More Than a Paycheck

It began as a convenient, part-time gig. But for Eden Hausmann ’24, Amara Nwagbaraocha ’26, and Nathan Steinbach ’24, their years working for USM’s After School program have given them much more than spending money.

When the bell rings to signal the end of the school day, Gus Bowie ’32 and Sebastian Ficks ’32 can’t wait to go to the After School program at USM. Weather determines if they will be outside or inside, but they have fun no matter where they are. “There’s basketball and tag,” began Ficks. “And four square and the playground,” added Bowie. “And football,” they both chimed at the same time. “There’s everything pretty much,” concluded Bowie. “It’s really fun.”  

The counselors, some of whom are USM Upper School students, add to the fun. Nathan Steinbach ’24 has worked in the After School and Summer I.D.E.A.S. programs since he was a sophomore, and can often be spotted throwing a football and shooting hoops with 3rd and 4th graders, or officiating high-stakes four square matches. He values the confidence he has gained, and credits his job with helping him obtain it. “I’m a pretty introverted person, but what’s helped me is making connections with the kids,” he said. “I’ve known some of them for almost three years now, and they value my decisions and my authority. So if I have to step in to help resolve a conflict it’s easier because I have the confidence in that relationship and I know that they’ll listen to me.”

Those relationships are key to the success of the program. “Something that all kids need in school is repetition and familiar faces,” said Sophia Braschnewitz, associate director of auxiliary programs. “So it’s great when counselors start at a younger age and grow through the program, because they get to know the kids so well and the kids get to know them.”

Like Steinbach, Eden Hausmann ’24 has worked as a paid After School counselor since she was a sophomore, plus two seasons with Summer I.D.E.A.S. “Initially I took the job because it was convenient and I wanted to earn money, not necessarily because I loved children,” she said. But the longer she worked in her role, the more she came to appreciate it. “There’s a huge sense of purpose and duty to not only working here, but having a job in general,” she said. “And having all these kids who really like you makes a huge difference. It’s worth coming back for.”

USM’s After School program embraces the principles of choice and self-guided play, giving students plenty of activities to choose from, plus opportunities for social and emotional growth. But it’s a learning experience for the counselors, too. “This is a real job,” said Braschnewitz. “They’re on USM’s payroll and they’re taxpayers. Learning to communicate with their employer when they need days off, when they’re sick or running late, is one of the biggest skills they learn.” In addition, they learn responsibility. “They’re not just here to be a body in a room, they’re making sure the kids are being safe, behaving, and having fun.”

For Amara Nwagbaraocha ’26, who started as a counselor her freshman year, the role was initially intimidating. “I was used to working with a maximum of five kids at a time, but now it’s like, 20 or 30 kids with two or three counselors,” she said, “so I had to learn to accommodate many different needs.” She loves when she sees the children outside of After School, like when she ran a booth for the Global Scholars program during the Global Enrichment Fest. “I got like, seven hugs by all these different After School kids wanting stamps for their passports. It literally made my day.”