An Exhibitor’s Experience at Texas Counselors Conference: One of Many Opportunities to Grow and Learn as a Professional

Written by Pam Powers and Reisa Rudman, Dove Self-Esteem Project Cadre Trainers 

Conferences can be a great way for professionals to network, learn new things, problem-solve, and engage with others in your field. Many conferences also have exhibitors available who can provide new tools, resources and inspiration for professionals to use in their line of work.

While there is nothing like the in-person or face-to-face experience, current times have increased the likelihood of conferences being held virtually – and while it’s not what we’re used to, attending virtual conferences can be extremely rich and rewarding. Presenters continue to be quite eager to share information and dialogue with session attendees. Exhibitors concisely share information, products or programs designed to assist you in your role and help your students on their educational journey. Then, there is the opportunity to network with colleagues across the airwaves. While, this may not be the most ideal way to host a conference, it is working for many organizations at both state and regional levels.

Just prior to the changes in our professional and personal lives due to COVID-19, several in-person conferences were held in early 2020, the Texas State Counselor Conference being one. It was a pleasure to attend, meet, greet and learn from other counselors.

The Annual Professional School Counselor Conference is designed specifically for professional counselors providing services in educational settings for elementary and secondary students. Programs focus on ethics, child & adolescent counseling, student development, group work, at-risk youth, LGBT issues, administration & leadership, crisis response, wellness, technology & innovation, multicultural & social justice issues, and many more. This conference is co-hosted by the Texas School Counselor Association and the Texas Counseling Association. This conference attracts between 2200 and 3000 participants each year.

A big bonus: the conference provides attendees plenty of time in the exhibit hall each day to talk to vendors and make connections. This is always a huge bonus for exhibitors who have so much information and resources to share with attendees. It is a personal experience a website does not offer in quite the same way.

The two of us were busy most of the time at the exhibit booth, introducing some – and hearing positive comments from others who were familiar – to the Dove Self-Esteem Project Confident Me! body confidence and self-esteem toolkit. Many commented on how they had utilized the toolkit’s videos with groups of students as conversation starters, who loved them. 

For background, The Dove Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) is the largest provider of self-esteem education globally, having reached 60 million young people with confidence-boosting education since 2004. Dove’s goal is to reach 250 million kids by 2030, and attending conferences and reaching more educators who can utilize the no-cost DSEP resources in their classrooms will help them reach their goal and allow us to build resilience and self-esteem in the next generation. 

For us, it was great to receive such interest in the free lessons and activities associated with the Dove Self-Esteem Project. The lessons offer a great opportunity for students, 11-to-14 years of age to learn how their peers, social media and professional media impact them. It also helps them learn about internal and external influences, as well as how to become body confidence champions for others. Activities are interactive and help students recognize the importance of who they are, their uniqueness, and walk away with tools to deal with the topics covered.

Conferences can be a great resource for both professionals and presenters. Whether you are looking to connect with other professionals or gain resources from other entities, finding a conference in your area could be very beneficial to your career. Check with other professionals to find a conference in your area.

To download no-cost tools and resources and for additional information about the Dove Self-Esteem Project, please visit the website at www.dove.com/selfesteem or e-mail us at info@cairnguidance.com.