From an early age, Nick Holmes ’25 (School Counseling) was drawn to education, though the path ahead wasn’t always clear. Beginning his career as a Spanish teacher, Nick quickly found fulfillment in serving as a role model and building meaningful connections with his students.
From these relationships, Nick was inspired and wondered, how could he make a career-defining impact on his students?
During his time at Andover High, Nick joined AVID Secondary, a national teaching program focused on preparing students for college success. In this role, he helped students build strong organizational and critical thinking skills. “It’s generally for students who need a little extra help and focuses a lot on counseling duties,” he explains.
Working closely with students needing personalized academic guidance, Nick discovered his true calling. “These are the students I really wanted to support,” he recalls. Motivated by this realization, he opened his laptop and began searching for school counseling programs.
The first result that caught his attention was the Lynch School’s Master’s in School Counseling. With its in-person courses, taught by exceptional faculty, flexible practicum options, and top-10 U.S. News & World Report ranking, it seemed like the perfect fit. There was also a personal connection to the program, as Nick’s brother had previously graduated from the Lynch School as a Donovan Urban Teaching Scholar. “It just felt right,” Holmes shares.
“ The school really values both education and real-world experience. ”
Soon after applying, Holmes was accepted as a part-time student—a milestone he describes as “huge,” as it allowed him to keep growing professionally while continuing to support his students in Andover.
Associate Professor of the Practice and Program Director, Julie MacEvoy
His time at the Lynch School was marked by great personal and career growth. He particularly valued his practicum experience, where he counseled students at Andover High while teaching Spanish full-time. It was a unique accommodation that the school and the practicum office were able to provide so he could continue to work full-time. He credits the flexibility and the mentorship of the program director, Dr. Julie MacEvoy, for making this option possible.
Today, Nick is a full-time school counselor at a local high school. He reflects fondly on his experience at BC and is grateful for his professors, who he says bring “a level of rigor that comes from their professional experience. It’s not coming from books.”
Nick Holmes’ story, alongside the dedication of Lynch School faculty, embodies what makes the School Counseling program truly special. Beyond its rankings, rigor, and outcomes, the Lynch School is committed to educating the whole person, just as Nick strives to do every day for his students.