One of the most important - and many times least understood - members of a
school's faculty is the school guidance counselor. After all, the counselor
is the person students and parents may never bother to get to know. She
sometimes seems hidden away in an office crammed with college brochures and
career advisory manuals. Graduation requirements and career-day posters
decorate the walls.
Counselor's are specially trained professionals charged with helping
students and their families make important academic and personal decisions.
Counselors listen, sometimes when nobody else can or will. Counselors help
find answers to confusing questions such as what courses students should
take in school this year, what career might be right and how to get in to a
college or university. Most of all, counselors offer friendship, support
and understanding to people just like you.
Remember, your counselor has chosen the profession because she likes to help
young people. Don't be afraid to call on her. Your counselor will respect
your right to a good measure of privacy. If your conversations are purely
personal - involving fears, attitudes and abilities - you and your counselor
can agree to keep the discussions confidential. If you are seeing the
counselor because of problems at home, the counselor may want to meet with
your family, either in your presence or separately.
Your counselor is one person who will be working with you throughout the
next four years of your life. Give her the opportunity to get to know you
so that she can help develop an educational/personal plan that is right for
YOU!
