I am choosing to work this year as I want to help as much as possible during this time. The possibilities to affect a young mind are limitless. So if I am able to make a small difference, then that is what I will do during the pandemic.
Yes, it is safer to stay home and not do anything, but that is not me. I am rekindling my awareness of the many possibilities to be helpful.
Our youth champions shared their thoughts on Just for Today at our year end celebration online last school year. A lot of wisdom in here. Enjoy !
Stephen Becker : Just for today, I am going to work in my backyard and stay open to connecting with my kids whenever they come by.
Shawn Daniher : Just for today I am living in the moment rather than thinking about what I have to do tomorrow.
Sarah Lappin : Just for today I will prioritize doing things that make me smile
Deb Ingram : Just for today I will stop watching the clock
Kara-Leah Gonty : Just for today I will trust the process and live in the moment
Lauren Warner : Just for today, I’m going to take some for self care, go for a walk with my dog and breathe in the sunshine 🙂
Just for today, I am going to express my gratitude for those I love while I have the chance.
Melanie : Just for Today, I will enjoy this moment of connecting with a new group of people!
Carson Henderson : Just for today, I will stay positive and stay in the moment 🙂
Mrs. Knecht : Just for today, I’ll take the happy with the hard and let them just happen… 🙂
Just for today I will take the time to do something small for myself.
Naomi : Just for today, I will not overthink the future and just enjoy the present moment.
Just for the day I am going to relax and focus on myself because work/ school has been busy.
Crystal Hartney : Just for today I will am going to not worry about tomorrow and savour all the blessings of today.
Vicky Smith : Just for today, I’m going to enjoy the day!
Noor : I will make sure I do something that makes me smile!
Chandni Meharu : Just for today … I would like to set everything down and reflect on myself and focus and try to time manage and be in the moment with my family 🙂
Madison : Just for today I’m going to enjoy the beautiful weather outside and forget about everything else.
Elaine : Just for today, I want to let go of my worries in what this pandemic might bring to all of us, and just focus on the great things it has brought to all of us.
Paige Anweiler : Just for today I will make sure that I take time to relax as well as school.
Just for today I won’t force myself to be as productive as I would have normally been and I will practice self-care.
Tanya Browne : Just for today I will be extra mindful.
Lori Devlin : Just for today I’m accepting I can’t do it all. My best effort is enough,
Jay Stewart : Just for today I’m enjoying the beautiful weather and going outside.
Marielle : Just for today I want to be less on social media.
Catherine Betancourt Lee : Just for today I am going to make sure to focus on self care!
LJFLOYD : I am going to tackle the task at hand and not get too far ahead of myself worrying about what else is on my “to do” list.
gabynuneznoguez : Just for today I will focus on my connections with my family and nature.
Rhwand : Just for today I will enjoy the beautiful weather outside and be grateful I have loving family and friends around me. During this pandemic I want to let go of my stress and worries and help people so I can make their day a little bit better.
Lorna Bright : Just for today I am enjoying this new experience! And try to not worry about everything I need to get done.
Heros Manrique : Just for today, I am going to take a moment to celebrate how far I’ve come these last couple of years and what Youth Champions has taught me!
Check out this great poem:
We Are Champions
I still see faces, but there not here anymore
I still hear voices, but not in my vicinity anymore, how is that possible?
How is it that this juxtaposition built upon my contradiction, as it envelops and contrasts my irony in that we are separated, but still close.
Though this quarantine has shackled, forced, and degraded us while simultaneously stripping us of freedom and confined us to our homes, we have hope … hope in a champion. A champion who fights, supports, a champion who defeats and surpasses all odds when everything was stacked against them! We are champions!
We are champions whether it’s up or down
We are champions
though we rise and fall
We are champions
through our collective wins and loses
We are champions
in the greatest of rejections
We are champions
in the most luscious of victories
We are champions
And let me say, even if we don’t make it to the next round doesn’t mean what we didn’t fight for is any less or any more doesn’t mean we have to give in to this disaster
and best believe that we have affected more lives than we could possibly imagine
We are champions through triumph and defeat
We are champions
No matter what happens or What the outcome is
We will forever be champions
– Jay Stewart Youth Champion CCAC
I asked a few of my educator friends about a book they would recommend and here is the list. I’ll start with my favourite by Viktor Frankl. The rest are in no particular order.
1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
2. Tuesdays With Morrie
3. Wherever You Go There You Are
4. The Alchemist
5. Make A Dash
6. The Hate You Give
7. Fountainhead
8. The Upside of Unrequited
9. The Total Money Makeover
10. A Child Called It
11. Make Your Bed
12. Everything I know I learned In Kindergarden
13. City of Joy
14. Don’t Throw Sand in The Sandbox
15. 1984
16. Grapes of Wrath
17. To Kill A Mockingbird
18. Do What You Are
19. Netsmart
20. Financial Peace University
What book would you recommend?
