Missy was great. The application process can be a little complicated and having an expert, like Missy, to answer questions and guide you just when you need it with all of the deadlines, alleviates a lot of worry.
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Parent of Class of 2023 graduate
Having a teen in a public high school the challenge was real. Thank God for Missy. If it wasn’t for her we would have been lost and potentially lose Bright Futures scholarship. So every dollar we paid was totally worth it. I highly recommend her, she is very professional and responds quickly to emails or texts. Grad 2023
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Parent of Class of 2023 graduate
Working with Missy Van Anda for 13 years, I had countless opportunities to see how well she works with students, one of whom is my own daughter who will graduate next year. Missy is so compassionate and supportive of her students. She exceeds all of my expectations as a school counselor for my child and her expertise in counseling and education have been a blessing for her colleagues and students.
Paula S., former co-worker and parent of former student - class of 2022
Mrs. Van Anda worked with all 3 of my children, and I can’t speak highly enough about her! She genuinely cares about her students and wants to help your child succeed, not just academically but personally. She builds relationships with each student, in which she has an innate ability to recognize their strengths and how to guide and motivate them to choose the best for college and beyond. She is one of a kind, always willing to help when needed. My children were blessed to have her during their high school years, and I’m honored to call her a friend as well. She will be an asset to any parent or student that uses her services!
Carla S., parent of three former students - class of 2017, 2019, and 2022
Missy is a compassionate person, who genuinely cares about her students. She is warm and approachable. Missy actively engages with her students and takes the time to get to know them on a more personal level as unique individuals. She learns what they like and what they dislike, their strengths and weaknesses. Her years of experience and expertise enable her to assess her students' needs and assist them with a plan for success, whether that be course selection to build on academic skills and/or to help them prepare to apply and transition to college. As both a parent of two of her former students and a long-time colleague, one of the most outstanding qualities that sets Missy apart is how she goes above and beyond for her students. I am in awe and have the utmost respect for her commitment and dedication to her students' success.
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Lucie D., former co-worker and parent of two former students - class of 2012 and 2020
Mrs. Van Anda no doubt was a prime factor in my achievement of graduating valedictorian of my high school graduating class. She always provided extra support alongside my counselor to make sure that I was taking rigorous classes but not allowing myself to overfill my schedule so that I wouldn’t be overwhelmed with sports and school. For years, I had felt the pressure to follow my legacy and go to the school my whole family had gone to. But Mrs. Van Anda helped me see there is more to college than where your parents went. She showed me the programs that the schools offered and even helped me step by step to find and apply to schools that I didn’t even know I was interested in. I was always excited to tell her which schools I had gotten into because of her amazing help in steering me through the admissions process. I didn’t know that size of the school, location, the surrounding landscape, and even the majors offered weren’t the same at every school and how that played into my college experience. She is no doubt the reason why I am where I am today and at the college I didn’t know, but learned, was the perfect fit for me.
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Aaron B., former student - class of 2020
First off, I cannot say enough good things about Mrs. Van Anda. She was without a doubt the key component in my getting into my dream school. As a freshman, she was assigned to me as my school counselor and immediately sprang into action to formulate a four-year plan in order to give me the best possible shot at getting into the University of Florida. I met with her countless times, and each time she never failed to give me the information and guidance I needed. The connections and insight she possesses are unparalleled, and I am blessed to have had someone that truly cared about my ambitions and goals as much as she did.
Ben H., former student - class of 2020
Mrs. Van Anda was one of the sole reasons why I was able to achieve my goals in high school, as well as reaching my dream destination of the University of Florida. Mrs. Van Anda gave me the perfect path of action to effectively reach my goals through proper course work, involvement, resume structuring, and college application processes. Mrs. Van Anda constantly checked up on me to make sure I was keeping up with my classes as well as updating me every time I needed something done to properly submit college applications. With her help and expertise as my school counselor for four years, I was able to stand out and end up exactly where I had dreamed to be.
Luke H., former student - class of 2020
Mrs. Van Anda was always there for me to answer any questions I had, but also to motivate me to do better when I didn’t know if I could. She recognized my strengths and weaknesses and always gave me the confidence I needed in school because it wasn’t always easy for me. I was so lucky to have someone that really cared and kept me on track. She cared not just about me but all of the students at school. I’m very thankful for all she did to help me throughout high school and beyond.
Nick S., former student - class of 2019
There is no doubt that Missy Van Anda put me in a position to succeed. She took me under her wing from the very beginning of my high school journey and was instantly on the same page regarding colleges and academic goals. She is one of the sweetest people I know, conveys compassion when times get tough, and will go to bat for you. I was accepted into my dream university and Missy Van Anda had a huge role in getting me there. Not only is she still a mentor to me, she is now a good friend. As our school counselor, we were her kids then and now we are her kids for life.
Parker T., former student - class of 2017
Mrs. Van Anda is the best, period. From the day she became my counselor, I instantly felt comfortable, and she treated me as one of her own. She is kind and supportive. She was always willing to help me in any way, and there is no doubt she truly cared. She knew my goals for college and playing ball, and she was there every step of the way from checking on me with assignments to assuring I did everything I needed to with my college application and more. She is one of the nicest people I know and was always there for me. She helped me in so many ways, from continually checking in on me with assignments, to making sure I was all set for college. Mrs. Van Anda was a blessing, and I am very grateful for her.
Bobby S., former student - class of 2017
School never came easy to me, but a relationship with Mrs. Van Anda did. She helped me find classes where my strengths shined and also through the weaknesses I faced. Mrs. Van Anda helped me find my perfect college fit and was so attentive when I needed help with anything. There is no better blessing in high school than a caring and passionate person to help you take the next step in your education. I am forever grateful I had her.
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Joe W., former student - class of 2017
Balancing school, social life, & sports was hard enough, then came college applications. Luckily I had Mrs. Van Anda to not only help with all of those aspects of life but also be there for me beyond that. She is truly the most hard-working, genuine, and accommodating person for this whole process and anything life may throw at you. She helped me make my dreams come true!
Isabella P., former student - class of 2016
