Careers In A Crunch Podcast
Scarsdale High School student interview.
18
08, 2026
3
08, 2026
New York Times Published : Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor as published in the New York Times- July 2026 Happy in the Muck To the Editor: I really enjoyed “Picking Trash Out of Muck, and Loving It” (front page, July 18). It was refreshing to read such an uplifting story about a group of women who spend their time wading through ponds and lakes pulling underwater garbage from the muck. You quote Lisa Weiss, a 65-year-old retired high school math teacher, as saying, “You’re exhausted, you’re maybe a little sunburned, you’re filthy, and it’s the best feeling.” I wasn’t surprised to learn that the effort [...]
24
07, 2026
Five Factors that Build Resilient Kids
by Caren Baruch-Feldman, PhD The end of summer can be a particularly busy and demanding time for children and families. Between readjusting around travel and shifting routines and preparing for a new school year, along with all the new challenges that may bring, stress levels can run high. As we help children navigate these challenges, it is worth focusing on one of the strongest predictors of long-term well-being: resilience. Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover, and even grow in the face of adversity. Building these skills early on allows a person to handle the bumps and bigger disappointments [...]
16
01, 2026
Resilience Amid Trauma : Letter to the Editor – New York Times
read all NY Times 1/16/25 letters to the editor To the Editor: I read “Living Through Wildfires Leaves Psychological Scars” (news article, Jan. 10) with great interest. However, I was disappointed by its heavy emphasis on “lasting psychological harm,” “anxiety” and “post-traumatic stress disorder,” while neglecting an equally important message: Most people are resilient. Study after study, across countries and contexts, has shown that people are remarkably resilient in the face of adversity. Even amid the devastation caused by the Los Angeles fires, the human spirit’s capacity to endure, recover and thrive is a powerful story that deserves attention. [...]
16
05, 2017
MAY BLOG: Persee the Perseverant Puppy
It is the second day of the state math test at Harrison Avenue Elementary School in Westchester County, New York. Persee, the perseverant puppy mascot, sits on top of the smart board in a third grade classroom, a reminder to students of the instruction they have been given throughout the school year that “perseverance pays off!” When faced with a challenging question, Persee reminds these third graders to exhibit an optimistic mindset, use flexible strategies in the face of obstacles, and to treat themselves with kindness and compassion. What is happening at Harrison Avenue, the elementary school where I work [...]
31
07, 2016
July Blog: Facing Your Fears and Learning Along the Way
“It was great…, it was hard!” Katie Ledecky, age 6 I fell off the bike. It happened. My greatest fear had occurred. However, instead of being the disaster I had created in my head, it was freeing. But wait, let’s travel back a little earlier in the day for some context. I had decided for my last day of my spa vacation, that instead of getting another massage, I would challenge myself with some mountain biking (yes, I know some of you are thinking – she is crazy). I signed up for the beginner class, feeling both confident and apprehensive: [...]
22
05, 2016
BLOG (May): MY COMMENCEMENT SPEECH
"So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea, you're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!” Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go! This year is very special for my family- both my son and my daughter are graduating: my son from high school and my daughter from middle school (the school she has attended since nursery school). It is true what everyone says, “They grow up so fast.” But, what does not have to be true is focusing on the more immediate, but less [...]
13
05, 2016
VIDEO Available: Got Grit? Got Growth? Got Greatness! Increasing Perseverance, Self-Control, and a Growth Mindset in Ourselves and Our Children
Great News! If you missed my "Got Grit? Got Growth? Got Greatness! Increasing Perseverance, Self-Control, and a Growth Mindset in Ourselves and Our Children" workshop that I gave at the Scarsdale library in March 2016, it is now available online on SPTV. In this workshop, participants will learn the latest research, as well as strategies, that promote grit, self-control, and mindset change. To view the video go to and hit the picture. https://www.scarsdalepublictv.com/video/increasing-perseverance-self-control-and-a-growth-mindset-in-ourselves-and-our-children/
11
02, 2016
February Blog: Fill A Bucket for Your Valentine
This month I had the opportunity to participate in one of my favorite activities as a school psychologist: working with my fifth grade student leaders to turn-key important school wide messages to our younger students. Specifically, fifth grade students partnered with me to teach “ways to achieve happiness” to fourth grade students. The three elements we focused on were 1) bucket filling, 2) developing a positive and growth mindset, and 3) engaging in activities that make us happy. 1. Bucket Filling – First, we discussed bucket filling, a concept originated by Carol McCloud. We discussed the importance of being a [...]
17
01, 2016
BLOG (January) May the Force of “Social Support” Be with You
I recently saw the movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. If you are in the 1 percent of people who haven’t seen the movie, I highly recommend you see it, and DON’T READ FURTHER because serious spoilers will be revealed in this blog. However, for those of you who have seen it, I was wondering if you gave any thought to R2D2’s miraculous awakening? R2D2 is seen in a coma-like state midway throughout the movie, presumably because he misses his master, Luke Skywalker. So the question is, why did R2D2 wake up and, more importantly, how was he able to [...]