By: Lyssanoel Frater

In a world where academic achievement reigns supreme amidst other high-stakes pursuits, admission to U.S. colleges remains as competitive as ever. This has often left students lost in the chaos, navigating the complexities of the admissions process and the daunting college essay. In an attempt to be a beacon of light and guidance in this confusing landscape, Naushad Mehta, founder of Inspired Essays and college essay coach, has created a platform centered on crafting impactful and compelling essays.

Mehta has spent the past decade helping students unearth their most authentic selves and translate that into a captivating, and most importantly, sincere narrative. With an emphasis on authenticity and individuality, Mehta guides students in writing college essays that reflect their identity and life experiences with structure, intention, and impact.

But unlike the essays she’s helped craft, Mehta’s life story was not as structured or planned. “Guiding teenagers through these pivotal essays was never a part of my original plan, but it’s turned out to be the most rewarding,” Mehta says.

Inspired Essays

Mehta’s professional journey began far from the world of college counselling. After earning her master’s degree in Journalism, she launched her career at a prominent news magazine in New York City. Beginning her journey as a fact-checker and later advancing to reporter and correspondent, Mehta honed her craft under the guidance of some of the industry’s most skilled and experienced editors. “They were brilliant people who helped me learn the craft of storytelling,” Mehta states. It was an intensive, high-pressure environment that demanded accuracy, clarity, and nuance; skills she would later incorporate in her career in unexpected ways.

Following her work in journalism, Mehta transitioned into entrepreneurship. She joined her husband to build a home furnishings business, which was an entirely different world from the newsroom. For several years, the business flourished, but once it was sold, Mehta found herself at a career crossroads. “I thought, what am I going to do in this new chapter of my life?” she says.

The answer to that question came organically when her daughter began applying to college. Mehta helped her navigate the essay-writing process. Soon after, other people within her circle began reaching out for the same support, and then there were more. What began as a series of kind favors quickly morphed into something bigger. “I thought this could actually be a business,” Mehta says.

As she started her venture, Mehta thought that her primary passion would be the writing itself, but she was caught off guard when she realized something different. “It turned out that what really excited me was helping the kids,” Mehta says. “That was a surprise, I hadn’t worked with teenagers before; I’d always been around adults in corporate environments. But they’re just the most fascinating creatures. With all their youthful teenage quirks, they’re absolutely delightful to be around.”

That emotional connection with them became the cornerstone of her work. The students she coaches are often at a critical juncture in their lives, oscillating between childhood and adulthood, eager to prove themselves but unsure how to. Mehta helps them pave their own path, sifting through the noise of expectation and pressures to find out who they are. “I’ve done many things to enrich my life, but I realized I wanted to give what I’ve learned to others; this was my way of doing that. Helping these young teenagers has been incredibly gratifying,” she shares.

Over the past ten years, Mehta has noticed a shift in the emotional state of her students. “The level of anxiety has gone up tremendously,” Mehta shares. “COVID spiked it further, but even before that, factors like social media had already contributed to these increasing anxiety levels.” While she doesn’t have all the answers, Mehta feels that the rise in anxiety levels reflects a deeper misalignment in how society supports young people, and she aims to help them through it.

Mehta also navigates the looming challenge of AI. While AI tools have become increasingly popular among students looking for quick solutions, Mehta warns against over-reliance. “AI can give you something that reads well, but it can’t create telling anecdotes and details that make a story come to life,” Mehta explains. “Your essay should reflect both your head and your heart. What makes an essay stand out is not a polished, flawless structure, but authenticity. Students shouldn’t be afraid to show their flaws, because that’s what makes a story real.”

Now with Inspired Essays, Mehta has built a thriving business on referrals and a strong reputation for success. Through strategic coaching, guiding, and questioning, she helps students articulate a version of themselves that they may not have even thought possible. As she continues to guide young people to craft the most important stories they’ve written to date, Mehta is confident that her calling is not just in the art of language, but in transforming that art into mentorship.