Why “Ivy”?

Hello and welcome to Ivy’s first blog post! 

I am so glad you are here!

I am Ally, the founder of Ivy Consulting & Tutoring LLC. When I set out to name this business, “Ivy” came to me not just as a nod to the universities many aspire to attend, but also as a symbol of growth, resilience, and support.

I grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, in a family where education was a deeply held value. My parents were the first in our family to attend and graduate from college, and they instilled in me a clear message: education is an investment no one and no circumstance can ever take away from you.

When I moved to the United States at 16 and began high school as a sophomore, I embodied this belief proudly. However, navigating a new language and culture along with the demands of high school was not an easy experience. With the unwavering support of my family, teachers, and friends, I found my way. I graduated, went on to college, and built a path forward.

Still, much of my journey was done on my own. I needed to figure out college applications, scholarship opportunities, navigating exams, varying expectations for proper writing, and, most importantly, understanding that there is help, but only if you ask correctly. After years of molding myself to fit into the system, I learned through research and years of experience that learning does not need to be so inaccessible: all you need is the right tools and a knowledgeable support system. That’s why I made it my mission to learn those systems inside and out: so I could open doors for others who, like me, had ambition but lacked the know-how.

Here is where the true meaning of Ivy comes in: our potential for growth is unlimited when we have the proper structures to climb, to hold onto, and to nurture us. My goal is to provide the scaffolding that allows students not only to succeed academically but also to develop the resilience, creativity, and confidence to thrive in every aspect of life. 

Though my mom, as always, is completely right in her assertion that education is ours to keep, I’d like to add that it is also ours to share. And that is why Ivy exists!