As students explore college and career options within MEFA Pathway, a college and career planning tool for students in grades 6-12, it’s helpful for them to record their thoughts, reactions, and decisions while progressing through activities. The My Journal feature within MEFA Pathway allows them to do just that.

The development of this tool was inspired by our work with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the middle and high schools embracing the MyCAP model, which helps students prepare for college and future careers. With the MyCAP model, a My Journal entry can serve as a response to an activity, and it documents the student’s participation. It also helps students reflect and learn more about themselves and their interests.

Many of the MEFA Pathway lesson plans for school counselors include directing students to create an entry in My Journal. This entry serves as a response to an activity, and it documents the student’s participation. Students can add a My Journal entry from any page within MEFA Pathway by clicking the pencil icon in the bottom right corner of the webpage.

After clicking the pencil icon, students begin their My Journal entry by selecting the content category (academic, career, personal, or other). Then they add a title, fill out the entry section, and click SAVE. All journal entries automatically default to being shared with the student’s counselor, but students can choose to deem entries private.

All entries appear on the student’s My Journal page and can be sorted by grade, type, and date of submission. The My Journal page is accessible under the About Me tab.

To access this feature and all the great resources MEFA Pathway offers, students can easily create an account by visiting mefapathway.org and clicking GET STARTED, and then follow the steps to register. They’ll be on their way to setting the groundwork for postsecondary planning and success.