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Current Job Title: School Counselor

Current School: Pine Hill Elementary School (Dover, MA)

Where did you complete your practicum? What did that experience look like?

I completed my full-practicum as a School Counseling Intern at the Michael Driscoll School in Brookline, MA. It was my second year interning with their guidance department.

Driscoll is a public elementary and middle school made up of students in grades K-8, and recently expanded to include early education. Although I served students in all grades, my caseload primarily focused on supporting K-2 students. As a member of the Child Study Team, I would conduct intensive reviews, create treatment plans, and analyze student data for those experiencing severe social, emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges.

What do you see as the most rewarding aspect of your current position? What has been a challenge in your current position?

The most rewarding aspect of my current position is witnessing the remarkable improvements in the mental health of my students following collaboration with DCF, outpatient providers, community supports, and academic interventionists.

A challenge I'm currently facing in this role is the tension and frustration that comes with the slow therapeutic progress. Most days, I wish my work could reach a greater number of families; but I acknowledge that my clinical impact will grow with time.

What have you been doing since you finished the Mental Health Counseling program at the Lynch School?

I accepted a job to be one of the assistant directors of the Gender Relations Center at University of Notre Dame. I'm going to be in charge of healthy relationships initiatives and general GRC educational programming on Notre Dame's campus, while supervising student leaders in our office. Externally from Notre Dame, I'm also working on hopefully getting my license and other certifications as well.

What courses or parts of the program stood out to you?

I think hands down, the biggest influence for me was my practicum and supervision placement course. I had a lab leader in my first year and a supervisor in my second year. Both of those experiences were so transformative for me. I felt so supported in that environment. 

In the second year, we used the environment to practice case presentations to evaluate and learn from each other. I really felt like a professional at the point. In that setting, I embraced making mistakes, because I knew my classmates would support me through that, and my supervisor would guide me as well. Hands-down, those were the best experiences I've had in the program.

How has the community at the Lynch School shaped your time in the program?

The professors in the program do a really good job at creating projects where we're working with different kinds of people. Through those connections, I have both given and received great career advice from my peers in the program. It's really nice that we still lean on each other to this day to see where we are headed career-wise. There are people that I've become friends with, since we all have a similar point of interest.

Is there a course that has stood out to you so far? 

The Family and Community Engagement course sparked my interest in working with families and working in communities. And because of the Current Leadership for Social Justice class, I know now what it means to be the best advocate, not only for me, but for my students and families. I wanted to deepen that knowledge of social justice and how I can bring it back to my work. 

Why did you choose the Lynch School of Education and Human Development?

I chose the Lynch School because of its focus on evidence-based practice, alongside its commitment to both social justice and whole person education. Its commitment is central to my understanding that our vocations are not just careers, but ways of being and contributing to the common good.

What is the most impactful course you have taken so far, and why?

The most impactful course I have taken was Grief and Loss. The course discussed how grief, while a universal experience, is particular to each person and may take a myriad of different forms. In mental health counseling, it is essential to understand the many forms of grief and walk alongside others in their grieving process.

Current Job Title: School Counselor

Current School: Fuquay-Varina High School (Raleigh-Durham, NC)

How did the Lynch School prepare you for your current role?

I use what I learned at the Lynch School every single day. I think that one of the strengths of the program is that it's directly applicable to the work you will be doing. They very thoroughly prepared me. Sure, there are some things that you can only learn on the job, and that you’re going to learn with experience. But in terms of the academics and knowing where to go for help, I felt very prepared over my time in the program.

Tell us about your practicum experience.

I was at Natick High School. I can’t imagine doing the work I do now without having that practicum experience. I learned so much. Boston College actually requires its students to have more than the minimum requirement for licensure, so I just had so much practical experience.

I was meeting with students, sitting in on different types of meetings with students and families. I was able to run situations by my supervisor at my internship, and then bring the same situations to my professors and my fellow students in a classroom setting. That second year especially was a really intensive, hands-on learning experience of how to actually do the job. We got a lot of theory in year one, and in year two we were really focused on gaining experience.

What is your favorite thing about the Lynch School?

The small class sizes have allowed me to develop sincere relationships with my peers and get to know them on a personal level. Our professors are highly skilled individuals with great knowledge of the field of higher education. I feel like I am learning from the best of the best. My peers and the faculty have made the transition into graduate school seamless!

What is the most impactful course you have taken so far, and why?

The most impactful course I have taken thus far would be Student Affairs Administration with Professor De Veau. This course allowed me to better understand all the layers of higher education institutions, while looking at the ever-changing landscape of the field. Professor De Veau hosted panelists each week from various institutions in diverse roles to give us more exposure to the world of higher education and student affairs.

What is your current position, and how did the Lynch School prepare you for it?

I completed the program part-time while teaching at Dexter Southfield in Brookline, MA, where I am still teaching AP Comparative Government and AP Human Geography.

My professional goal is to run a division of school or run a school itself, and get into curriculum and program development, including examining policy development and writing policy. This program has helped me learn how I can apply that to strengthen academic programs for students.

Did you feel a connection with the other students in the program?

It’s an online program, so students were from all over: Chicago to Texas to Ghana. It was great to hear what they’re doing and how to make that work. Additionally, colleagues came from elementary education, secondary education, educational research, and ed tech. It provided a great perspective, and it's a great way to take individual traits and expertise and put them together.

A lot of that is testament to LSEHD and its focus on human development in general, not just in the ELP program. 

Why did you choose the Lynch School of Education & Human Development?

I initially chose to attend Boston College and the Lynch School for its proximity to the Center for International Higher Education. As I progressed in my studies, I discovered my interests in higher education were more domestic than global and was easily able to transition into the traditional Higher Education program.

What is the most impactful course you have taken so far, and why?

The most impactful course I've taken has been College Student Development. This class has provided me a solid foundation in student development theory that I can ground my future practice in higher education in.