OVERVIEW

I spent my winter break in the guidance department of Absegami High School, the high school in my hometown. As an intern, I shadowed the six guidance counselors within their various tasks of the days, such as presentations they gave to students, counseling sessions with students, meeting with staff, etc. Also, I was able to give input into various meetings I was involved in while working on specific projects given to me.

WHAT WAS VALUABLE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

This experience confirmed for me that school counseling is the career I want to pursue in the future. I was able to find out many aspects of the jobs I would have never known about before, which allowed me to gain a better view on the career as a whole.

THE COOLEST PART OF THE EXPERIENCE

The coolest part of my experience was being able to work with a student one on one. I was given the task to try to connect with a troubled student whom the counselor and teachers of the student had been unable to do in the past. Luckily, in the few meetings I had with the student over the span of three weeks I was able to do so and help bring the student to get involved in a college search, which the student had previously put no effort into doing. The best part about doing this was the email I received from the student’s mom thanking me for helping her child finally put effort, thought into life after high school, and making a difference on her child’s life.

WHO I MET THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE

All of the counselors I was able to shadow made a difference on myself. I was able to gain knowledgeable advice from every one of the counselors about my upcoming journey into graduate school and the career of school counseling. Each counselor had a different style they used in their own practices, which I have been able to internalize and use to think about my own style I may use when being a school counselor. I am very grateful for being accepted into their department for the winter and for being able to learn so much from them all.