Back to School/College – Episode 11

Getting a college education in the days of coronavirus can be extremely challenging. And, even without COVID-19, this endeavor comes with a unique set of twists and turns. The obstacles can include where to apply, how to apply, what to write in your essays, application deadlines, prerequisite test-taking, purchasing books, financial aid, scholarships, the list goes on… These challenges are compounded when you happen to be the first person in your family to attend college. Where does one start?

Claudia Saavedra was just such a person in just such a situation. No one in Claudia’s family had attended college before. She wanted to reach for and achieve her dreams, so Claudia began to educate herself about the process of education. She sought out mentors to help guide her and challenge her. She dedicated herself to researching all of the ins and outs of what can be quite a daunting and confusing process.

Through her diligent research and efforts, Claudia discovered that hundreds of millions of dollars in scholarships were left unclaimed every year. She applied and personally received over $1 million in scholarships cumulatively from the various schools where she applied. And along her path to college it occurred to her to ask, “how can I help others in this process as well?” That is when the idea of FlairNow (Future Leaders Accomplishing Intellectual Readiness) was born.

Because of the challenges Claudia faced growing up, she wanted to share her hard-earned knowledge to enable others to achieve success. With boot camps, one-on-one mentoring, partnering with local high schools and more, Claudia’s focus is to look at the whole person. Through FlairNow, Claudia engages with students by looking at the academic, social and emotional aspects of their lives.

Claudia’s passion has also led to her serving as a Dalai Lama Fellow, an Aspen Institute Young Leader Fellow, Management Leadership for Tomorrow Fellow, and more. In 2019, Claudia’s work was featured in Project Weave, a social impact project founded by NY Times best-selling author and political commentator David Brooks. She has also been featured by Google for Hispanic Heritage Month, and was selected as a Forbes 30 under 30 scholar.

Come along with us as we explore Claudia’s fascinating journey. From surviving a sometimes tumultuous childhood to being the first in her family to attend college to graduating with a Master’s Degree from Rutgers University, Claudia’s life experiences and insights continue to fuel her passion to give back to others through the FlairNow organization. We’re sure you’ll agree – Claudia Saavedra is truly a Crazy Amazing Human!