MASCA
Counselor’s Notebook
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION
Vol. 61, No. 5
JANUARY 2025
The Power of You in the New Year By Jessica Descartes, MASCA 2024 -2025 Board Chair and Director of Student Services, Tech Boston Academy, Happy New Year! The transition to a new year gives us time for renewal and this is a time to reflect on the impact that we have on the lives of our students, staff, and school community. Our work as counseling professionals is one of the most important aspects in creating a healthy educational environment for our students. The Power of You is the theme for the 2025 MASCA Conference. It is something that needs to be acknowledged more often. Yes, our work is collaborative, but it starts with individual impact. It is easy to overlook the influence you have on students’ lives. You are not just helping them through academic challenges: you are providing them with the skills to navigate life itself. You offer empathy and support at the moments when students need it most. Whether you are helping them address mental health concerns, helping them navigate social pressures, helping them make college or career decisions, being a presence when they
Inside this Issue: Directory...................................2 Director's Message........................3 New Members...............................4 Ethical Edge...................................5 January QOTM...............................6 Our Work Matters..........................7 Fueling your Motivation................8 New Year's Resolution..................9 MA Model....................................10
Jessica Descartes are facing personal struggles, or being their biggest cheerleader, your work is invaluable. Your influence can also reach your full school community. You collaborate with everyone to ensure that students are not only achieving academically but are also developing, both socially and emotionally. Teachers, administrators, and families can benefit from your insight, advice, and expertise. You are the quiet (sometimes loud) and constant force that ensures that every student feels seen, heard, and supported. Sometimes successes are not always celebrated. However, you should remember that the work you do is important. You are shaping our future generation in ways that no test score or report card ever could. You are teaching students to be resilient and to approach challenges with a mindset that will lead them for the rest of their lives. The tools you equip them with now will not only help them succeed in school but will help them thrive in the future.
This is the essence of the Power of You. You bring all of who you are to your role: your knowledge, your compassion, your dedication, and your ability to see potential in every student. You help students believe in themselves when they may feel lost or unsure. You show them that they are not defined by their struggles, but rather by how they overcome them. You hold space for students to grow emotionally, mentally, and socially. You help them discover their strengths, develop their sense of self-worth, and understand their unique potential. You also must remember the power within yourself. You also deserve care, attention, and support. It is important that you also find time to take care of yourself—whether that means taking a break, seeking support when needed, or simply taking a moment to reflect on how much you have accomplished and how far you have come. Recharging and taking care of yourself ensures that you can keep giving in the most meaningful ways. I hope you take time to reflect on the power of your role and the impact you have. Find opportunities to celebrate your growth, to take pride in your work, and to recognize just how much you mean to the students and communities you serve. May 2025 be a year of growth, fulfillment, and self-care for you. I hope it is a year where you feel inspired, supported, and appreciated, not just by others, but by you as well. You are wonderful, your power is unmatched, and I know that you will continue to inspire and empower your students/our students, in the year ahead.