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I joined �鶹��Ƶ New Hampshire a year ago, in January 2024, midway through the school year. This position has challenged me to grow with every experience. I decided to push past my comfort zone when I became a service leader for the FY25 service year.

The start of this service year was the biggest challenge I have faced in my career. Two team members departed �鶹��Ƶ and my manager from October to November. I quickly lost motivation to continue service, and my first-year teammates struggled to adapt to the changes. I took on more responsibilities because I was determined to help my team, our partner teachers, and our students. I filled in the gaps as I switched to survival mode, just trying to keep my team and our service routine afloat.

There were a handful of days when I didn’t come to work because I needed that time to care for myself. But each time I returned, my partner teachers and students were so happy to see me. They were worried about me because they knew it was a hard time, and they cared. Seeing my students’ smiles and the classroom’s warmth made me feel so welcome.

Our position as student success coaches is something special that cannot be recreated anywhere else. We are not teachers, we are not students, we are not paraprofessionals—we are �鶹��Ƶs. We face challenges unique to our position, and there will be times in your service when you ask yourself, “Why am I here? Why do I continue to serve?”

When I ask myself those questions, I hear my students. “Hi, Coach Alice!” I think about the connections I’ve worked day after day to build with each of them. I think about my student who greets me happily in the morning as he gets his breakfast or the student who is always excited to walk with me at the end of every day. I think of how my students are open with me and how lucky I am to be in this position where I can be part of their lives, especially during middle school, when core identities are forming and shaping.

This is not the service year I expected, but it has fundamentally changed me as a leader. It tested my communication and management skills, how I maintain a work-life balance, and how I take concerns and find effective solutions. I am glad for the skills I’ve gained through adversity, and I am thankful I remained hopeful for my students and partner teachers.

At this point in the year, my relationships with my students, partner teachers, and teammates are central to my service. It’s what gets me up in the morning and gives me joy at the end of the day.

My student once wrote about me: “Coach Alice inspires me because she makes me feel confident.” Our impact is mutual. My students, teammates, and partner teachers make me a confident leader. My relationships make hope worth holding onto during the most challenging days. To me, this is really a beautiful thing.