A StepUp Program
READY
Resilience, Empathy, and Authenticity for Developing Youth
Upcoming 2-Week Intro Programs: April 2024
Register Online for our Intro Programs on Tuesdays (April 9th and 16th), and Thursdays (April 11th and 18th)!
About Us
Explore the mission behind the READY program.
Intro Program
2 Weeks of READY Meetings, Free of Charge
Membership
Starting at $35 per month
Register Today
Register for an intro program!
Leadership and Development for Teens and Young Adults
Created in collaboration between practitioners, high-achieving students and student-athletes, the READY program provides high school, college and post college students with a safe environment where they can support each other on a journey of self-discovery, building courage, perseverance, and a sense of purpose in each other’s mutual betterment that they can adapt and pay forward into their future.
Our Mission
We aim to combat the cultural phenomenon of self-doubt, isolation, anxiety, and lack of meaning felt by so many of today’s young people. At READY, we believe the pursuit of meaning lies not in the capacity to suffer through challenges alone, but to embrace and learn from adversity together.
How We Do It
Growth in Collaboration: By actively seeking to cultivate the best in others, we discover the best version of ourselves.
New READY members will be welcomed into a two-week Onboarding Introductory Program where they explore key program concepts with other participants. They will also be trained to guide others in their journey towards growth and development.
Following this two-week Onboarding Introductory program, new READY members can join the larger community of all READY members for recurring sessions on a weekly-basis. These meetings will provide a consistent support network for ongoing growth and accountability.
Explore a New Way to Lead and Develop
Why join READY? In READY, participants will learn the personal and social skills necessary to both thrive and survive as a young adult in today’s world:
Resilience, Empathy, and Authenticity.
They will seek the courage, perseverance, and sense of meaning in one another that they can each adapt and pay forward into all their future endeavors.
Through this practice, we hope to all become not only better listeners, communicators, and emotional thinkers, but sons and daughters, friends and teammates, and leaders.
This is how our culture moves from one of social isolation to collaborative development. This is READY.
New Members! Free Intro Program
1 Free Meeting per Week for 2 Consecutive Weeks
1 FREE 1:1 MENTORING SESSION IN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND MEETINGS
Week 1: Understanding Beliefs
Week 2: Challenging Beliefs
Ready Membership
Ongoing group sessions and individual mentoring sessions that start at $35/month.
- Accountability in the Pursuit of Growth
- Support in Reframing Beliefs
- Connection through Common Experiences
- Purpose in Meaningful Relationships
"READY has completely changed my life for the better. I have already seen so much growth in myself."
Featured Testimonials
Register For A READY Program
For General Inquiries & Questions
stepupcoaching30@gmail.com
MEET THE READY FACILITATORS!
BEAU BRADLEY
Beau is a Founding Member and Facilitator of READY. Beau graduated in 2021 with a degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia, where he was also a member and leader of the perennially ranked Men’s Soccer team. He is now a Manager of Business Analytics for Capital One in the DC Area.
Beau is a driven, compassionate leader looking to make a difference in the lives of peers and young adults. After dealing with mental health struggles of his own, Beau not only looks to teach from experience, but also to continue learning how to process life’s challenges from others. At UVA, Beau took aim to break the stigma surrounding student-athlete mental health, working with several other founding members to build a space where peers could work together to process issues of their own.
As a READY coach, Beau approaches every situation objectively, withholds all judgment, and looks for commonalities to assist others in working towards solutions. Beau is an action-oriented person, and pushes himself and others to take steps as soon as they are ready to work towards building for a better future. He leads by example, and believes that the joy is in the journey, not the destination.
MOLLY KESHIN
Molly Keshin is a founding member and facilitator with READY. During her time at the University of Virginia, where she received a degree in Media Studies and played on the softball team all four years, Molly was on the executive council for a peer-to-peer group known as Student-Athlete Mentors. In her third and fourth year at UVA, the Student-Athlete Mentors (usually referred to as SAMs) began doing “campfire” conversations at meetings to help student-athletes try to more openly discuss their emotions in an environment where one is often expected to be “tough.” Having dealt with injuries, anxiety and performance struggles throughout her collegiate career, Molly’s passion for helping her fellow student-athletes became an inspiration to continue to help individuals that deal with the same issues. When READY came around, it was not only an opportunity to reconnect with some former UVA peers that had grown close, but also a way to pass on the valuable lessons learned during that time.
After graduating from UVA in 2021, Molly received a Master’s degree in Journalism, specializing in Sports Media from Northwestern University in Chicago. From there, she worked in digital media, social media and public relations with the Chicago Blackhawks, NFL Films, and New York Mets, respectively. Molly is now a programming associate at The Athletic, a prominent sports journalism company.
Molly prides herself in her empathy, which is the main tool she hopes to instill in others through READY. The ability to listen to others while they are speaking, validate their feelings and let them know they are not alone is her main goal while facilitating the program. Specifically, injury rehabilitation and performance anxiety are two areas where Molly is ready and willing to share her experiences to help others.
