Letter from Founder
Human development starts from the inside-out. Academic development works the same way. Most acknowledge that our emotional state impacts our learning, but I have seen firsthand how much learning impacts our emotional well-being. Students that are engaged in their learning feel purpose and peace of mind, while experiencing a greater sense of self.
My goal is to provide adolescents with the vision and insight regarding who they are, and the tools to continue to develop themselves to their potential. Because a student’s livelihood is so intertwined with their academic world, it is nearly impossible to separate the individual from the student. Addressing one always impacts the other— I address both.
And though I never cared to pursue education as a career, I always appreciated the impact learning has on our minds. It opens up our perspective, providing insight into who we are and the world around us.
But perhaps even more than my concern for learning, is my interest in how people become better versions of themselves— how they become happy, fulfilled, and find purpose. I studied developmental psychology to try to understand how our thoughts and behaviors worked and why the range of human experience was so vast. I studied philosophy because I couldn’t help ask questions and the why behind everything. I fell into education quite accidentally and, after more than a decade, I'm happy I did. I learned much about myself, and more about human beings than I ever did in my studies.
We are here to support students on their life journey through adolescence and into adulthood: emotionally, intellectually, academically, and strategically.
David
Founder
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David Joseph Issabey
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Coach David’s perspective, influenced mainly by his studies in philosophy and psychology, provides him with a humanistic and comprehensive mentorship approach. Prioritizing development over achievement, he believes the first leads to the second. As a coach, his approach is to teach students how to self-reflect and self-analyze, allowing them to understand themselves deeply and accurately. His goal is to provide adolescents insight regarding who they are so that they can control their own development.
An admittee to college, graduate school, law school, and medical school, David brings a wealth of experience applying to various academic programs. Across the various programs he’s applied to, he has earned admission to New York University, the University of California Los Angeles, New York Law School, George Washington Medical School, and Harvard University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in human development psychology and his master’s degree in political philosophy, both from DePaul University.
Read a more complete bio here.
Handbook
Developing the Adolescent
By providing an in-depth look at the various aspects of adolescent development— from childhood impressions to a student’s relationship with learning, as well the art of coaching and benefits of mentorship— this handbook is designed to start a conversation.