Sara’s journey to becoming a college access coach was deeply influenced by her older sister, Kari, who served with College Possible Omaha from 2018 to 2020 at Omaha South High School. Kari’s experience in coaching aspiring college students opened Sara’s eyes to the critical need for college access support. Sara now serves as a college access coach at Ralston High School, where she helps students navigate the complex world of college preparation, just as Kari did before her.
“Kari’s experience as a College Possible coach was the main reason why I decided to serve,” Sara says. “While I was finishing my senior year of college remotely during the pandemic, I watched her work with students, helping them with college enrollment. Seeing her actively serving really showed me the importance of the mission.”
For Kari, the experience was transformative, both for the students she served and for herself. “Some of the most impactful moments from serving often revolved around students’ experiences,” Kari says. “I loved getting to know students on a personal level and celebrating their accomplishments, whether it was receiving their QuestBridge match or being awarded the Buffett Scholarship. It was amazing to support them through it all.”
One student who stands out for Kari is Yexalen, who will be graduating from the University of Nebraska Omaha this spring. “She is one student I got to know extremely well during my second year of service, and her dedication, drive, and amazing ability to connect with people inspired me every day,” Kari recalls.
A sister’s influence: Finding a path after graduation
Sara’s path to College Possible wasn’t immediately clear. In her senior year of college, she applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship, with the possibility of teaching abroad. When the plan didn’t work out, Sara found herself uncertain about her future. Her summer job filled the immediate gap, but she wasn’t sure what her next step would be. That’s when Kari suggested she consider serving with College Possible.
“Kari and I have talked a lot about College Possible, and the main takeaway from our conversations was that the work is incredibly meaningful and it changes you for the better,” Sara says. “When my plans changed, Kari suggested College Possible as a great opportunity for a gap year, and I decided to take that chance.”
The challenges and rewards of coaching
Once Sara stepped into her role as a College Possible coach at Ralston High School, she quickly realized that the work came with its own unique set of challenges. As the only College Possible coach at the school, she is responsible for managing the college readiness of dozens of students, many of whom have little understanding of how to navigate the college preparation process.
“A lot of seniors had no idea where to start with college and scholarship applications,” Sara explains. “Helping them realize all the opportunities available to them has been incredibly rewarding.”
Being the sole College Possible coach at Ralston means she often has to rely on her own problem-solving skills. “Communication with students is a big challenge. It can be tough to reach them or get them to attend group sessions,” Sara notes. “I depend a lot on my critical thinking and flexibility in finding new ways to engage with students.” Despite a few challenges, Sara finds service deeply fulfilling and sees the growth in herself as much as in the students she serves.
Sisterly support: Kari’s continuing influence
Although Sara is forging her own path, her sister remains an important source of support. When challenges arise, Sara often turns to Kari for advice, particularly when it comes to building relationships with students who are hard to reach.
“One of the biggest issues I’ve faced is when students don’t respond to texts or emails,” Sara explains. “Kari gave me practical tips on interacting with them in person, like stopping by during their lunch periods or catching them during transitions between classes.”
For Kari, seeing Sara undertake a role she once played has been exciting. “Serving with College Possible is such a great opportunity to get experience and practice networking,” Kari says. “Sara is the kind of person who will make the most out of any opportunity, so no matter what she ends up doing next, she will take and apply the lessons she learns from this chapter of her life.”
How service shaped Kari’s career path
When Kari first decided to pursue a degree in English, she had never planned to become a teacher. After experiencing some uncertainty about her future following college graduation, Kari joined College Possible to give back to the community. “During my time serving, I realized I actually like working closely with people, and high school students can be extremely funny,” Kari says. “College Possible was one hundred percent the reason I decided to go into teaching.”
In her current role as a high school English teacher, Kari frequently uses many of the skills she learned while serving with College Possible. “Relationship-building is such a key skill when it comes to teaching,” Kari says. “You need to know what students’ goals are, what is important to them, and what they value. Having regular conversations about these topics with College Possible students prepared me for continued relationship-building as a high school English teacher.”
Serving with College Possible also helped Kari improve on her communication skills and become flexible in working with students who have different learning styles. Sara witnessed Kari’s transformation firsthand. “I saw how much Kari grew professionally and personally,” Sara recalls. “She left the program with a better understanding of herself and what she wanted to do with her life.”
A lasting impact
Looking back, both Sara and Kari recognize the profound impact College Possible has had and continues to have on their lives. For Sara, it’s not just about helping students get into college—it’s about showing them that they are capable of achieving more than they ever thought possible. And for Kari, her time with College Possible laid the foundation for her current career in education, where she continues to inspire and support young minds.
“College Possible taught me so much about resilience, communication, and building relationships,” Kari reflects. “I know it’s doing the same for Sara.” Both sisters agree that the experience has shaped their perspectives on education and service, leaving a lasting legacy not just for the students they’ve worked with, but for themselves as well.
