Meet Blake Rabinowitz: The Superhero We Didn't Even Know We Needed!

Scolastico had the privilege of serving as both an exhibitor and a presenter at the Families Together in New York State (FTNYS 2025) Conference. We proudly delivered our session, “Decoding the IEP: From Confusion to Confidence,” to a room full of engaged, thoughtful individuals, parents, caregivers, and professionals alike, who are all united by a common goal: to improve the lives of children through stronger systems of support.

The collaboration at this conference was invigorating, the conversations refreshing. There is something uniquely powerful about being in a room filled with people who don’t just care, but act. The energy was electric and driven by the relentless dedication of people working across special education, mental health, and family support services. It was an honor to be in their company.

But amid the many connections made that day, one conversation stood out, a moment that reminded me why we do this work.

That moment came in the form of Blake Rabinowitz, a high school junior who approached our exhibitor table with quiet confidence. She introduced herself as a member of the FTNYS Youth Board. I asked how she earned such a distinction, and with striking humility she replied, “My legislator suggested it.”

Now, after 17 years as a public school administrator, I’ve learned how to read between the lines. One sentence like that usually hides a novel’s worth of story. So I raised a curious eyebrow and before Blake could continue, her mother, with unmistakable pride, jumped in to share the story I hadn’t even known I was waiting for.

Blake’s journey is one of resilience, empathy, and self-awareness. Like many teens, she navigated the emotional turbulence of adolescence, uncertainty, loneliness, social pressure. But unlike most, she turned her reflections into writing, using poetry as a means of self-expression and self-preservation. Her journal became her safe space, a place where she processed challenges and found clarity.

One day, she read one of her poems aloud in class. What followed was unexpected: her peers connected deeply with her words. Blake’s writing resonated. Her vulnerability gave others permission to open up. She had tapped into something real, something powerful.

From that moment on, Blake made a decision: if she didn’t have an older sister to guide her, she’d become that sister for someone else.

The result? Her debut book: Advice from the Older Sister I Never Had.

This beautiful compilation is more than just a collection of poems; it’s a conversation starter, a safe space, and a therapeutic tool. The book includes blank journal pages for teens to process their own emotions and write their way through tough moments. It’s raw, real, and remarkably relatable. Blake has created a tool that not only supports mental health but encourages young people to care for themselves, and each other, through storytelling and reflection.

Here at Scolastico, we believe in elevating voices that inspire change, especially when they come from the very youth we aim to support. Blake Rabinowitz is a testament to what happens when a young person finds her voice and uses it to lift others. She’s not just a student or a writer, she’s a leader, and yes, a bit of a superhero.

We encourage you to check out her book, Advice from the Older Sister I Never Had, and consider sharing it with a teen in your life. It might be the exact message they didn’t know they needed.

Check Out Blake's Book

Advice from the Older Sister I Never Had: A collection of poems and a journal to remind you that you are not alone and to inspire you to take care of your mental health

By Blake Rabinowitz

ISBN: 9781665759731 (softcover); 9781665759724 (electronic)

Available at Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble