Twelve years ago, Kacy Edwards and Julie Scott were teachers at the same school. They were and are best friends and co-conspirators.

Each friend has her own style. Kacy is a little quiet; Julie is not. Even though their classroom experiences were different, they noticed the same thing: many of the students they taught were graduating high school without any plans or direction for the future.

They knew that their students yearned to succeed. But the information about post-secondary education and the how of getting there overlooked a lot about the reality of students’ lives, especially those coming from families in poverty.

Kacy and Julie saw a need, and decided to help their students develop and execute plans for college success. They began with the students in their own classrooms. When that work showed promise, they made a plan and then took a huge leap of faith: they cashed out their retirement accounts to start Career Compass of Louisiana, a nonprofit college and career access organization. Today, they are co-leaders of more than 80 coaches who help students across the state remove the obstacles that would otherwise prevent them from getting a postsecondary education – whether that’s a two- or four-year college, or a high-quality credential.

To date, Career Compass has assisted more than 77,000 seniors in Louisiana, 98% of whom have applied to a postsecondary education program, and all of whom have a plan for what to do after graduating. Career Compass coaches also step in to overcome all kinds of barriers, whether it’s lacking a credit card or family bank account to pay online fees or needing transportation to and from higher learning institutions for tours and interviews.

With enough time, Kacy and Julie hope to reach every graduating senior in the state to make education a reality for those who want it.