Do not forget for a second that we placed them in office to champion our communities, and it is up to us to hold them accountable. We need to understand that political outreach is an important part of our community engagement, as it can ensure that hope expands, gathers momentum, and becomes part of a collective drive for positive change.
Blog
Hope Is the Thread that Connects Us
Hope, once awakened, is meant to be acted upon. By joining forces with others who hold a similar sense of possibility, we tap into a group energy that may inspire even hesitant observers to give progress a chance. When people unite around shared intentions, they form a powerful base that lifts each participant.
Hope is the Willingness to Try Again
Noticing everyday positive moments can help shift these feelings. Perhaps you spot a volunteer group gathering supplies for those in need or a friend raising local issues with elected officials. Recognizing these acts doesn’t deny that struggle exists. Rather, it affirms our ability to notice genuine care instead of being pulled into despair, as highlighted in our previous post.
Hope is a Stand Against Despair
Many of us are experiencing it right now with the chaotic rollout of policies aimed at inflicting pain on the most vulnerable in our society. When dark moments like this loom, choosing hope is an act of resistance. It is a stance against despair.
Hope is More Than a Feeling
Hope acknowledges that success is not guaranteed, yet insists that effort and resilience are meaningful in themselves. In this view, hope becomes an act of courage, requiring a willingness to embrace uncertainty without being overwhelmed by it. It also relies on consistent engagement with reality, confronting setbacks head-on and learning from what does not work.
Blog Series: Hope is a Moral Obligation
Hope demands more than passive optimism. It requires us to face painful moments, like the one we are living right now, while imagining a future we have a hand in shaping. Hope compels us to reclaim our sense of agency.
Transactional Living: How Consumerism Distorts Our Relationships
This mindset isolates us, transforming the world into a series of transactions and eroding the bonds that make life meaningful. Recognizing the grip of this mindset allows us to refocus on our humanity, which is a shared space where connections are built not on what we pay, but on who we are.
Welcoming 2025: Winter Quarter and Beyond
The year 2025 also holds two other key markers on my path to licensure: Residency II in the spring and Practicum in the fall. Although the fall start date feels distant, the search for Practicum sites starts now. I am currently reaching out to potential locations and will soon begin the application process.
Taking a Brief Break
During this time, in addition to completing the CBT trainings, I will also revise my resume. This task is more than just updating a document. Somehow, it is about recalibrating how I present my professional journey. Transitioning from a career in higher education to one in counseling requires a shift in emphasis...
CBT Trainings with the Beck Institute
In a previous blog post, I shared my intention to explore Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as my first theoretical orientation in preparation for Practicum and Internship in 2025. As the fall quarter concludes, I have enrolled in a few specialized CBT trainings through the prestigious Beck Institute.
Roque Neto 