Last week was the National School Counseling Week. Posters were displayed on the hallway wall. Thank you Director for the great orchids!  

Angel Ly, one of the great 7th grade students, made this art piece for my office. This looks great on my wall and also motivates visitors with its bright colors and the words.

Students love to visit and have a seat on these "cool" chairs.  Emoji pillows are favorites of many kids... Squishy question cubes and conversation starter cards are great for the visitors who don't know where to start or need a little time to break the ice! 

My huge goal setting poster helps kids set up SMART goals. We create a road map together to help them reach their destinations. Because we know that a goal without a plan is just a wish...

These fidget toys and stress balls (squishy faces) works great, especially when my visitors  are anxious. These little things work wonders with younger kids.

Hospitality team organizes monthly/bimonthly birthday parties to celebrate teachers and staff birthdays. Thank you Hospitality team!

Appearance
Would you mind to tell me why our appearance matters so much?
Why it is so important weather we have an old black backpack or a Micheal Kors clutch?
Why must such things define us?
Things like if our wallet is filled with money or filled with dust.
Weather these are things we can change or things we are born with
Like the pigment of our skin, the color we inherit determine the way we live
Is this who you are, is this who we are?
These are the things that determine who we are at heart.
But these accusations, there all lies
They hide who we really are inside
The color of our eyes, the length of our hair, the accent in our voice
or weather we walk around our feet bare.
Must we rely on pieces of pigmented paper?
Because I assure you these things won't matter later.
We are all judged on what is on our face
To realize we are all part of one race, the human race
It doesn't matter who you are, Indian, Arab, Caucasian, African American, British or Dutch
So would you mind telling me why our appearance matter so much?

Walls
Our walls stand up high
Too high to fight
We wear disguise
Tell a thousand lies
But what is the point? It makes no sense
It makes them like us more, makes us love us less
Do you ever wonder why we do it?
Why we are so worried about if we fit in?
It is becasue we are scared 
To stand out if we dared
We are forced to compare
Till our emotions are stripped bare
As tears coat our face
Humiliation starts to take place
They keep their eyes on you
Making you feel like a fool
Your heart slowly going black
Your breath starts to lack
You run, we run, that's how it goes
Nobody ever has time alone
You decide to make it halt, to make it stop
You let it all go, you let it all drop
You are different, you are you, it is easy tell
Everyone stops and the walls all fell
This is it, this is you
Now its their turn to feel like a fool
The walls are destroyed, they are all gone
Now you know, it is all done.

When you come to see me, you will see my minions first. They are on my door for a reason. Sometimes there is reluctance by some students to seek counseling for issues such as anxiety and anger. Even acknowledging the reality may not be easy. So minions reminds that "we all have those moments" and normalize and encourage having mental health support.