My Favorite Memories As An Advisor: A 4-Year Commitment to A Group of HS Students
Community: How can we build a school so every student feels connected? That is one of the critical questions we ask ourselves at Ednovate. One of the systemic ways we ensure a connection between our students is by structurally building long-lasting relationships with a group of students. One fantastic educator follows a group of students for four years.
We call this advisory, but this isn’t your typical advisory. An Ednovate advisor meets with a parent at least 16 times each year. The advisor is your family’s advocate at our schools; they facilitate relationships with other students; they write meaningful college letters of recommendations, and they are the ones to announce you at graduation.
I was fortunate enough to follow 20 phenomenal students from 2002 - 2006 through their college prep journey. All 20 were accepted into a 4-year university, and even better is that most of us are still in contact with each other 14 years later, seeing each other almost annually. Below are my top 5 memories of being an advisor.
1. Sharing Meals and Laughter Together
Eating together has to be my favorite memory altogether. I had to combine this one into one category for brevity, but I could have written extensively about our Thanksgiving Dinners and The Cheesecake Factory (TCF). But what is great about both of them is that we got to create traditions with each other and also learned about various cultures with every dinner we had.
Every year we had a potluck Thanksgiving Dinner during advisory. I would bring the turkey, and my advisees would bring the rest. The best part, though, was when we would take time to share our highs and lows and what we were grateful for this year. Each Thanksgiving brought us closer, and I am so happy to see this tradition happening at every Ednovate school. It is still one of my favorite days of the year.
We didn’t want to wait once a year for these moments, so a few times a year we would head to TCF, whose extensive menu had something for everyone. And this quarterly meal became a tradition. To this day, 14 years after my advisees graduated, we still meet up at TCF to share the highs and lows, toast and offer cheers to each other, and share smiles and hugs as we continue on life’s journey.
2. Going to College Orientation with Students and Parents
Often, going to a college orientation is daunting for first-time college goers, parents and students included. When 100% of my advisees were accepted into college, I wasn’t expecting to go to orientations. But after three and a half years of working with our families, I was honored that some of them asked me to join them. I distinctly recall going to two orientations at UMASS Amherst and Bridgewater State University. We walked through the student center together, talked to club advisors, and listened to a lecture or two. It was the first time I recall thinking about my advisees moving on from our high school, and it was bittersweet as I was so proud of them and also sad to know that our relationship as advisee and advisor was going to soon change.
3. Attending Their College Graduation!
Very few things are as satisfying as setting a goal and achieving it. The first day our students come into our advisory, we tell them we are going to prepare them for a four-year university. And after 15+ parent meetings, 12+ college field trips, and hundreds of conversations about academics week in and week out, the day that one of my advisees comes by to tell me they got into a 4-year university, knowing what that means to their own confidence, their life tractory, and the future for their family, it gets me every time. My heart swells with happiness for the hope and optimism that a college acceptance brings to a family. Even better is when, many years later, they invite you to their college graduation!
4. Adventures like White Water Rafting or Dancing with extended family members at special events
Pushing our limits on the rivers, dancing with tíos and tías, having Lola ask me to be a videographer for a Quinceanera, brunches at Old Country Buffet and driving through Puerto Rico with uncles to celebrate a special birthday, I had one rule as an advisor: If I got an invitation, I would do everything I could to make it. That rule allowed me to have so many memories and experiences that I will never forget! Special thanks to all of the families who opened their doors.
5. Hugging my advisees as they cross the graduation stage
Something special at Ednovate is that every advisor says something special about each of their advisees during graduation. After four years of being together, the bond is usually strongest with the advisor and advisees. So why shouldn’t they get to share the stage together? This wasn’t a tradition when I was an advisor, but I’m so glad it is now. Graduations are so much more heartfelt when I see an advisee and advisor share and embrace. To me, that tells the story of their four-year journey together.
P.S. I just saw my advisees three months ago. Many of them are married, have graduate degrees, kids, professional jobs, and are homeowners! The relationships continue on many years after high school...and yes, we met and caught up at the Cheesecake Factory.
Oliver Sicat, CEO