about dr. nari jeter

I vividly remember one of my first days in kindergarten. The whole class erupted into the ABC song, but I sat quietly, confused and embarrassed.





No one knew to explain to me that it was a common childhood American song, while most of the songs I knew were in my first language, Korean.

Even though it was planned for me to be in kindergarten for two years (one to learn English, and another for the fundamentals), I was ready to move on after the first year. I was NOT going to be left behind! 

school has always been a large part of my identity.

dr. nari jeter | college professor + success coach

why did everyone else know the song but me?

I was born in Seoul, South Korea. My name, Nari, means “lily/flower” in Korean.

I'm half Korean on my mother’s side and half Italian on my father’s side. I ate A LOT of good food growing up.

My favorite high school teacher nicknamed me “Starry Nari.” Her belief in me profoundly changed my life.

I played college softball and was sorority president for three years.

I decided not to go to medical school the summer before my senior year of college and had to come up with a totally new game plan for my life. Spoiler alert: I turned out okay!

I was generally an A student, but I’ve had some “bad grades”, too. Example: D+ in Biochemistry my second semester of senior year.

I enjoy work and had many jobs before starting my grown-up career! I've worked at several clothing stores, restaurants, an ice-cream shop,  amusement park, and a plastics manufacturing factory. I was also a live-in nanny for two years while in grad school!

Working hard on summer breaks funded my travels to Europe, Africa, and Asia while in college.

I exercise daily but I also love sweets, especially anything chocolate and any kind of cake. Life is all about balance!

I'm obsessed with Christmas and start celebrating the minute Halloween is over.

I grew up as a self-proclaimed tomboy, which I believe prepared me to live with my husband and two sons. I still enjoy sports and outdoors but also love fashion and home decor.

Early in elementary school, my mother told me, “Because of the language difference, I may not be able to help you with your homework. You have to ask your teachers questions when you need help or don’t understand.”

These seemingly small experiences shaped the foundations for my mindset about learning and growing:

It’s okay to not know. We all start from that same place.

It’s okay to ask for help. Asking for help now pays off in the long run.

Learn and grow at your pace. Don’t compare yourself to others.

Fast forward into my high school years and again I'm facing uncharted territory: I'm applying to colleges as a first-generation college student.

Coming from a small rural town in Pennsylvania, not everyone went to college or had parents that did. But I relied heavily on my friends, guidance counselors, and teachers to help me navigate this process.

I never would've imagined eventually going on to receive a Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD at three different schools and places (Grove City, PA; Philadelphia, PA; Tallahassee, FL). 

The reason I excelled for 24 years in school is because people invested in me: my family, teachers, coaches, bosses, and even babysitters. I had help, guidance, mentoring, and encouragement every step of the way.

People and relationships are such a big part of my story and how I prospered, and the core reason why I started The Prosper School. I want to develop relationships with college students where they receive the same care, guidance, and investment that I’ve received over the years.

And while grades and graduation do matter, they are not the end goal for me with The Prosper School’s students. My wish is to inspire lifelong changes to learn, grow, and prosper.

If you're on the fence about asking for help, just remember...

Asking for help now will pay off in the long run!

get to know me!

let's swap stories!

I'm Dr. Nari Jeter.

I'm a college professor and small-town girl with big dreams (just like yours). College is hard, but together we’ll create ways to make it less stressful and help you to feel more balanced and confident!
   

dr. nari jeter and The prosper school, 2022. ©

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