JACK PINHO
Jack Pinho is Assistant Athletics Director for Student Athlete Support Services at Sacred Heart University (SHU). In this role, he provides academic support to student-athletes, including time management skills, organizational skills, study hall requirements, academic advising, class registration, and progress towards degree. Jack currently works directly with men’s and women’s cross-country, men’s and women’s track & field, women’s basketball, baseball, women’s lacrosse, men’s wrestling, and women’s wrestling as their direct academic liaison.
Jack leads all student-athlete development initiatives, which includes supervising the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Every Heart is Sacred (SHU’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group) and SHU’s partnership with Team Impact. In addition to overseeing all community service initiatives, Jack serves as the primary contact to professors for all injured student-athletes and actively works with student-athletes and professors to create return to learn plans.
Jack is a 2018 and 2020 graduate of Springfield College with a B.S. in Physical Education and Master of Education with a concentration in Athletic Administration. While earning a Master of Education degree in Athletic Administration at Springfield College, he served as a graduate assistant and extensively with both residence life and cross country and track programs. Through his leadership and direction, the track program qualified for multiple NCAA regional and national competitions. He also served as Co-Chair of the Athletic Administration Leadership Committee.
During his time as an undergraduate student, Jack was recognized as a two-time NCAA Division III All-American and Academic All-American. He also broke five men’s track and field program records during his career, and most recently, in February2023, he ran a 3:59 mile at the Boston University Valentine Invitational where he unofficially became the 711th American to ever dip under the infamous 4:00 minute mile barrier.
Jack brings this excellence to the READY program, encouraging participants to set goals and articulate steps to achieving them. As a READY coach, Jack leads participants to fuel their vulnerability to drive change.
KILEY STURGEON
Kiley Sturgeon is a dedicated, empathetic career counselor at Marquette University. Leveraging her innate strengths to help others develop, she creates a supportive and nurturing environment for the individuals she works with ensuring they feel heard, understood, and empowered as they navigate their future.
She is certified in GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator), CCSP (Certified Career Services Provider), Strong Interest Inventory and Myers-Briggs.
An alumna of the University of Virginia (UVA), Kiley received a Bachelor of Science in Education in Youth and Social Innovation as well as Media Studies while also playing for the UVA Volleyball team. She also has a background in coaching middle school and high school-aged volleyball teams and brings a wealth of knowledge in guiding and mentoring young adults.
Driven by her dedication to fostering meaningful relationships and helping students reach their full potential, Kiley embodies the philosophy that every individual has a unique journey. With her empathetic approach and commitment to personal growth, she empowers students to discover their passions, strengths, and values, guiding them towards fulfilling and meaningful paths.
As a READY coach, Kiley believes the READY program provides an encouraging environment where students and young adults can safely embrace vulnerability and connect over shared experiences that often challenge us internally. By recognizing that many of our struggles are universal, it serves as a powerful antidote to feelings of isolation and self-doubt. She deeply appreciates how READY provides a space that fosters personal growth through mutual support and openness.
CAROLYN TOPPS
Carolyn is a READY facilitator and founding member. She takes pride in creating a space that fosters personal growth through mutual support, where participants can truly be their most authentic selves, recognize many shared struggles and remember we are not facing challenges alone.
She received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Masters of Science in Kinesiology for Individuals with Disabilities from the University of Virginia (UVA). At UVA, Carolyn played for the Field Hockey team and was a part of the only UVA field hockey team to win the ACC tournament. She also began her journey in becoming a mental and emotional health activist as a member of UVA’s Student-Athlete Mentors Program. She was awarded the UVA Susan Grossman Memorial Award, presented in recognition of outstanding service to student-athletes and contributions to the Student-Athlete Mentor Program.
In the Fall, Carolyn will attend George Washington University in pursuit of a doctorate in Physical Therapy. Currently, she is a Physical Education elementary school teacher and has a background in coaching elementary, middle and high school aged field hockey teams as well as high school aged basketball teams. Through teaching and coaching, Carolyn is able to make individuals feel supported and heard and helps students navigate insecurities and fears about the future. Her passion is in allowing her students to discover their strengths and values as part of their journey.
JENNIFER WINEHOLT
Jennifer Wineholt is a coach and mentor who finds great passion in empowering young adults to find success in their lives. She has a degree in Foreign Affairs & Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and is a proud alum of the Virginia Volleyball team. Jennifer has taken her passion for sports to Nike, where she is currently a Global Strategic Business Manager. Her transition from being an athlete to serving athletes at Nike is reminiscent of her role within the Student-Athlete Mentor Program (SAM) at UVA, where she dedicated her time to champion mental health and facilitate authentic relationships within the student-athlete community.
Jennifer believes that everyone can become more resilient and courageous when they are provided with a safe environment to share, listen, and grow. Through years of coaching volleyball and engagement in community groups, Jennifer sees mentorship and mental health advocacy as crucial pieces to ensuring that we are setting up our future generations for success.
Jennifer often sees our youth facing unprecedented changes at a crucial time in their mental and cognitive development, and strongly believes READY can play a part in helping them face life’s upcoming challenges with strength, support, and confidence.
