As the new school year began, a group of school social workers and case managers gathered together after returning from summer break. These team members provide vital social-emotional support for students in grades TK–8 and spend much of their time helping children navigate challenges, both inside and outside the classroom.
To start the year with intention, I facilitated an art workshop called the Wish Treasure Box. The workshop offered space to reflect on personal and professional goals while highlighting the importance of self-care in their demanding work.
With various art supplies the staff painted small boxes to hold their personal “wishes.” I also offered the following prompts to invite reflection:
- “This year, I want to feel more ___.”
- “A small boundary I want to honor is ___.”
- “A reminder I need on hard days: ___.”
- “A professional goal that excites me is ___.”
During partner sharing, the group spoke openly about what they hoped to carry into the year. Some expressed a desire to honor boundaries such as taking regular breaks or not skipping meals. Others shared intentions of cultivating more “joy” and “confidence” in their work. Many reflected on the importance of expanding their capacity while still holding onto practices of balance and care.
The group also identified ways to adapt the activity for their own students. Ideas included creating affirmation treasure boxes in self-esteem groups or using small symbolic items—like a paperclip to remember that “things don’t always need to be held perfectly together,” or a coin as a reminder to “take it one day at a time” or a rubber band for “resilience”—for students navigating sobriety.
What began as a simple reflective exercise grew into a meaningful tool that supported the team’s well-being and sparked new ideas for working with students. The Wish Treasure Box served as a gentle reminder that healing and growth begin not only with the students we serve, but also within ourselves as we carry our hopes, boundaries, and dreams into the year ahead.
