President’s Letter: Finding Your Why

It is an honor and a privilege to introduce myself as your OSCA president. I have worked as an advocate for children and families for almost 30 years, starting my career as a special education teacher working in mental health day treatment settings. I have worked as a school counselor in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District for the last 13 years. I am honored to have the opportunity to advocate for school counselors in the state of Oregon. I just returned from the ASCA Annual Conference and Leadership Development Institute in Los Angeles. This was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the current state of our profession. I attended many sessions on current strategies for supporting students and families in our role as school counselors. The highlight of the conference was working with Emily Sallee and Holly Altiero, our past presidents; Kari Weileder, our president-elect; Laureen Held, our membership chair; and Dr. Gene Eakin, our advocacy chair. We are honored to represent and advocate for Oregon school counselors.
 
During the ASCA conference, I was reminded of Simon Sinek’s book “Start with Why.” Everyone has a why. Your why is the purpose, cause or belief that inspires you. You know what you do and how to do it, but why do you do what you do? As you prepare to begin a new school year, take time to explore, create and reconnect with your why. Find or rediscover your purpose, your cause, your belief and your passion for your work as a school counselor.
 
Write down your answers to the following questions:

1. What do you do for work?
2. Why do you do it?
3. How is what you’re doing making you a better person?
4. How is what you’re doing making the world a better place?
5. What makes you happiest in your life? What inspires you?
6. What three to five beliefs are you most passionate about?
7. Describe how your work allows you to live your why.
8. Write your why in the context of your work.

Based on your answers, state your why with your own vision statement. You may want to create a poster of your vision statement as a daily reminder to live your why.
 
I wish you all the best as you begin a new school year connected with your why!

Contact Laura Barbour, OSCA president, at oscapresident@oscainc.org.
OSCA at ASCA


Dr. Gene Eakin presenting at ASCA


Emily Sallee and Laura Barbour presenting at ASCA