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Success Stories

"When I got to college, the support networks that I had relied upon at home and in high school were gone. I struggled with learning disabilities and ADHD all my life, but in my first semester at Colgate University, these issues quickly manifested themselves in my academics and personal life in a way which clearly wasn't tenable over the next four years. To be perfectly honest, at the time, other counselors and administrators had decided I was lazy, undisciplined or just plain immature, allowing them to apathetically dismiss me as another hopeless college "screw-up." I could read it on their faces and it was pretty demoralizing.  

Then I met Ms. Low. In contrast to my previous experiences, it should be recognized that much of Beverly's dynamic talent lies in her ability to relate to students on a compassionate and genuine level. Rather than throwing cookie-cutter, prefabricated solutions at me as others had, she took the time to understand me as an individual. In doing so, she facilitated a trusting, collaborative relationship which ultimately empowered me to take an active role in solving my problems.  Currently, I am in medical school and pursuing my goal of becoming a cardiologist. In all sincerity, I am eternally grateful for the positive impact that Beverly has had on my life."

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— Family Practice Physician

"Beverly met with my son during his junior and senior years of high school to help him navigate the application process as he considered a variety of academic programs and  institutions.  She offered sound advice throughout the process with an objective point of view.  Her guidance was very reassuring for both student and parent, and raised my son’s confidence level in applying and being accepted to several high profile colleges and universities.​"

 

— Heidi Glidden, parent

" I had wonderful professors, great coaches, and incredible mentors, but no one comes close to the hours spent, the emotions invested, and the commitment made by Bev to make sure that I was successful in college.  She was aware of my every move in the classroom, on the ice, and in the community.  Rather than providing me with the answer, Bev worked with me to help me discover it on my own.  She also helped me to define my own measure of success.  The one thing that I most appreciate in Bev, is her ability to work with the individual.  She does not work from a cookie cutter definition of what it means to be successful, rather she helps students to use their talents and passions to set their own goals, open their own doors of opportunity, and set the world on fire!  She is a motivating educator with a passion for pushing people to do their very best.  She continues to be an inspiration for me, and someone who I want to make proud."

 

— Brooklyn Wheeler Raney, Author of "One Trusted Adult: How to Build Strong Connections & Healthy Boundaries with Young People", as well as a consultant, facilitator, speaker and storyteller.

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"My freshman year was a disaster.  I was unprepared for the rigors of a first-class education, having come from a small, rural public high school.  I was also dealing with some serious personal issues, including questioning my sexuality and struggling with a case of mild ADD.  My grades suffered, and the university dismissed me for a year to “grow up” a bit and figure things out. 

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Beverly remained my dean during my entire college career.  When I was lost, wallowing in self-despair and feeling nearly worthless, she provided the guidance necessary to pull myself together. We met in her office on multiple occasions and in her steadily firm, genuinely warm, supportive and inspirational style, she and I discussed the challenges that I faced, what I felt were the barriers to my success and how we could overcome those obstacles; we developed a plan. With her help, I was able to recognize what an opportunity I was on the verge of throwing away and that my world was not over, that I could move forward and even learn from the experience.  She had faith in me and knew that I had the potential to excel if I applied myself, far before I realized it.  

I spent my year away from Colgate in self-assessment:  taking half-time classes at a local college and working at Sears selling televisions next to career sales people who were putting their own kids through college by working as hard as they could, just as my own parents had done for me. During this latent “gap-year” out in the “real world,” I finally gained some much-needed perspective.  Throughout the whole process, Beverly would check in with me about my progress and discuss the situation with my parents as needed.  Eventually I was able to return to Colgate, having learned a great deal about myself and about the value of the educational opportunity that I had been so close to throwing away. When I returned and made the Dean’s List for the first time, I finally knew I could do it, that I was not a failure and that with the right guidance, motivation, self-awareness and respect for my own abilities, I could accomplish my goals."

 

— Brendan Dwyer, Family Nurse Practitioner 

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