Get better [...] so that you stand out

Please bear with me but this kind of advice is often a bit puzzling to me. I suppose you don't know the person you're replying to, so I read your advice as a general one - useful to anyone in the parent's position. If you were close to her, it would make sense to help her 'stand out' in detriment - logically - to strangers in her field. But here you're kind of helping every reader stand out.

I realise this comment is a bit vain. And I like the human touch of you helping a stranger.