The Student Compass — Local services in Washington

I first met with Jake Horne two years ago. I was about to graduate high school, and was very unsure of my footing in the world now that I was stepping away from my small, close-minded high school and town. To say the least, I felt unfulfilled and in need of an adventure. Jake helped me plan out and execute an incredibly successful gap year; a gap year in which I found myself backpacking along the Mekong River through the eclectic countries China, Laos, and Cambodia, backpacking and WWOOFing all throughout the North and South islands of New Zealand, and working an internship with an NGO in New York City. In Southeast Asia, I lived with families in each country, harvested rice, went on an excursion through the Laos’ jungle, saw Angkor Wat at dawn, and learned alongside Buddhist monks. In New Zealand, I hiked Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings, worked at a white water rafting lodge, herded sheep, worked on a vineyard, and found independence. In my internship, I helped run galas and raise money for children’s hospitals being built in Southeast Asia. I made amazing lifelong friends from all over the world. I grew mentally and physically healthier and established a healthy, happy lifestyle. I found passion in culture. I grew as an individual and established a strong sense of self identity. Most importantly, I started dreaming again and believing in myself. All of this was made possible because I worked with Jake and the Student Compass. He has always been incredibly dedicated, has always believed in me, and has always genuinely cared for me. He is my mentor, my confidant, and my role model. I am so incredibly lucky and humbled to have been able to work with the Student Compass, and to still have Jake in my life today. With his and the Student Compasses’ help, I experienced and appreciated the most incredible, diverse, crazy and inspiring...

My daughter and I have known Mr. Horne in many different capacities over the course of the last nearly 10 years, as an Academic Dean, teacher and college counselor and in his current capacity as principal of The Student Compass, but always as a mentor and friend for both of us.

He has played a very big part in my daughter's success thus far, as a college graduate of a distinguished college with a very good grade average, looking to finetune her liberal arts education into a practical but passionate career interest that suits her skills and abilities.

When we first met Mr. Horne, my daughter was recently diagnosed with learning differences and was unsure of her future and how she was going to get there. He played a very big role in helping her to develop confidence and self esteem. Most importantly, he was the first person to see her true potential beyond the learning differences and to this day, will not accept less than he feels that she is capable of, while providing her with the tools and motivation to get there on her own.

I enthusiastically recommend Mr. Horne to students and parents alike ! In my experience, his knowledge, compassion and devotion to students and learning is unsurpassed and makes a very big difference!

Karen...

Jake Horne helped me with every step of the planning process leading up to and over the course of my gap year between high school and college. Without him I wouldn't have had nearly the same level of success and preparedness with my travels had I not had his help. He even drove to meet me for the first time when I was still in boarding school to begin to discuss our work together as well as possible places/thing i might be interested in going/doing/seeing when on my gap year. Jake was very attentive to all of my (sometimes crazy) questions and was always very flexible with scheduling our typically once a week Skype calls. Even after most of the planning had been completed for one stage of my year Jake continued to be an invaluable asset to both me and my family in helping us keep in touch as well as prepare me for the next stage(s) of my journey. He had the connections and knowledge to take my goals, thoughts, and ramblings and was able to then give me a list of organizations/places I could go where my needs would be met and I'd learn new things, explore a new place, and have fun. I had one of the BEST years of my life and I wouldn't have had I not had the help of Jake. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Not...