Anatole France once said, “Nine-tenths of education is encouragement.” This is a belief I try to display and embody for all the students I work with. As an Advocate Counselor at a transfer high school, my most meaningful experiences have been supporting student’s social-emotional learning and growth inside and outside of the classroom. When students are struggling, I actively seek to address their concerns. An effective strategy I’ve found for building self-determination and boosting resilience is consistent encouragement. This past year, one of my most fulfilling experiences has been helping a student begin to come to terms with the trauma of abuse through writing. When I learned about a writing program I thought might suit her, I encouraged her to apply and helped with her application. I had never directly facilitated narrative therapy as a form of counseling and encouragement before. She went from traumatized and not being able to identify with aspects of her story, to fully engaging with and processing her experiences and reaching for a cathartic resolution. Helping this student go from disempowered and apprehensive to proud, self-assured, and self-advocating reaffirmed my passion for using encouragement as a method to inspire empowerment and motivation. Since then, she has been accepted to the Youth Communications NYC writing program. Continuing to support this student socially and academically has solidified my belief in the importance of encouragement. Every single one of us needs encouragement to help us strive and reach our full potential.