With the new year comes new friends, new classes and for some, new counselors. After a recent increase in the student population at Portola High combined with the departure of former counselor Nicole Epres, two new counselors have joined the team to help out students both old and new.
Gage Peterson
Gage Peterson, Portola High’s former ROP Career Specialist, may be a familiar face to some students on campus. Peterson’s journey to becoming a counselor started in college across multiple degrees and disciplines.
“First, I wanted to work in education,” Peterson said. “But I wanted to be able to support students. I studied psychology in college, so I wanted to continue along that pathway, and found that school counseling would fill that role for me.”
In his free time, Peterson enjoys outdoor sports, such as skiing, hiking, paddleboarding and mountain biking. He frequently turns his hobbies into family excursions as another way to spend quality time with his kids.
As a first-year counselor, Peterson said he is looking forward to developing his own skills as a school counselor as well as his relationships with his students.
“For my underclassmen, I’m really looking forward to just getting to know them, and then being able to follow them as they pursue graduation over the next couple years,” Peterson said. “For my upperclassmen, I’m looking forward to getting them to their goals this year in their college and career journey.”
As for the new school year, Peterson said he hopes his students will not hesitate to reach out to him if they need support.
“I’m happy to meet with any student,” Peterson said. “I just don’t want there to be any kind of barrier for them to feel like they can reach out to me.”
Sasha Lo
School counselor Sasha Lo began her counseling journey as a psychology major in college, similar to Peterson. According to Lo, her decision to pursue counseling was sparked by an impactful conversation with her school counselor in middle school.
“It was so validating, and she was so kind and encouraging,” Lo said. “That really made a difference in my life and my perspective going into high school. I always remembered that moment and I studied psychology in college and minored in education, so I paired the two together for school counseling, hoping to make an impact.”
Prior to her position at Portola High, Lo taught as a school counselor for eight years. According to Lo, she is excited to be a part of the community, go to school events and meet her new students.
“Counselors get to see students in a global perspective,” Lo said. “So it’s not only school, but also who you are as a person, how you’re doing your activities. What’s really cool is that we can see a student from multiple angles, and over time, get to know them and support them.”
Aside from counseling, Lo enjoys many other hobbies such as journaling and artwork. This year, after introducing her students to her interest in handwritten letters, Lo has already received snail mail as an appreciative gesture and looks forward to many more positive interactions with the campus community.
As Portola High continues to grow, the school expects many new additions. Helping these new counselors have a smooth integration by greeting them or making self-introductions is one way students can support others and contribute to a better campus environment.
