FutureU: Bridging the gaps of college planning

Preface: When I started Mesman Media, my main goal was to help small businesses make their presence known. That goal still stands and always will. FutureU has been a loyal client of mine since the beginning, so it feels only right that I share about the amazing work they do.

College planning can be TOUGH. Frantic late night Google searches, uncertainty of where and how to start, forced conversations with your teen about their future…if you don’t have the right resources, tensions and stress can skyrocket during this phase of life.

Nestled in the heart of West Des Moines is a solution to all of your college planning struggles – FutureU. Founded by Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and mental health therapist Sarah Bowen, FutureU exists to ease the stress around planning for the future for both parents and teens.

After completing graduate school in 2003, Sarah immediately started working in therapy and counseling throughout multiple different environments, including schools. Not long after, she noticed a concerning pattern. “All of the kids that I was working with in therapy…they had no guidance after high school,” Sarah explained. While parents tried to be helpful, their efforts were almost always outdated and often fell short. “Their parents [were] trying to guide them from when they graduated in 1997. Well guess what? The world was very different [then].”

Sarah observed that the so-called “guidance” and “plans” that were being given to teens regarding their future were disorganized, vague, and lacked intentionality. Stress was high and resources were low. So, she decided to step in.

“I love the transition side, and really helping kids find hope and clarity,” Sarah stated. “It’s such a good feeling…when you start completely out of control, have no idea what the next step is, and then all of the sudden, somebody helps guide you.”

Almost immediately, Sarah saw positive effects in the students and families she worked with. Communication between kids and parents improved, and anxiety, depression, and stress decreased. Even college students would stumble across FutureU and reach out to Sarah for guidance and support. “I loved being somebody who could help offer hope to families,” she reflected.

So, what sets FutureU apart? Sarah would say that the fact that she is a licensed mental health therapist gives her a unique edge and perspective when it comes to college planning. “That’s the benefit of being a therapist…I know how to ask questions differently because I study human behavior for a living,” she explained.

Now, FutureU is growing. Sarah and her team are working to create even more tangible resources that break down challenging phases of life for both teens and parents. The ultimate goal? To ease stress and anxiety in families by sparking healthy, productive conversations around the future.