Transforming Writing Passion into Academic and Personal Success
Identifying Challenges and Tailoring Solutions
Emmett’s parents reached out to us at XQ Focus Consulting in the summer of 2016, just before he was about to enter sixth grade. A bright student with a knack for writing, Emmett required enrichment support in writing as he transitioned from a private school to a public school. Concerned that the school might not provide the kind of instruction he needed, his parents sought assistance to ensure his continued academic success.
Upon initial assessment and interviews with him and his family, Dr. Iman Parsa, the founder of XQ Focus Consulting, learned that Emmett was grappling with significant executive function issues and that he was formally diagnosed with ADD. Recognizing the complexity of teaching executive function skills to an 11-year-old boy, Dr. Parsa understood the need for a tailored approach to address Emmett’s challenges effectively.
Harnessing Writing Passion for Skill Development
Rather than employing conventional methods, Dr. Parsa utilized Emmett’s passion for writing as a catalyst for skill development. Understanding the inherent link between writing and low-tier executive function skills (such as task initiation, procrastination, time management, attention, planning, and organization) as well as high-tier executive functions (such as motivation, self-awareness, self- analysis and self-determination), Dr. Parsa employed writing as a vehicle to nurture these essential abilities in his young client. Over the first summer, he guided Emmett in crafting a short memoir, which immediately garnered recognition as the best non-fiction piece among 6-8 grade students at a prestigious library contest in his hometown in a suburb of New York.
Since 2016, Emmett has achieved remarkable success in writing, receiving numerous accolades at regional and national writing contests. He has been recognized as the most influential youth in the state of NY by NY Congress and has appeared in an award-winning documentary about the Holocaust. Additionally, he has delivered hundreds of speeches nationwide on the importance of bystanders’ intervention when witnessing hate crimes. In addition to his extracurricular accomplishments, Emmett has maintained a perfect GPA in high school, excelling in numerous AP and honors classes. Most recently, he has been admitted to a dozen top tier universities, where he is carefully considering his options.
Nurturing Holistic Growth and Success
Throughout this journey, XQ Focus Consulting has played a pivotal role in Emmett’s development. Beyond continuously refining his writing skills for awards and college applications, we have helped him cultivate a profound understanding of self and others, fostering traits such as empathy, confidence, purpose, and passion. Moreover, we’ve helped Emmett not only to develop key executive functions for school but also learn how to leverage them effectively to achieve success in various aspects of his life.
If you have a child who struggles with executive functions, productivity and motivation but at the same time is in need of enrichment opportunities, we encourage you to reach out to XQ Focus Consulting. Our personalized approach can help unlock your child's potential, cultivate essential executive functioning skills, and pave the way for academic and personal success. Contact us today to learn how we can support your child's journey to excellence.