For college-bound students (& their parents) looking to POP with possibility, purpose, & personality-filled applications that get put into the "YES!" pile—without POPPING under pressure on the way there! 💕
write once, use it everywhere
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“Meh hih a poh-uh car,” Lindsey forced out around a mouthful of Togo’s California Club while grabbing her keys and our giant shared Diet Coke. “Make him a pop-up card,” after an effortful gulp. “Like, straight up make that bad boy out of construction paper. Classic, quirky, cute.” “Linz…are you serious?” I’d just started dating this new guy on January 11, and I was pretty smitten already. Valentine’s Day was right around the corner, and it felt too important to mess up. On the drive back to class, though, I continued to quiz her about the idea. (If you’re picturing this scene right now, you’d be 100% justified in assuming that Lindsey and I were headed back to our high school classes, but yooud be incorrect. We were headed back to graduate school…thus my initial hesitation about a 3rd-grade art project as a viable V-day present for an adult male.) But by the time we arrived on campus, I’d totally fallen for it. Like a human-sized heart-eyes emoji (😍 bingo!), I skipped through the Target craft aisle and got to work in my apartment. And when I nervously presented my construction paper card at dinner—an assortment of stickers delivering a sweet message on accordion-folded pop-ups—guess what? He fell for me. And even though marriage wasn’t in our future, it was the relationship I needed for a while. The experience of those years was critical to the path I’m on now — even though I didn’t know it at the time. That’s kind of how this whole process works: things matter long before you realize they will. Today, I use college majors to make college planning easier for my students. They call me college-prep bubble wrap 🫧. And here’s the part most families don’t realize: My little construction paper moment? It wasn’t about the card. It was about taking something simple, personal, and a little unexpected… That’s exactly what strong college essays do. And it’s exactly what strong student writers learn how to do before it counts. Quick version (if you're skimming): 👉 RSVP now to this Sunday's session: Write Once, Win Twice - April 12 This Sunday, April 12, writing coach Lyn Fairchild Hawks and I are leading the second session of my Spring 2026 What Comes Next? conversation series—designed for families navigating different stages of student growth, from early academic and essay exploration through the college transition and beyond. Lyn is also a regular guest teacher in my #WinningCollege program — my students love her essay brilliance — and I’m so excited to have her lead this conversation with me. Write Once, Win Twice: College Essays, Writing Contests & Scholarships We’re pulling back the curtain on something I wish more families understood earlier: One piece of writing doesn’t have to live in just one place. The same idea… can show up in all kinds of dramatically different teen writing without huge heavy lifts. It’s not about writing more. It’s about writing once… and using it well. 👉 Save your spot here: https://www.minditrimble.com/event-details/earlyessays 💡 Live-only bonus: We’ll also be sharing a special webinar-only offer on our Bookend Service for families who want expert support at the beginning and the end of the application process. 🪺 They’re in College — Now What? (with Diana Davidson) ✍️ Finding Your College Essay Story: The Brainstorm Lab (with Lyn again) This whole series is designed to help families see the long timeline more clearly — not as pressure, but as orientation. Because when students have time to think, reflect, and experiment a little earlier…they don’t just write better essays. And that changes everything. If your student has ever said “I don’t know what to write about…” or you’ve wondered if they’re “doing enough”… this will give you a completely different way to think about it. Keep on poppin’ with purposeful college planning 🫧, P.S. Lindsey was right about the pop-up card. 👉 Please go RSVP and forward to parent or student who needs this: https://www.minditrimble.com/events |
Mindi Trimble Mentoring
For college-bound students (& their parents) looking to POP with possibility, purpose, & personality-filled applications that get put into the "YES!" pile—without POPPING under pressure on the way there! 💕
I have three little spots on my head that I like to "worry." Doesn't worry sound so endearing? Like a sweet, handwringing, tea-making little old lady? So much nicer than pick. Pick is a lowly street urchin eyeing your pockets. But let's not get it Oliver Twist-ed. I pick my scalp. It started in 2020, during the pandemic. When it did, I immediately thought of my dad — and that hideous brown Nissan Maxima station wagon from my childhood, him in the front seat, working the same spot on top of...
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