What do I do? Seriously. There are days that I wonder what in the
world I need to do, but I’m referring to being asked that question. This past
week was National School Counselor’s Week. Most people don’t realize that. Most
people don’t even realize what school counselors do. A lot of people will ask
me, “So what is it exactly that you do?” I don’t mind. I don’t expect people to
know because I didn’t have a clue until I jumped head first into this position
roughly three years ago. Like most professions, no class, book, or even
internship can prepare you for the real world.
If you were to look at the job description (I’m not sure there really
is one, but play along with me here) you would see that we are to spend most of
our time in individual and group counseling with the remainder of our time in
guidance classes teaching character education lessons. Seems simple enough,
right? Remember when I said that I’m not so sure there is a job description?
Scratch that. I am absolutely positive we have no job description. But here’s a
snippit of what we do:
School counselors and any counselor who works with children help
children learn to trust. We have little time to “build rapport” so we have to
be very creative and use lots of coloring books, modeling clay, board games,
etc, to help the children to understand that we don’t cheat at Candy Land, that
we really do listen to what they are saying, and that we believe them. Instead
of berating them for wetting their pants, we quietly slip them a bag with fresh
clean underwear and pants, discreetly giving them instructions for changing
themselves in the bathroom, while trying to talk to them about other really
important things, like Sophia the First, or video games to help them keep their
dignity instead of them being embarrassed. We are often able to realize that a
bruise “that size” couldn’t have been made by your two-year old little sister
and we have to make judgment calls that keep us awake at night. We keep snacks
for kids we know that don’t get enough to eat, clothes for those who aren’t
properly dressed; coats, socks, shoes, gloves, underwear, soap, deodorant,
brushes, etc for those who are in need. We talk to parents who are afraid and
who are crying because little Johnny just “hasn’t been himself” lately and can
we please talk to him? We tutor individual kids during the school day sometimes
because they simply cannot function in the classroom for one reason or another.
We remove children from situations and let them cool off in our office and give
them tips on how to calm down without trying to knock out a class mate or
teacher. We work with other schools on school records, transferring students,
and other school counselors on transient children whose parents rent-dodge. We work
with lawyers, social workers, and cops. Many partner with churches to make sure children have enough food to eat on weekends. Oh, and the testing. I haven’t EVEN
touched on testing yet. In fact, I’ll just say that all the testing that’s done,
the books that have to be counted in and out every single day, the fact that
you feel you should be surrounded by armed guards for 2 weeks in the spring…
that? Yeah, usually done by school counselors. School counselors follow up on concerned
calls from teachers regarding students with excessive absences, falling grades,
or who are constantly falling asleep in class. We make snow-cones on field day J. Don’t forget class rotations. We teach
guidance classes every week in all that free time we have. We are often in
charge of things like 504’s, Red Ribbon Week planning, GIVE program planning,
Impact Aid cards, and other things that you’re probably saying “What’s that?”
to. The high school and even middle school counselors deal with much of this,
as well as kids who are on drugs, alcohol, pregnant, dropping out, failing,
barely getting by, working and trying to make the grade, getting kids
scholarships etc.
With this being just a sample of things that I can come up with off
the top of my head in about five minutes flat, why in the world do I think I
have the best job ever? How do I know
beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is exactly what God wants me to be doing
right now? I know because of the bitty that starts back to class and turns
around to run back and hug me and say “I love you!” after a rough session; because
of the student that comes in and sits down with tears in their eyes who says “You’re
the only person I can talk to”; because of the parent who emails saying, “We
need help, can you help us?” I know because of the anonymous sweet notes I find
in my box. We all do this because of parents who trust us, and children who
need us. We do this because we can see beyond the here and now and into the
future, past the tear filled eyes and low grades. We can see the potential, the
light, and the hope. We know that sometimes it simply takes having one person
believe in you to help you believe in yourself.
So many of these kids may never remember me or anything about me, but
I promise you I will never forget them. Honestly though, I think I am blessed
by these kids so much more than I ever bless them. From these children I learn
strength, forgiveness, persistence, and not to let a situation become a
handicap, or an excuse. From this job I
have learned that wealth has nothing to do with money and joy comes from
knowing you have helped someone whether they will know it or not. I simply
cannot imagine doing anything else. Period.
A belated Happy School Counselors Week to my fellow school counselors.
I work among the best and am blessed by their enthusiasm, compassion, and
genuine love for the children. I enjoyed time with many of these wonderful
people last week at our counselors’ symposium, and I always know I can look to
any of them on those days that I am tired and I wonder, “What do I do?”
Thoughtfully,
Becky
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