our youth are the most important generation alive today.
why am I here?
how do I love myself?
how do I plan for the future?
About Me
My name is David and I’m a public school educator going into my 12th school year. As a high school counselor and a dad, I am simultaneously inspired by the next generation and in despair at the state of our world today. It is clear that systems catered towards children, like education, are not working. We can blame public educators, politicians, parents… it boils down to this:
If we truly love our youth, we must practice doing hard things alongside them. We should question things. We should check ourselves. We should explore nuance and not give in to black/white or left/right answers that are instantly satisfying but destructive in the long-term. We should learn to love ourselves so that we can love others.
This is the foundation of my counseling. If you are looking for an experience and conscious counselor for your child, please review my services. Much love.
What former clients/students say…
“My experience with David An has been amazing. He has opened my eyes not just through my senior year of high school but also the bigger picture, which is the real world out there. He did an amazing job sharing and giving me information about many opportunities such as colleges, working, and group talks. He has done more than just a college counselor at my school I appreciate him for all the things he has done for my peers and myself he has helped me and will help me become the man I intend to be in the future.”
-Christian G. (CSUN ‘26)
“David An is someone who has never backed down from going the extra mile to help someone out. Throughout my experiences with him he has been an empathetic and knowledgeable guide that connects with people on both a personal and professional level. Finding someone who knows how to balance the fine line between these two is rare, and David An does it masterfully. He has been a motivator, supporter, mentor, and a true friend, and anyone who has the pleasure of interacting with him will experience this same treatment.”
-Gunner L. (USC ‘25)
"David An is the kindest most caring person I’ve ever met and the best counselor I’ve had to this day. I worked with Mr. An during my high school senior year (2019). I was terrified and had no idea what I was doing going into the college application process, but something Mr. An told me that I still apply to any challenging/intimidating situation I deal with to this day is “you have to fall in love with every step in the process, don’t only focus on the outcome.” He played a tremendous part in the success of my college process. There were various times where he took the time out of his day, including coming in to school on Saturdays, to work with me one-on-one and reread my essays while also guiding me through all of my applications. I’m truly grateful for everything Mr. An has done for my peers and I. I’m currently going into my senior year at UC Berkeley and I couldn’t have done it without the guidance of Mr. An. "
-Hannah M. (UC Berkeley ‘23)
“Mr. An’s guidance in the college application process was completely comprehensive. I entered into the process with no idea how to begin and he helped me from start to finish: from teaching me how to write the UC PIQs, filling out FAFSA and the CSS profile alongside me, editing my activity summary, helping me reach out to teacher for letters of recommendation, and applying for scholarships. I truly cannot imagine how I would have gotten the acceptances I did, without his support.”
-Abby S. (Barnard ‘24)
"My experience with David An as my counselor could never fully be put into words because of how amazing and supportive he was. A core moment I have that plays in my head almost everyday is the day April 1st. Which was the day after Ivy day. That day I spent my time at the college center waiting to open my letters with Mr. An from the colleges only to receive 4 rejections. My heart broke and the only thing I wanted to do was cry. Though with his support and kind words, I searched for positive emotions and thought about the acceptances I had prior. That same day my dream school, Stanford, released their decisions. I prepared myself for another rejection since I had gotten deferred earlier in the year. This time I opened the letter by myself to see “Congratulations” and I fell to the ground in tears. After telling my family the first person I messaged was Mr. An. In only one day I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions and Mr. An was there for me through every step. David An is not only an amazing college counselor who pushes every student to do their best and apply to many schools but a counselor who will support any student who may be struggling. I am so grateful to have had Mr. An as my counselor, he made my senior year the most memorable."
-Magaly A. (Stanford ‘26)
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