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2026 International ACAC Conference Session Proposal Form

February 12, 2026

From Advice to Agency: Counseling Students to Own Their Story

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM–1:45 PM EDT
Posvar 1500
Session Description

Traditional questions like "What do YOU want?" rarely unlock authentic student voice, especially when family expectations, cultural values, and peer pressure dominate decision-making. This session provides practical conversation techniques that reveal student values without dismissing family input, strategies for cultural contexts where collective family decisions are the norm, and methods for helping students articulate priorities that may conflict with parental expectations. Attendees leave with question frameworks, intervention strategies for different family dynamics, and realistic expectations about what student agency can look like when individual choice must balance with family obligations and cultural values.

Lead Presenter

Michael Coury, Shanghai Qi Bao Dwight High School

Additional Presenters

Vandana Murjani, The Emerald Heights International School
Beste Özsoy, Hisar School
Stanley Chia, Cialfo
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