Career Spotlight: School Counselor

I began my educational journey as an English teacher in a public high school for 11 years. I have a bachelor's degree in English and secondary education. I also have a master's degree in counselor education. In order to be a school counselor, I needed to have a master's degree in counselor education and counselor's certification in grades PK-12 from our state department of public instruction.

I had a strong desire to become better at my job, so I attended a lot of professional development. In my first year, I attended eight professional development meetings, which met the annual requirement of at least 10 continuing education units.

The employment outlook when I graduated from graduate school wasn't great. I graduated in 2008 in the midst of the great recession. I continued to work as an English teacher while I was in graduate school and, given the job market, it was best to do that.

I wasn't able to find employment for many years after graduation. I learned that school counseling was a very popular field and there was a shortage of jobs because people tend to stay in their positions. I also learned that there are often not enough counseling positions due to budget cuts or the perceived lack of need for school counselors.

I love the connections that I am able to make with my students and families. I also love talking to students about college, scholarships, mental health, and learning about their dreams. I also like advocating for kids and showing them that their needs matter.

Advocacy for school counselors. Many people do not know what we do. School counselors are the bloodline of schools, in my opinion. We assist each part of a school and aid with student matriculation, but most people do not see us or the value of our work until something is wrong, much like a medical emergency. I think that there should be more advocacy for school counselors to help bring more job opportunities and community partnerships.

The demanding nature of my job is also very challenging because I feel a lot of pressure when my students struggle with graduating or moving on through grade levels.

School counseling is a great profession, but it is demanding and not glamorous. Many people will say that school counseling is solely paperwork, but you can definitely make a difference in the life of a student. I would also say that it is helpful to find joy in the work that you do outside of your office by coaching, doing counseling groups, clubs, etc. Those are the things that can remind you of why you work with children if your job gets tough or demanding. Self-care is also essential as well.

Compassion, patience, organization, creativity, and an eye for detail are essential.

Shadowing a school counselor in practice is helpful because in school, we learn pedagogy and counseling theory, but practical examples of the job are equally as important. Also, it is helpful to volunteer with youth groups or mental health agencies as well, so that you have a realistic and working understanding of behaviors and the concerns of children.

The work that you will do as a school counselor is beneficial to the lives of children. Don't lose the idealism and light that you have as a new graduate, no matter how much people may encourage you to be "more realistic." Schools and kids need refreshing ideas because new ideas are the things that revitalize education and lives.