Episode 147: How Cassie Let Go of Anxiety, Found Confidence, and Redefined Success on Her Pre-Law Journey

In this episode of Success Unlocked, Dr. Adrienne Shnier sits down with Cassie Soares, a fourth-year sociology student at McMaster University and AYG member, for an honest conversation about anxiety, self-worth, and what it truly means to succeed on the pre-law path.

Cassie reflects on who she was before joining AYG, overwhelmed, anxious, and constantly searching for answers online, and how having real guidance and community support changed everything. From breaking free from Reddit and comparison culture, to adopting a powerful “so what” mindset, Cassie shares how support, strategy, and trust allowed her to release shame, slow down, and reconnect with herself.

This episode dives deep into redefining hard work, separating identity from numbers, and understanding that getting into law school is not the end goal, but one step toward building a life aligned with your values and vision. It’s a raw, reflective conversation about growth, becoming, and learning to trust yourself through uncertainty.

What You’ll Learn

✔ What Cassie felt like before joining AYG, and why anxiety was running the show
✔ Why Reddit, comparison culture, and constant Googling made things worse
✔ How real guidance and answered questions created calm, clarity, and confidence
✔ What the “so what” mindset actually means and why it comes from support, not apathy
✔ How letting go of shame around LSAT rewrites, timelines, and expectations changed everything
✔ Why separating self-worth from numbers was a turning point in Cassie’s growth
✔ How community support, coaching calls, and real-time check-ins created stability during LSAT prep
✔ Why getting into law school is not the finish line, but a step toward a bigger vision
✔ How imagining life beyond acceptance changes how you show up today
✔ Why becoming the person who can handle the journey matters more than rushing the outcome
✔ What Cassie would tell her past self about perfection, pressure, and personal value

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself Global™! Email me personally at [email protected]. You can also DM me on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal.

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, success, test prep, and more? Send your questions us, or you can submit an audio file via Instagram DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

💫 Calling all applicants! Learn more about our Mastering Test Prep Program and how you can complete your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member. Book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about how AYG can help you Get In.💫