As I have taken a deep dive into the college process through my field hockey recruiting, I have begun to understand the pressures that kids my age are feeling. We are trying to figure out how to make people around us proud, but also choose a school that we believe will be a good fit for us and will make us proud. It has been challenging. As I browsed through the shelves of Schueler’s books, I stumbled upon, “I Was Told It Would Get Easier” by Abbi Waxman. 

“I Was Told It Would Get Easier” encompasses how Emily Burnstein, a 12th grader from Los Angeles, California and her mother, Jessica go on a college tour that changes both of their lives. 

Jessica Burnstein, a high powered attorney, believes in the power of higher education changing people’s lives for the better. She also believes that a higher education is a necessity for success in later life. 

As the dynamic of their relationship unfolds, it began to make me think about my relationship with my mom and the dynamic that we have regarding college and my hopes and dreams for the next few years after high school. My mom has never pushed me to get in to a certain school because she likes the idea of saying that I go to that school. Since we started looking at schools, she has been my biggest supporter through the process and has wanted what is best for me. 

It was interesting and sad to read about a mother and daughter who have such a different relationship regarding college and where Emily should end up. I think that it gives a perspective that a lot of kids experience but I also think that it is important for teens to read who aren’t experiencing that dynamic. It pulled out a side of empathy but also a side of frustration. I thought about how Emily must feel with a mom who seems controlling from an outside perspective. I felt frustration towards Jessica in the sense that she should be supporting Emily and her interests more than it seems like she does. 

I would recommend this book to parents of kids who are getting ready to start the college search and teens who are starting the college process. Lastly, I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new perspective on life after high school and the views that surround it.