I can still recall the first time I met Leyla Abla in a hotel lobby just as a 13 years old girl. Ever since that day, she has been actively involved in my academic life; to be frank, she has helped me in many other ways too. Over the years Leyla Abla not only became a counselor to me but a guiding mentor. She helped me choose my high school, courses, summer schools, extracurriculars and most important of all, my future boarding school. When we first met I was sure I was ready to go to a boarding school on the other side of the World. Fortunately, after going to the Taft Summer School I understood I have a long way. Leyla Abla was able to foresee this from the moment we met and she also made me realize this. The next year, I started Uskudar American Academy; which is one of the most rigorous schools in the country. Leyla Abla also suggested I choose UAA since it would be a good preparation for the US. Moreover, she recommended I go to another summer school to be sure I was ready. That year I went to Exeter Summer's Charles J. Hamm Leadership program, which was also recommended by Leyla Abla. Not only, I became certain of the fact I wanted to study in the US and also met with extraordinarily talented people from all around the world. In the following months, we were busy with the applications for the boarding schools. Leyla Abla inspired me to write incredible essays and motivated me a lot through this process. I have always been a very competitive student; therefore, I wasn't thinking of going to any school other than the "big names". Leyla Abla was always aware of the fact that competition was detrimental to me and said it many many times. I was a student who was tired of all this meaningless competition and thrived in a more positive learning environment. Leyla Abla has been very right all along, at the end of the day I chose Westminster School which is I think the best school for me. I don't think no words can express my gratefulness to Leyla Abla; it is certainly incredible how one person can completely change your life.