walked the path before you

OK, I got it - I’m ready to go!!

The big plan: checklists and accountability to make it all come together so you can celebrate and acknowledge what’s ahead while being clear on both navigating the essential mindset and action steps alike. There will be a panel of students from various points in the college journey to speak to their experience and be available for Q&A.

All of the work that was done thus far will culminate in a powerful process to take what you've learned and step forward confidently and prepared for the college admissions process!

With a background in academic and college counseling and a passion for guiding students through the college admissions process, Shannon has made a significant impact in the education sector.

Shannon Brady's initiative in founding TheCollegeMIND course in 2021 is a testament to her dedication to revolutionizing college counseling and empowering students to make informed decisions about their academic futures. Her vision and passion for guiding students toward the best college options led her to establish TheCollegeMIND, a pioneering platform that offers comprehensive guidance and resources for students embarking on their college journey. The course equips students with the tools to navigate the complexities of college admissions while focusing on their personal preferences, abilities, and potential. Through TheCollegeMIND, Shannon seeks to alleviate the stress and uncertainty often associated with the college admissions process. Her innovative approach aims to provide students and families with tailored resources and support, reflecting her unwavering commitment to student success.

Shannon's early life in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and her experience as a student-athlete at Loyola University in Maryland shaped her path toward academic and college counseling. Her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology laid the foundation for her future work in supporting students' personal preferences, abilities, and potential. After completing her undergraduate studies, Shannon pursued a Master's of Education in School Counseling, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing her professional skills. Her role as the Internship Coordinator at Fordham University's Office of Career Planning allowed her to empower students by conducting resume-writing seminars, coordinating internship programs, and providing valuable career guidance.

Shannon's transition to a top-rated regional high school in New Jersey marked a pivotal moment in her career. As the College and Career Counselor, she established a comprehensive College and Career Center and conducted workshops and seminars to assist students and parents in post-secondary planning and the college admissions process. Her dedication and expertise made her an indispensable resource within the school community, as she provided invaluable support to grade-level counselors, students, and parents. Beyond her work in the school setting, Shannon's experience with a college consulting company further expanded her impact in the field of college counseling. Shannon's journey reflects her unwavering commitment to helping students navigate the complex landscape of college admissions and post-secondary planning.

Shannon lives in Carlsbad, California with her husband, Brian, and son, Liam & daughters, Shae and Brynn.

Lauren has a passion for fostering growth, success, and self-confidence in high school students. She is dedicated to helping teenagers achieve their academic goals while enjoying a balanced life.

Lauren started teaching high school English in San Diego, California. When her husband had a work opportunity in Miami, Florida, Lauren took her teaching career to the other side of the country. Teaching high school in Miami allowed Lauren the opportunity to focus on providing a safe learning environment for underprivileged teenagers to achieve success academically and personally. This experience drove Lauren’s passion for creating classroom culture that promotes individuality, risk-taking, open-mindedness, and comradery. Lauren moved back to San Diego and decided to further her studies by attaining certification for AP English Language and Composition. These courses helped Lauren re-discover her love for writing and editing, specifically essay compositions. Helping teenagers discover their true voice while attaining confidence in their writing, became a central drive in Lauren’s teaching. Part of her 11th grade course curriculum was dedicated to college admission essay writing. She has been a part of the UCLA Extension College & Counseling Certificate Program, completing courses in brainstorming the college essay, and structure & content.

Lauren took time off from teaching career to spend time with her growing family. However, her passion for working with teenagers did not waver. When she learned about The CollegeMIND, she knew this was perfect opportunity for her to put her experience and dedication to good use.

Lauren is a San Diego native, having graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in English. She went on to acquire her Master’s in Education. She lives in Carlsbad, California with her husband Jake, son Jameson, and daughter Harper.

Gina has spent over a decade helping women reclaim their health, habits, and sense of self.

As a Certified Health and Life Coach with a Master’s in Education and a background in Human Development, she blends evidence-based strategies with heart-centered coaching to guide women through some of the most pivotal transitions of their lives.

Gina has supported hundreds of women in breaking free from burnout, overwhelm, and self-sacrificing patterns—and stepping into a life that feels clear, strong, and deeply aligned.

Her approach centers on the CORE4: movement, sleep, nutrition, and stress support—while always keeping the bigger picture in view: identity, purpose, and lasting self-trust.

Her work is rooted in lived experience, professional expertise, and a bold belief that midlife isn’t a breakdown—it’s your becoming.

She’s here to help you come home to yourself—with Moxy.

Ashley is a mindset coach, speaker, and founder of the Raising Confidence movement – on a mission to inspire the next generation to believe in their limitless potential. Her journey – from entrepreneur to devoted mom of two confident daughters to purpose-driven mentor – has been fueled by faith, resilience, and heart. Today, Ashley empowers kids, teens, and parents to uncover their inner magic through her Uncover Your Magic podcast, mindset programs in San Diego schools, and her signature course, Raising Confidence. She’s living proof that with love, intention, and a belief in what’s possible… anything can be.

The experiences in this miniseries are thoughtfully designed to be enjoyable and applicable, providing you with what you need to take action and tend to your wellbeing along the way.

Each workshop of the 3-part miniseries will be from 9a-12pm in La Jolla, CA.

The specific location of the event and further details will be emailed to you upon registration.

Spaces are limited, so don't wait!

My Lively is about empowering people through community. Although My Lively notably focuses on well-being + beautiful spaces, the true indisputable results come from the transformations via finding the right vetted professionals and settings. We don’t want people to have to worry whether they are following just another wellness trend or fad -or- about being exposed to unhealthy environments during their journey. Instead, we want to make sure that all are given the best skilled experts and most beautifully WELL environments so they can move towards empowerment + revolutionize their life with ease. Here at My Lively we focus on bringing people together with beauty and a purpose.

Hi there fellow well-being devotees! My name is Candice, founder of My Lively and a mother of three beautiful daughters (who really test me daily). My girls are at the core of why I created My Lively. I am a relentless mind, body, and spirit advocate who not only wants to find my own way in life, but wants to help others (especially our youth) do so as well. My hope is that we can all find our true purpose and thrive, starting now! No more dreaming or procrastinating people (wink!). I continue to work on giving myself time to explore and do the things I love most : spending time with my family, pets (five fur babies), friends, and of course discovering + making all things beautiful! I am a total imperfect human being trying to get the most out of this perfectly leased life and invite you to join me in finding your direction through the My Lively way. Let’s not forget to have some fun while doing it, too!

Info: The opportunity to ask questions, bond with community, and close out an awesome day together!

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