Check out our photos from 04/26/2026 and stay tuned for a Part 2 opportunity in Fall 2026!

On Sunday, April 26, 2026 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Nichols Library, Chinese American Women in Leadership’s Youth Program (“CAWA Youth”)—in partnership with Naperville Community School District 203, Alliance of Indian Americans in Naperville Area (AIANA) and Women Crossing Boundaries Foundation and Advanced Ivy Prep—is continuing our focus on building our own storytelling skills—this time, with a focus on college admissions.

• Many high school students—especially immigrants or children of immigrants—are navigating the U.S. college application process for the very first time, often without a roadmap.
• This workshop exists to demystify some of the process, reduce stress, and help students feel confident in getting organized and how to tell their unique stories.
• CAWA Youth is creating a safe, welcoming space where students can learn from an expert college admissions coach Dr. Laura Perretta of Advanced Ivy Prep on what really matters to colleges, ask honest questions, and collaborate with peers to begin mapping out individual stories that can be applied to college essays.

What Makes This Workshop Different

• This is not a lecture or test-prep class—it’s an interactive experience with an Ivy League-educated coach and insider who has counseled hundreds of students on how the top colleges think.
• Students will work in small groups to begin shaping their own personal stories—learning how to reflect passions, interests, and experiences in a way that feels authentic and compelling.
• The workshop builds skills that go beyond applications, including organization, executive functioning, and mental health awareness, which are especially relevant for post‑pandemic high schoolers.

Admission is FREE but limited seats are available on a first-come-first-serve basis until we reach maximum capacity.

Light refreshments will be provided to celebrate May’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Please send any questions to CAWAYouthTeam@gmail.com.

Learn more about how to get involved with CAWA Youth on our home page or follow us on Instagram!

This program is also partially funded by a 2025 DuPage County Small Nonprofit Grant.