As we enter this thanksgiving weekend , I long for the big dinners I have celebrated with my longtime friends and kids for over thirty years.
However, I am grateful for what I do have my health, my life, the best friends ever and two amazing healthy adult children. My husband who continues to be such a good human being makes this pandemic easier for all those around him. My mom who lives far away, but still has a positive attitude given all her health concerns. A 91 year old mother in law who is healthy and full of vitality and positivity.
I am grateful for two brothers who have sacrificed so much for my mom. I am grateful I can help when I am needed in my community. This pandemic has hurt so many and if I can reach out and help, I am more than happy to do so. I am grateful to have a purpose and so much more.
So from my heart to yours, I wish you the best thanksgiving possible.
As you begin this year you may have a School Counsellor you wish to acknowledge. please feel free to edit and use as you like.
You put the heart in School Counselling
It’s the students who matter to you
Thanks for being at ___________ this year
And doing what you do
School Counselling for you is a joy not a job
A gift, not an obligation
A place where you can be brave, not cowardly
A place you have found, not somewhere you can get lost
An open space, not a closed door
Somewhere to stand tall, not sit and waste time
A place to create hope, while listening to despair
Where you focus on encouraging, not discouraging
A place to build up, not tear down
A space to be present to those in need
School Counselling for you is a home away from home
Thanks for having the courage to tackle the hard stuff
Thanks for having the strength to help those students and families in need
Thanks for your dedication and commitment to our students and school community
For being thoughtful, kind, patient and caring
For helping in so many ways
For cheering up a students most distressing days
Thank you for all you have shared
Thank you for all you have given
For all that you are and all that you will be
You put the heart in School Counselling
It’s the students who matter to you
You make a difference
So continue to keep doing what you do
Susan Spellman Cann
It should be as simple as that when making decisions in schools. Maybe we need to ask that question more often.
Engaging Students
There are many ways to engage students whether it is one to one or in groups. It is one of the best way to form a therapeutic alliance. At the beginning of every session I often ask students the following question. How can I be most helpful to you today? At the end of every session I check in with the student to see how the session went. I will often ask something like how are you feeling about what we talked about and did in session today? What is the one thing you will use as a result of our time together? This allows me to gage if I have been helpful and if there is something I said that the student connected with.
Utilize humour, creativity and whatever tools you have in your toolbox Technology can be an asset , so use what works for you. I often have students paint while we chat especially the younger students (I always ask first if they’d like to and many do). Koi paint sets are easy to use and don’t take up too much space.
Make sure your space is inviting and warm. Students enjoy coming to a space that is comforting. Ask them for ideas that will make your space a place where they will love to come to.
Get to know the student. Find their strengths and focus on what will work for them.
Finding ways to engage students is a process and throughout your years as a School Counsellor you will find many more ways to engage them. Ask more experienced counsellors what they do engage the most difficult to engage students.
It’s often more about how the student feels when they are with you. Make them feel valued and important like everything they say matters , which it does. Let them know how amazing they are.
Be present. Don’t answer your phone if it rings unless it is an emergency. There are so many ways to engage students, but most importantly be you . You entered this profession for many reasons and one of the biggest will be because you wanted to help. Be engaging and the helping will happen.
We all are trying our best to do the right thing. This post was supposed to go out yesterday, but I am still adjusting to the time change from travel and fell asleep. I have committed to writing a little something everyday so two posts will go out today.
I hope today you have an amazing day and do the right thing.
We all know that relationships matter, but sometimes we still need reminders. We keep searching for the perfect programs to help kids. In my opinion , time would be better spent being the person who makes a difference in a child’s life and helping increase the quality and number of people who can make a positive impact.
There are so many children who need our help for a multitude of reasons. Find ways to support, nurture, interact, listen to, respect, give hope to, and connect kids with people and resources that can help them.
Be that adult who attends to the emotional health of the children as well as your own. Model your humanity and compassion daily. Provide a safe haven where you and those you work with enjoy going to school each day, no matter the stresses of the world. Be present each day to the best of your ability and forgive yourself and others if things don’t go as planned. It’s more than OK to not feel at your best each day considering the circumstances, just do the best you can for the kids and reach out for support if and when you need it.
It is especially challenging being an educator right now like no other time I have experienced in my past forty years in education. I know what you do matters and I want to thank you for all that you do. Click here for a little gift. I hope in some small way this brightens your day.
People not programs change children. You have an abnormally large heart , I am sure that’s why you became an educator in the first place, so continue to be one of those people who makes a difference in the life of a child while taking good care of yourself.
Teachers deserve so much more than this for all they do day in and day out. This is my little treat for them as we enter World Teachers’ Day on Monday. It’s my small way to say thanks for who you are and what you do. Click here for a little gift.
Counsellor Talk : Connecting with those who want to make a difference.