Sara J. Marchessault is a certified life and career coach through the Life Purpose Institute©. She works with college applicants and their parents to navigate the college admissions process and get into the school that's right for the student.

Sara’s coaching practice allows her to work with students from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. Sara is a professional educator and places a tremendous amount of value on higher learning in both a conventional and a non-conventional sense. She believes that a college education is paramount to the growth of not only the individual, but of the family and community the individual is a part of. Sara also believes the world is our classroom and that we enjoy a higher quality of life if we embrace that we are lifelong learners. Sara's work with Joyful by Design is focused on the use of tools and techniques that consider the whole person and encourage the individual to learn to create their own place in the world. Sara is dedicated to coach applicants to find and apply for the school that's right for them. She feels this is best accomplished after engaging in a process of self discovery, as well as extensive research to find the right school.

Sara has been a teacher, educational leader, instructional designer and developer, professional trainer, and consultant. She has worked with individuals and groups at various stages of their educational and career development. She enjoys teaching and presenting, especially when showing others how they can improve their life experience. Through the services offered at Joyful by Design, Sara is pursuing her interest in coaching and her dedication to education by supporting learners through the college application process. Sara also currently teaches College Success and Career Planning at Tallahassee Community College.

Sara has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Instructional Design, both from Florida State University. She is also a member of the International Coaching Federation, the International Positive Psychology Association, and Business and Professional Women USA/Tallahassee. Last year, she published her first children’s book, “Pinky the Dreamer and Her Sliver Jet.” She lives in Tallahassee with her husband and daughter and enjoys reading, cooking, and exploring the world around her.