Abigail Hillman Coaching and Consulting
I have always loved stories.
As a little girl, I was either reading a story or acting one out on stage. At Yale, tales of the past captured my interest, so I majored in history, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. My thesis, History in Black and White, which examined the representation of African Americans in U.S. history textbooks and the disconnect between historiography and classroom history, forced me to grapple with how we tell our national story.
Inspired, I decided to pursue a career in education which combined my love of history with my interest in theater and storytelling. I taught at the St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn, then earned my MAT from Brown University. After teaching US and Modern World history (AP, Honors, standard) at Newton North High School outside Boston, I began tutoring.
Close relationships with students and my penchant for narrative provided a natural segue into working on college essays. I quickly learned that the value of the process lay not in getting a kid into college, but in empowering them. First, they recognize what makes them special, then they express these strengths in their own words. The work is deeply gratifying.
Over time, I became an expert on the application process, consulting with families in addition to providing essay support. I soon began to work with transfer and graduate applicants, and expand into new fields. College graduates returned for help with resumés and cover letters (targeting employers just as they had targeted colleges in their supplemental essays). With increased confidence, I branched out into corporate and non-profit work.
The essence of communication is narrative. History, religion, mythology, advertisements, and politics all rely on story to make them effective and compelling.
My work is deeply collaborative, often intimate, and always a pleasure. Whatever your needs, I’d love to help you tell your story. We can meet face-to-face or online.
