Ana Homayoun

The Underlying Stress of Passion + Purpose for Students

Last week, I had a high school senior in my office for a college advising appointment. A few minutes into the meeting, she blurted out, “I am so stressed! I don’t know what my passion is!!!” Please note: I had not asked her to identify her passion, her sense of purpose, or anything related. I … Read more

Advising 101: How to Start Generating Ideas for Your College Essays

Depending on the time of year, it might seem too early to start writing college application essays, but it can always be a great time to start generating ideas by jotting down experiences that have resonated or have been meaningful. At Green Ivy, we focus on finding ways to support students in their overall writing … Read more

How to Study for Tests

Test. The word itself is heavy enough to make your eyes roll, and your shoulders slump. After months of learning new content across five or more classes, it can feel overwhelming to stay on top of quizzes, tests, and approaching finals. At Green Ivy, we understand the dread. But we also know that with careful … Read more

Three Tips for Backpack Organization

Weekends and light homework weeknights offer great opportunities to reset your materials! By keeping an organized backpack, you can save yourself time and avoid stress throughout the week. Once you’ve neatly ordered your bag, materials become easier to find, assignments are less likely to get lost in a pit of crumpled papers, notes can be … Read more

Five Ways to Use Art to Enrich Your Free Time

Rather than scrolling on Instagram or watching YouTube videos, how do we take advantage of impulses to create and explore? Art, writing, and other creative outlets are excellent ways to stay purposeful and fulfilled. Creative outlets allow us to activate under-used parts of the brain, decrease feelings of stress, and improve mood through the naturally … Read more

Building Contacts, Connection and Community During Remote, Hybrid, and In-Person Classes

Imagine you’re in Spanish or Biology class. You accidentally zone out when the teacher gives out homewok instructions. In your homework portal, the instructions seem frustratingly vague. In situations like these, it can be crucial to have 1-3 acquaintances in the class that you can text, email, or call for clarification. Having connections in each … Read more