MASCA
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION
VOL. 47, NO. 5
Beginning Again in the New Year
It’s Resolution Time By DONNA BROWN MASCA Executive Director
By CHRISTINE EVANS MASCA Past President
F
or school counselors the beginning of the school year is a time of high hopes and energy. We enthusiastically start up the season with new students, new ideas, and big plans for the year ahead. We begin to fill up our calendars with classroom lessons, meetings, and school events. Soon, however, we become aware of all that needs to be done and how little time we have to do it. In addition to the plans and expectations we make, we are confronted with problems that we did not plan on; and the ever-increasing, unexpected demands on our time and energy leave us counting the days until the next long weekend. As the year kicks into full gear, it is easy to become entrenched in routine tasks, leaving us with little time to stop and reflect or even to take a breath. Celebrating the New Year allows us to slow down, take inventory, and assess our progress. How are we doing? Have we been able to implement the interventions we talked about; are they making a difference? Are we still full of hope and energy for the new ideas? If, indeed, we discover that we are not where we had hoped to be, marking the New Year gives us a chance to begin again. Although the difficulties we have en(continued on page 4)
JANUARY 2011
W
ell, my friends, it’s that time of year again. It’s time for New Year’s resolutions. We all make them with the very best intentions. Some of us really want to stop smoking, lose weight, exercise more, drink less, and improve our physical health. Others resolve to be better parents, spouses, children, or friends. Sometimes, we develop goals to make us more fiscally responsible by budgeting better and saving more. Still others will aspire to more lofty resolutions: volunteer more, return to church, support what we believe, help the homeless. All of these are very worthy resolutions, but most will be abandoned before mid-March. There is one area of life that seems to be ignored when we resolve to improve ourselves, and yet this is where resolutions can be made and kept. This area is our professional lives. What can we do to become better school counselors?
50
YEARS
1961
2011
Let me offer a few possibilities. Most involve taking charge of your own professional development. 1. Resolve to support your professional organizations. All counselors benefit from the support of our professional organizations. American School Counselor Association (www.schoolcounselor.org), Massachusetts School Counselors Association (www.masca.org), and your local affiliate all offer opportunities for everything from networking with colleagues and other counselors to terrific professional development workshops and courses. This can all be done for total dues of less than $200. Consider volunteering for one of the MASCA committees by contacting the chairperson. They are listed on the website. 2. Resolve to take advantage of professional development opportunities. ASCA and MASCA both offer out(continued on page 4)
PLAN NOW TO ATTEND! MASCA Annual Spring Conference and 50th Birthday Celebration April 10-12, 2011
50
YEARS
1961
2011