One Year and 100 Posts Later…
One year ago, I hit "post" on something very simple. It was a small graphic with my logo and the words: Something exciting coming soon.
Today, AB Tutoring is celebrating two milestones at once: one year since that very first post and my 100th Instagram post. Looking back, that first post feels like the first page of a story I didn't fully know I was writing.
The Beginning
When I first started AB Tutoring, I didn't have everything figured out. My website wasn't finished, my systems weren't fully in place, and social media felt completely outside my comfort zone.
But I did have years of experience working with children and a genuine passion for helping them grow as learners. That felt like enough of a reason to begin.
And it was.
I'm so grateful I didn't wait until everything felt perfect, because I might still be waiting.
I'm not a website designer. I'm not a systems analyst. I've figured out most things as they've come up, and somehow it has all worked out the way it needed to.
If we're measuring success by social media standards, 100 posts in 365 days probably isn't very impressive. But the truth is, I was never trying to be an influencer. I wasn't trying to build a massive following or chase likes and engagement.
My goal was much simpler.
I wanted to create a place where families could find personalized support for their children. A place where parents felt seen, heard, and understood. A place where kids could build confidence and discover that learning doesn't have to feel frustrating.
Early on, I spent too much time worrying about numbers. I felt like I was failing every time I missed a post or didn't gain a follower.
Then a few months in, I stepped back and looked at what was actually happening.
I was working with students I genuinely enjoyed teaching. I was building relationships with wonderful families. I was creating a schedule that allowed me to be present for my own daughters. Most importantly, I was happy.
That's when I realized- this is working.
The internet has a lot of opinions about what success should look like. Over the past year, I've learned that success isn't always measured in followers, likes, or perfectly curated posts.
Sometimes success looks like a struggling reader gaining confidence.
Sometimes it looks like a parent feeling relieved after finally finding support for their child.
Sometimes it looks like having meaningful work while still being present for your own family.
Once I stopped posting just to post and started being intentional with my time, everything changed. I focused on preparing individualized lessons, creating content that answered real questions from parents, and showing up authentically for the people who mattered most.
And that's when things really began to fall into place.
100 Posts Later...
Looking back over 1 year and 100 posts, I can proudly see that they represent so much more than content.
They represent:
Students I now get to work with every week
Families who have trusted me with their children's learning
Camps filled with excitement, learning, and connection
Reading growth, confidence boosts, and so many proud moments
Conversations with parents who simply want the best for their kids
A growing community I'm incredibly grateful to be a part of
What started as an idea has become something I care deeply about.
There are families who have been with me since the beginning; students I've had the privilege of watching grow in confidence, and parents who have recommended AB Tutoring to friends and neighbors.
Those relationships mean more to me than any milestone ever could.
What I've Learned This Year
There are a few things I know now that I didn't fully understand when I started.
You don't need everything to be perfect to begin.
In fact, most meaningful things aren't.
Consistency matters more than intensity.
Small, steady effort builds more than big bursts of energy ever could.
Relationships are everything.
The heart of tutoring isn't just academics. It's trust, communication, and connection.
A Note of Gratitude
To every family who has supported AB Tutoring in any way, thank you.
Whether you've booked a session, enrolled in a camp, referred a friend, followed along online, or simply cheered me on from the sidelines, you've been part of this journey.
Building something like this is never done alone, and I am so grateful for the support, trust, and encouragement I've received along the way.
As I step into year two of AB Tutoring, my focus is simple:
To keep showing up for students. To keep supporting families. To keep building confidence in young learners. And to keep growing.
If the first year was about starting, the next year is about deepening and expanding what's already been built. I'm genuinely excited for what lies ahead. Here's to year one in the books, countless lessons learned and everything still to come.
With gratitude,
Ashley
