First Gen Edition: Find the Story that Gets You Into Your Dream School
Your life is a movie. You're the Director, the Producer, and the Main Character — and you're writing a chapter your family hasn't had the chance to live yet. The story you tell your college admissions team will define an important era. For first-generation applicants, it carries even more: the investment your parents made to get you here, the doors you're opening for everyone who comes next, and the particular kind of courage it takes to walk into rooms your family hasn't been in. I help you find the story only you can tell — for your essay, your interview, and the moment you step through the door. I'm first-gen too — the first in my family to go to school in the US. My dad is a French academic and my mom went to school in Brazil, so when I applied to college here, there was no family playbook to borrow from. I know what it means to carry your family's hope into a system they didn't grow up in. That story isn't a gap. It's your edge. Admissions officers read thousands of essays from students who grew up expecting to be there — yours carries something they rarely see. I use the same storytelling techniques that got me through high-stakes interviews and deals as a leader at Google and Instagram, and the same techniques I teach Fortune 500 leaders today. And as a pop/rap artist, I know how to find the hook, write the bridge, and step into the spotlight — which is exactly what admissions interviews ask you to do. What we do together: Before we start, you receive a Treasure Hunting pre-work packet — a set of questions designed to surface the memories, turning points, and family stories that make you you. (First-gen applicants often carry the richest material here — multi-generational journeys, first-of-their-kind moments, quiet courage that never got named.) You arrive to Session 1 already inspired and mid-discovery. Session 1 — Treasure Hunt. We go through your treasures together and kick off the story makeover. Treasure Hunting is my proprietary method for finding the story only you can tell. For first-gen applicants, we pay special attention to the family story — the one your parents and grandparents lived, and the one you're writing next. Session 2 — The Essay. We workshop the story that anchors your college essay. We find the angle that makes admissions officers stop reading thousands of essays and actually see you. Session 3 — The Interview. We train for your admissions interview — how to walk into the room, tell your story with confidence, and answer the hard questions without losing yourself. Session 4 — Blue Sky. A free session focused on whatever is most helpful — a second essay, a supplement, interview polish, parent alignment (especially valuable when your family hasn't done this before), whatever the moment calls for.
What's included
I've been through a lot of transitions and have been the odd one out — an immigrant most of my life. Being at the intersection of cultures means you never quite fit, but it also affords super powers that are very useful if you know how to tap into them. I was born in Paris, moved to the US, lived in the South of France for part of high school, came back to the US for my senior year, then went to Brandeis University, graduated, and moved to Brazil. All of it motivates me to help people like you navigate new systems and get your foot in the door. It's a story I've lived, one I connect with deeply — and it's why I'm so passionate about coaching the First Gen community. I'm also the founder of Speak Dreams, the storytelling company behind the Speak Dreams Mentorship Program. During the pandemic, I read 627 life stories, interviewed 77 finalists, and matched 84 young people across countries — many of them first-generation students navigating applications to universities, scholarships, and first jobs without a family playbook. The program rated 9.9/10 for positive life impact. That experience taught me what First Gen applicants really need from coaching: someone who sees the full weight of what you're carrying, helps you name it clearly, and turns it into the story that opens doors.
- Clarity and confidence in your edge as a First Gen applicant
- The story and angle for your college essay
- The polished narrative for your admissions interview
- Confidence that your story is worthy of your dream school
- Stronger communication and public speaking skills
- Strategic storytelling skills to shape any story toward a desired outcome
Meet your expert
Inès S.
627 personal essays in, I know what makes your story stand out
Instagram’s first hire in Latin America and ex-Google, I help students and professionals land top roles by turning their story into their greatest competitive advantage. I was the first in my family to navigate the American college system — from Colorado Springs to top Silicon Valley companies — and I never stopped betting on what's possible. It's what pushed me from Bank of New York to Google Brazil in the early days, then to Instagram as their first hire in Latin America, where I helped scale @instagrambrasil to 16M+ followers. I learned that your story is your greatest competitive advantage — and that most people undersell theirs. In 2020, I founded Speak Dreams and launched a mentorship program that received 627 applications. I read every single one. I interviewed 77 finalists and matched 84 women with mentors across cultures and countries — all in 47 days. It was rated 9.9 out of 10 for positive life impact. Now I coach top leaders from Google, Meta, Waze, Cargill, and Brazil's Paralympic Committee on how to access and articulate the stories only they can tell — for interviews, leadership moments, and career pivots. I'm also a pop artist (yes, really) and the creator of Chloé & Valentina, an audio fiction series featuring a Grammy-winning producer, Oscar-nominated sound designer, Emmy-winning writer, and acclaimed lead actress. It landed an Apple Podcasts Editorial Spotlight and coverage in Harper's Bazaar Brasil, Vogue, and Glamour. I bring that same creative rigor to our sessions: your story deserves more than a template. If you're ready to stop underselling yourself, let's talk.
