MEET FRANK • MY CAPABLE SELF STORY

I wasn’t born confident. I built it through action.

For years, I worked hard without knowing what I was building toward. By choosing challenges that mattered to me—academics, connecting with people, mountain adventures, and mentoring—I found my direction.

FOLLOW THE JOURNEY

THE PATTERN BEHIND MY GROWTH

Confidence grew through small, deliberate steps.

Each time I stepped just beyond my comfort zone, I expanded what felt possible and became ready for the next challenge.

Academics

STARTED SMALL
Focused on mastering my civil engineering coursework.

EXPANDED MY INTERESTS
Added a history minor and joined a research team studying microplastics.

TOOK ON MORE

Added chemical engineering as a second major and took extra classes to graduate on time.

TOOK ON MORE

Added chemical engineering as a second major and took extra classes to graduate on time.

FOLLOWED THROUGH +
Graduated with two engineering degrees, a history minor, and a 3.91 GPA.

Connecting With People

CAME OUT OF MY SHELL

Went from reserved kid to hosting events, recruiting, and connecting with new people in my fraternity.

CAME OUT OF MY SHELL

From reserved to hosting events, recruiting, and connecting with new people in my fraternity.

PRACTICED LEADING A ROOM
As a TA and tour guide, I taught discussion classes and led groups of more than 30 people.

STEPPED ONSTAGE +

Performed my original music for audiences of 600+ students—twice.

STEPPED ONSTAGE +

Performed my original music for audiences of 600+ students—twice.

STAYED CALM IN THE CHAOS
Stayed composed while serving 50+ guests at once at Dave & Buster’s.

Mountain Adventures

FIRST SUMMIT
Climbed my first mountain with a friend in the Tennessee.

SOLO WINTER ADVENTURE
Summited Mount Marcy, the Adirondacks’ highest peak, alone on a cold February day.

RAISED THE CHALLENGE

Linked four peaks during a 22.5-hour hike, then summited six peaks in a birthday adventure.

RAISED THE CHALLENGE

Linked four peaks during a 22.5-hour hike, then summited six peaks in a birthday adventure.

WENT THE DISTANCE +
Flew to Seattle to backpack nearly 90 miles around Mount Rainier in seven days.

Mentoring and Teaching

DISCOVERED A PASSION
Became a peer mentor, helping incoming students adjust to college.

MADE TEACHING OFFICIAL
After years of helping friends with homework, I became a TA or grader across six college courses.

SHOWED UP AS MR. U

Spent several years substitute teaching across Buffalo Public Schools, connecting with teens.

SHOWED UP AS MR. U

SHOWED UP AS MR. U
Spent several years substitute teaching across Buffalo Public Schools, connecting with teens.

SHOWED UP AS MR. U

SHOWED UP AS MR. U
Spent several years substitute teaching across Buffalo Public Schools, connecting with teens.

BUILT CAPABLE SELF +
Combined my experiences and skills into a structure designed to help teens find direction and build confidence

LIFE OUTSIDE THE WORK

A few people, places, and moments that matter to me.

Hover over photos for context

Click photos for context

A distant snow-capped mountain landscape

Frank sharing a casual conversation with friends at Clarkson University

Frank playing basketball on an indoor court

Frank with a group of friends at a Turkey Trot race

Frank standing beneath giant sequoia trees

WHY WORK WITH ME

Relatable enough to connect. Experienced enough to guide.

Parents know their teen better than I ever will. I work alongside parents, teachers, and coaches as a trusted near-peer in their support circle—helping turn their ambition into action.

Structured Thinking

Demanding engineering coursework trained me to break complicated problems and overwhelming assignments into clear, achievable next steps.

Experience With Teens

Mentoring first-year college students, leading discussion classes, and substitute teaching taught me to listen, adapt, and meet young people where they are.

Building a Capable Life

Building confidence and finding direction through action taught me the value of choosing challenges, following through, and learning from experience. I practice the same process I help teens develop.

Buffalo, NY · Virtual

frank@acapableself.com

Buffalo, NY · Virtual

frank@acapableself.com

THE NEXT STORY IS THEIRS

Taking action built my confidence and clarified my direction.

Now, let’s help your teen move forward.

