Founding Foundry: Why two Ivy League grads returned to creative writing from the world of tech and finance

Foundry is a project we've been working on for the better part of a decade. In the early 2010s, Foundry Academy was started as a brick and mortar after-school program and experimental education center started by Sophia in Walnut, California. Foundry was not just another brick-and-mortar educational center; it was an experiment in redefining learning.

Housed in a spacious, repurposed music studio on Valley Boulevard, the academy welcomed thousands of students. At Foundry, our curriculum transcended traditional boundaries by integrating technology, social justice, ecology, and media studies, with a strong emphasis on writing as the primary tool for intellectual discovery and expression. Our workshops often used games and role playing activities to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world around us.

At the heart of Foundry's philosophy is a simple, powerful idea: students' thoughts and ideas hold immense value and deserve to be heard. This core belief has driven us to create an environment where imagination is not just encouraged but celebrated.

Our approach has consistently defied conventional expectations. For instance, we never approached writing with a pre-defined expectation of what topics were and were not good topics to write about. When our students expressed an interest in video games like Minecraft, we didn’t just listen—we engaged. We encouraged them to articulate the intricacies of their Minecraft worlds with enthusiasm and precision. Similarly, when students trolled us, asking to write a story about tacos, we didn't divert them to more traditional subjects. Instead, we guided them in crafting captivating narratives about tacos, demonstrating that any subject can be a vessel for learning and creativity.

Many students came to Foundry Academy having had bad experiences with writing, even approaching the subject with hostility. By making writing about them and their own story, we found that students would often be reluctant to stop writing at the end of the first day, Our goal has always been to cultivate skilled writers and passionate learners, no matter the topic. Our commitment lies in ensuring that every student realizes their potential as a communicator and thinker, equipped to explore and express their ideas with confidence and creativity.

Reimagining Foundry

After four enriching years at the helm of Foundry Academy, Sophia reached a pivotal crossroads. Despite the undeniable success and impact of the academy, she felt a compelling draw toward advancing her own education. This moment seemed perfectly timed for a transition, allowing her to further explore and refine the innovative teaching methods pioneered at Foundry through a more formal academic lens.

Deciding to pause the business was profoundly challenging. Yet, it opened a new path for Sophia at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. At Harvard, she was able to deepen her understanding of educational theories and practices, enriching her ability to influence and innovate within the educational sector.

The last few years have been a journey for us, as they have been for many families. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted many students' educations. The shift to online learning was not without its hurdles, but it also presented new opportunities. We continued to work with a small number of students one-on-one. We adopted some new innovative digital tools and platforms such as FigJam, a digital scratchpad and scrapbook which allows us to remotely brainstorm and outline with students.

At the same time, the Foundry team was growing as well. Through working as a Blended Learning Design Associate at the Obama Foundation and a Instructional Designer McKinsey & Company, Sophia directly observed how the skills taught at Foundry are crucial in shaping the leadership capabilities and potential of the next generation of community and corporate leaders.

Similarly Daniel's journey, from his background in algorithmic music and research to ultimately working in software engineering at Zipline, a robotics company, also brought unique insights to our educational approach. His experience living abroad and working in technology allowed us to integrate a strong international and STEM focus into our curriculum.

This is especially important as we help students navigate the complexities of a digital world, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary skills and the ability to think critically about technology's role in society. With the world moving rapidly towards digitalization, Daniel's insights into the intersection of technology and education were instrumental in helping us redesign Foundry's teaching approach.

Foundry 2.0: Expanding Horizons Through Remote Learning and Personalized College Counseling

At the heart of Foundry Writing and Pre-College Services is our personalized approach to college application counseling. We understand that the path to college is really unique for every single student. College rankings and standardized tests don't capture what is best for each individual student.

With Sophia's expertise from Harvard and the consulting industry and Daniel's academic experience at Dartmouth and career in software engineering, we offer a level of guidance that is more personalized for our student than any pre-college counseling company can offer. We limit the size of our studio to around ten students per year, and we dive deep into each student's interests, strengths, and personal stories to help them craft college applications that are not only genuine but also resonate with an admissions committees.

Our counseling process includes:

• Individualized Strategy Sessions: Every student begins their journey with us by developing a personalized strategy that aligns with their academic and career goals.

• Essay Crafting Workshops: We guide students through the process of writing college essays that highlight their unique perspectives and experiences. Our workshops focus on bringing out the student's voice in a way that is compelling and authentic.

• Application Reviews and Mock Interviews: We provide thorough reviews of all application materials and conduct mock interviews to prepare students for the real scenarios they will face.

• Global Admissions Insights: Leveraging our extensive knowledge of both domestic and international college admissions processes, we equip our students with the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed globally.

A Remote Future for Foundry

By removing the geographical barriers to top-quality education and college admission counseling, we empower students from every background to be able to work with us. We've helped students from across the United States, and from several countries overseas, gain admission to top US colleges and universities. And we also often help students write stellar applications for schools in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Hong Kong.

We also have a growing studio of younger writers, starting with kids as young as 10, where we teach the fundamentals of great creative writing. Recently we've been teaching students about poetry through the work of great poets such as E. E. Cummings and Elizabeth Bishop.

Ready to transform your educational journey? Sign up for a free intro session with us today to discover our unique teaching philosophy and how we can help you achieve your academic dreams.