Why I do what I do – Katie Coldham, WRAP Specialist

I do what I do because … I love it. I love working with adolescents. I love working with their families. I love helping individuals find their strengths when they might feel that they have none. And I love working in a position where the school district and Bert Nash are partners working for the best interest of the students.

One of my favorite quotes is, “We can do hard things.” Being a teenager is hard, high school is hard, all of the current “unknowns” due to COVID-19 are hard. My role is to walk alongside my students, meet them where they are at and help them navigate these waters with support, guidance and a whole lot of positivity. Because my students can do hard things.

When students come to my office, I encourage them to be honest, I challenge them to think outside of the box and I help them find the motivation to celebrate even the smallest of victories. Through tears, frustration and anger, I always try to end sessions with a positive affirmation because even on the hardest of days I want my students to be reminded that they are worthy. They are capable. They are valued. And they can do hard things.

I do what I do because mental health is real and students deserve to have a safe space at school. A space where they can count on me to be present without judgment, where they can let it all out before returning to class and where we can process “all the things.” A space filled with quotes, art work and poems. A space where students find their self-worth and drive and then set forth to achieve their goals because they’ve learned that they can do hard things.