Maritza Cha
School Counselor
San Gabriel High School
San Gabriel, Calif.

I Am ASCA 

Why are you an ASCA member?
I’m an ASCA member because I appreciate being part of a community that is reflective of our practice and willing to share resources so all our students can benefit.

What inspired you to become a school counselor?
I was inspired to be a school counselor by my own experience in high school. When I was growing up, my high school college counselor’s caseload was 1-to-5,000. My high school was 99.9% Latinx students, most of whom were first-generation. This made me realize not everyone was getting the help they required for college applications/financial aid, not because my high school college counselor didn’t want to help, but simply because it wasn’t possible to reach all the students in a 24-hour day. 

What would you be doing if you weren’t a school counselor?
If I weren’t a school counselor, I would be either a journalist or lawyer. 

When and why did you know you wanted to pursue a career in school counseling?
I wanted to pursue my career in counseling due to my high school college counselor. I wanted to make an impact on BIPOC students, especially guiding them in their college process.

What do you do when you need inspiration to tackle another day working on behalf of students?
When I need a little inspiration, I listen to music and/or I go on Instagram or Facebook and look at what other school counselors are doing. When I see others’ amazing work, it refocuses me on the reason why I’m in the school counseling profession. 

What’s your favorite thing about being a school counselor?
My students – I love helping guide students as they discover their identity and their future potential. 

Why is it important for you to be part of a community of school counselors working together for the benefit of all students?
It is important for me to be part of the ASCA community because I have a network of support, and I am challenged (in a good way) to keep reflecting and excelling. 

What do you do when you need to decompress/eliminate stress/refuel for the next day?
Spend time with my two dogs

What’s something important you’ve learned from your students?
I have learned from my students the need for representation and why it’s important to see a role model in your life. They remind me every day of my purpose on my campus. 

What is your favorite tool you use in your work as a school counselor?
I love using Smore. It’s a great communication tool and one-stop shop for information. Plus, I can get data.