First Flight Writing Lab is committed to delivering exceptional reading and writing services, empowering clients to achieve excellence in their writing across diverse disciplines.

I begin working with students as early as 5th grade and support them through middle and high school, helping them build strong, confident writing skills that grow with them as academic demands increase.
Writing Skills Coaching:
Middle school is an ideal time for early writing support, but students can begin at any stage. The foundation we build helps students write with clarity, curiosity, and confidence, engage more fully in their coursework, and see themselves as capable, effective communicators as writing demands grow throughout high school.
High School and College Prep Coaching:
I help students build strong organization, time-management, and planning skills while overseeing application timelines and logistics. This allows parents to step out of the project-manager role and focus on encouragement and support, creating a smoother, lower-stress process for the whole family.
College Application Coaching:
During this high-stakes period, I guide students in telling their stories with clarity, authenticity, and purpose while helping them identify colleges that truly fit their goals, values, and interests. Students gain confidence in both their applications and their decisions about where they will thrive.
I foster a fun, relaxed learning environment that allows students to build essential writing skills while engaging with topics and literature they genuinely care about. Each student’s sessions are thoughtfully tailored to their learning style: independent learners are encouraged to take ownership, while those who need more structure benefit from clear, guided steps. Whether a student loves writing or dreads it, I work closely with each individual to ensure they feel supported, engaged, and confident in class.

My students have been accepted to prestigious programs around the country, including:
Middle and High Schools:
Colleges and Universities:

In addition to degree program admissions, I support students applying to summer programs and writing contests. My students have gained admission to summer programs and won awards, including:


Beyond middle and high school, I have taught undergraduate writing courses and workshops and guest lectured in first-year writing seminars at top tier campuses. With graduate students and post-docs, I have worked with many science, social science, and humanities scholars who are writing dissertations and publishing peer-reviewed journal articles.
With professional writers, I have offered substantive (developmental) and copyediting services on various projects, including ad copy for a clothing company, peer-reviewed journal articles, business school case studies (à la HBR), NIH grants, fiction novels, and theatrical plays.
I also coach academics and professionals with their pronunciation skills (American English), public speaking, and interview skills. I support academics and professionals presenting to American audiences at all stages of their preparation, from outlining/organizing to slide design to creating an engaging delivery style for online or face-to-face presentations.

"Three years ago, I was worried about my daughter’s writing progress. My niece, who was a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, highly recommended her teacher, Stephanie, to me. That recommendation changed everything. From the moment we started working with Stephanie, I saw my daughter transform from a STEM-focused student into a well-rounded writer. Under Stephanie’s guidance, she not only gained confidence but also achieved remarkable accomplishments, including winning a Scholastic Gold Key Award. Her AP scores speak for themselves—5s in AP English Language and Composition, AP U.S. History, and AP World History. We’ve been so happy to see her incredible progress and growth. I can’t thank Stephanie enough for the impact she has had on my daughter’s academic journey. She is truly an exceptional teacher. If you’re considering her, rest assured—you’ll be so glad you did!"
"I am really glad he is working with you. I see his grades have really improved. He has a A with 98.2%. This is really impressive. I hope he maintains this."
Your presence and guidance in both (older sister)'s and (younger brother)'s lives have been invaluable for us. I really appreciate your loving guidance and help. We are so lucky to have you. I would absolutely recommend you to all of my friends."
"Thank you for your guidance. You’ve quickly become (student)'s favorite teacher, and it’s clear that your teaching style and passion for the subject have really resonated with him. As parents, we are grateful for the positive influence you’ve had, and happy to support your work in any way we can.
Thank you again for being such an inspiring teacher!"
"It’s such a joy to read about (older sister) and (younger sister’s) progress — your detailed notes really help us see how much they’ve been learning and growing each week. We’re so happy to hear how much confidence they’ve gained, and it’s wonderful that they’re exploring poetry and creative writing in such a meaningful way. We truly appreciate the encouragement and care you’ve given them — it’s clear that your guidance is inspiring them to think deeply and express themselves with creativity. Thank you again for all your support and dedication. We’re so grateful to have you guiding them!"
I'm deeply moved by your teaching approach and encouraging method which has helped (student) to open up her heart and voice!!! This is so incredible."
"We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible impact you’ve had on (student)’s growth this semester. Your dedication, patience, and creativity in teaching have truly inspired him, and we’ve seen his confidence and skills in writing flourish under your guidance."
""I really don’t know how to thank you. (Student) absolutely loves your class and says she even feels smarter because of it. A good teacher is truly invaluable. We are so lucky to have you."
"The knowledge of the instructor on academic writing in science was amazing… this class focuses on providing tools and knowledge to the students in ways that will benefit them in the long term."
"Ms. Stephanie gave me a voice. As a kid, I would often have difficulty expressing myself, simply because I would become overwhelmed with all of my thoughts. When I was called on in class, the words would stop at my throat when I tried to answer. I would struggle with answering short answer questions because of all the possible correct answers I could give. It was when I started taking classes with Ms. Stephanie that I was finally able to communicate the way that I wanted. This journey did take work, but Ms. Stephanie was with me the entire way, and in the process, I gained more than knowing how to write an essay. I gained a mentor, one that I could always rely on for assistance in more than just writing, and one that I can trust."
"I began my writing journey with a defeated comment on my creative writing skills: “I don’t know how to write poems.” In reality, I had every potential to write it, I just needed the right mentor, and Ms. Stephanie was just that. Through our classes, I gained confidence and motivation, and most importantly, a powerful voice that allowed me to express my experiences through various art forms: narrative, poetry, and creative writing. Her valuable guidance opened my eyes to a world of self-expression through writing, which I will always be grateful for."
"Stephanie helped me improve my writing skills so much! She taught me useful writing techniques that I will utilize in the long run, not just during the college application process. Most importantly, she helped me gain confidence in my writing. I loved our classes together, all of them were a joy to be in!"
"During the summer, I really learned a lot from the class. You helped me not only improve my English, but also re-construct some of my value, especially in the final individual meeting. You told me Chinese spoke with Chinese accent, which is also something okay. Your statement indeed inspired me that being who you are is more important than being the person others expect you to."
"It’s so delightful to contact with you, do the assessment with you and study in your class... My best English class, ever! ... I appreciate the way you share your experience to help us live better and adapt to American culture. Remember your game to integrate learning with fun. You are so supportive, helpful and encouraging that I gradually don’t feel nervous to voice my ideas and questions. I feel much more comfortable to talk with others and give presentations under your help. Also, thank you so much for carefully delivering potentially disappointing information. I am happy with the “A-“ and I believe I can make it an “A” someday. I'll just follow your advice!"
“Thanks for your feedback and kind patience in teaching! You not only provided instructor guidance, but also offered friendship… I sincerely appreciate your work and I hope you will continue harvesting happiness from both teaching and life!
“The teacher Stephanie is an enthusiastic, warm, meticulous, friendly teacher. She is not only a teacher, she is also a friend. We love her class… It's helpful and fun! Thank for my Stephanie and the… class.”