How to get the most out of the 2nd Year Showcase

Why hello again!  I hope everyone is making it through the semester without too much stress.  I know this is kind of when projects start weighing us down, so hang in there.  Just a few more weeks!

This blog is devoted to the upcoming 2nd Year Showcase.  I want to share a little bit about what it is, why it's important, and how you can get the most out of it, whether you're a first year or a second year.

But FIRST, I'd like to give a shoutout to SCGSA's AMAZING first year event coordinators, ELVA and BEATRIZ, for learning the ropes and pulling this together.  The second years are extremely grateful for your hard work.  You ladies ROCK!

So, what is this Showcase thing?  The 2nd Year Showcase is a relatively informal event where the graduating cohort prepares tri-fold poster boards of particular interventions they have implemented at their school sites.  As an ASCA Model program, we are trained to implement data-driven practices.  But more than that, we need to SHARE our data with stakeholders in order to effectively advocate for positions in schools, time in classrooms, and the importance of pulling students out of classes for individual or group counseling.  Dr. Trish Hatch has developed what is called a Flashlight, which is a specific format for preparing your data in order for it to be reader-friendly to all stakeholders - because what's the point of sharing data that nobody understands?  These Flashlights are what the second years will be showcasing at the 2nd Year Showcase.

Now why should you care?  Well, if you're a second year you should care because it's your grade, haha!  But more importantly, this is your opportunity to show your supervisors what you've been doing and how it has impacted the students at their schools.  And if you are at a site where you are the first interns there who are implementing the ASCA National Model, it's a great way to start getting the counselors on board with collecting and utilizing more data in their programs.  This is also an awesome venue for showing your other professors how you've integrated what they've taught you into your work in schools.  Can you say "Opportunity for more detailed and personalized letters of reference"?

As a first year student, this Showcase is your opportunity to do a few things.  First, it's a hands-on experience with what you will be doing next year.  You will get to see how Flashlights are created, who the different target populations might be, where does the data come from, what different kinds of interventions you could possibly implement at schools, and how effective different interventions were and why.  This Showcase is your sneak peak at your second year in schools.

So aside from walking around looking at a bunch of tri-fold posters, what can you do to really get the most out of this showcase?

1. Take pictures.  Take pictures of the posters that are interesting to you.  Not only will it jog your memory as you brainstorm interventions for your sites next year, but it'll also be a handy reference for how to lay out your presentation when it's your turn.  Although there's a specific format for the slides, everyone will present the data a little bit differently.  Find what you like and what you don't like so your poster next year is exactly the way you want it.  Also, take picture of yourselves with your cohort members.  Hello, grad school memories!
2. Ask questions.  The second years have had some challenges and hurdles in all shapes and sizes as they have worked on these interventions.  They've also found some very effective and creative ways to do certain things.  Ask them questions about their experiences and for suggestions as you prepare to design and implement interventions next year.  You can also ask them about their experiences at their different sites - what they liked, what they didn't like.  They'll be honest, and might even offer to set up a time to talk with you more in-depth.
3. Network, Network, Network.  Network with the second years.  If you really like something someone did, ask if you can get their contact information to hit them up next year.  Network with the professors.  Say hi, ask which classes they plan on teaching, and show them you are enthusiastic about your learning.  It will serve you well as you develop relationships for your letters of recommendation and reference.  And finally, network with the Fieldwork supervisors.  Thinking you want to be placed at Steele Canyon?  Preuss?  Westview?  Approach the supervisor, show your interest, and ask about getting placed there next year.  Placements go to those who advocate FIRST.

So here's a little cheat sheet for you.  Below is a picture of each of the supervisors, which schools they're at, and which second year students are placed there.  You can also click the school names to check out the websites.  The Showcase is still a couple months out, but it's never too early to start that networking!

The Preuss School UCSD (Christine Alves & Kathy Ng)

Erin Patrick

Steele Canyon High School (Erika Garcia & Rachel Pekin)

Nell Clark

Shannon Roberts

Westview High School (Heather Lampron & Paula Macias-Gonzalez)

Vanessa Crawford

Mission Hills High School (Kathy Granite & Michelle Ferrer)

Cherryl Baker

Hoover High School (Laura Romo, Mark Braun, Malia Green, Cathia Sanchez)

Andrea Munoz

Theron Maas

Sweetwater High School (Zorayda Delgado & LeLycia Henderson)

Lysabeth Lausing-Garcia

Expect an Evite in the near future, but mark your calendars now for May 8, 2014 from 6:30-8:00.  Dr. Estrada will be cancelling his 7:00 class that night, so be sure to give him lots of G R A T I T U D E!!!