Through personalized guidance, I help teens clarify what matters, choose practical next steps, and take action, building the confidence and skills to follow through more independently.

Book a Free Parent Conversation

Get the Free Parent Guide

How It Works

About Frank

Get the Free Parent Guide

Book a Free Parent Conversation

I wasn’t born confident. I built it through action.

Confidence grew through small, deliberate steps.

EXPANDED MY INTERESTSAdded a history minor and joined a research team studying microplastics.

TOOK ON MORE

Added chemical engineering as a second major and took extra classes to graduate on time.

TOOK ON MORE

Added chemical engineering as a second major and took extra classes to graduate on time.

FOLLOWED THROUGH +Graduated with two engineering degrees, a history minor, and a 3.91 GPA.

PRACTICED LEADING A ROOMAs a TA and tour guide, I taught discussion classes and led groups of more than 30 people.

STEPPED ONSTAGE +

Performed my original music for audiences of 600+ students—twice.

STEPPED ONSTAGE +

Performed my original music for audiences of 600+ students—twice.

STAYED CALM IN THE CHAOSStayed composed while serving 50+ guests at once at Dave & Buster’s.

SOLO WINTER ADVENTURESummited Mount Marcy, the Adirondacks’ highest peak, alone on a cold February day.

RAISED THE CHALLENGE

Linked four peaks during a 22.5-hour hike, then summited six peaks in a birthday adventure.

RAISED THE CHALLENGE

Linked four peaks during a 22.5-hour hike, then summited six peaks in a birthday adventure.

WENT THE DISTANCE +Flew to Seattle to backpack nearly 90 miles around Mount Rainier in seven days.

WENT THE DISTANCE +Flew to Seattle to backpack nearly 90 miles around Mount Rainier in seven days.

MADE TEACHING OFFICIALAfter years of helping friends with homework, I became a TA or grader across six college courses.

MADE TEACHING OFFICIALAfter years of helping friends with homework, I became a TA or grader across six college courses.

SHOWED UP AS MR. U

Spent several years substitute teaching across Buffalo Public Schools, connecting with teens.

SHOWED UP AS MR. U

SHOWED UP AS MR. USpent several years substitute teaching across Buffalo Public Schools, connecting with teens.

SHOWED UP AS MR. U

SHOWED UP AS MR. USpent several years substitute teaching across Buffalo Public Schools, connecting with teens.

BUILT CAPABLE SELF +Combined my experiences and skills into a structure designed to help teens find direction and build confidence

BUILT CAPABLE SELF +Combined my experiences and skills into a structure designed to help teens find direction and build confidence

A few people, places, and moments that matter to me.

Relatable enough to connect. Experienced enough to guide.

Taking action built my confidence and clarified my direction.

Now, let’s help your teen move forward.

EXPANDED MY INTERESTS
Added a history minor and joined a research team studying microplastics.

FOLLOWED THROUGH +
Graduated with two engineering degrees, a history minor, and a 3.91 GPA.

PRACTICED LEADING A ROOM
As a TA and tour guide, I taught discussion classes and led groups of more than 30 people.

STAYED CALM IN THE CHAOS
Stayed composed while serving 50+ guests at once at Dave & Buster’s.

SOLO WINTER ADVENTURE
Summited Mount Marcy, the Adirondacks’ highest peak, alone on a cold February day.

WENT THE DISTANCE +
Flew to Seattle to backpack nearly 90 miles around Mount Rainier in seven days.

WENT THE DISTANCE +
Flew to Seattle to backpack nearly 90 miles around Mount Rainier in seven days.

MADE TEACHING OFFICIAL
After years of helping friends with homework, I became a TA or grader across six college courses.

MADE TEACHING OFFICIAL
After years of helping friends with homework, I became a TA or grader across six college courses.

SHOWED UP AS MR. U
Spent several years substitute teaching across Buffalo Public Schools, connecting with teens.

SHOWED UP AS MR. U
Spent several years substitute teaching across Buffalo Public Schools, connecting with teens.

BUILT CAPABLE SELF +
Combined my experiences and skills into a structure designed to help teens find direction and build confidence

BUILT CAPABLE SELF +
Combined my experiences and skills into a structure designed to help teens find direction and build confidence