Upon walking into Portola High’s new Zen Den, the atmosphere changes into a comfortable calm as Project Success Specialist Megan Olsen welcomes students with a smile. 

Project Success is a program that offers an eight-week series of group or individual sessions providing guidance and addressing wellness concerns for students, such as stress management or social skills. Along with mental health specialist Katie Holmes, Project Success Specialist Megan Olsen manages Project Success to ensure that the project helps students build a safe, healthy lifestyle. The program is unique because it provides the opportunity to foster continuous relationship where students can discuss challenges and goals with a trusted adult, according to Assistant Principal Brandon Emery. 

Olsen’s interest in supporting students grew while she was an alternative education instructional assistant at Creekside Education Center. Through her experiences, Olsen discovered her desire to pursue a degree in counseling, and during that pursuit, she learned about the position of a Project Success Specialist.

“She naturally has this very calm feeling to her where it makes me think, ‘Oh, she’s a very safe person,’” freshman Iza Zalewski said. “I think the fact that she was telling us about her adventure [in Project Success] was learning how to work with teens who are trying to learn new skills.”

Olsen said that, since joining Portola High as a Project Success Specialist in Sep. 2024, her experiences changed over time with her move from the counseling wing to the Zen Den, allowing for focus on mental health that is separate from counseling. With the move, the counseling department and Project Success continue to operate like a team by supporting students with resources, according to Olsen.  

“It was really nice being in the counseling wing, because I got to know of all the counselors and how they helped the students,” Olsen said. “It gave me a good, solid foundation for [moving] over here into portable three.” 

The Zen Den is located in portable three and has highly contributed to Olsen’s experience as the Project Success specialist. In the Zen Den, Olsen holds group sessions that consist of reviewing norms, checking in and allocating time for an activity. Activities include practicing box breathing in a stress management group and practicing prioritization in a study skill group, according to Olsen. 

“Miss Olsen is really present on campus,” Emery said. “She’s a really good resource for students because of her personality alone: she’s really calm, approachable and endearing. That is really important in that role when students are asking for help.”

In the future, Olsen hopes to continue supporting students and broadening Project Success’s outreach in order to ensure that everyone on campus feels welcome. 

“It’s great when I know that there’s somebody that can help me and somebody that I can get support from,” freshman Karina Clark said. “The way she guides activities is really fun and really helpful.”