As a school counselor-in-training who understands the importance of being helped by caring adults, I have a heart for advocacy and the development of our students — the leaders of the next generation.
I wanted to become a school counselor to help guide my students through their academics as well as college and career decisions, and to assist them in overcoming barriers in their personal lives. I originally had the opportunity to collaborate with students as a classroom teacher and had the opportunity to work with many that were labeled as “EC,” “at-risk,” or “males in need of guidance” — an experience I would not trade for anything. As an educator, I was able to impact many students at once in large group settings. However, it quickly became clear that many students needed more individualized attention, which I was not always able to provide. This is what lead me into school counseling. I wanted to be able to work one-on-one with students in the school setting in a holistic fashion. One where I could focus on them, life issues, and academics while still being able to deliver classroom lessons.
From both my own days as a student and then as an adult member of the school community, I have found that in many kids need more than one leader in the school building who will go above and beyond to meet their needs. School counseling enables me to be one of those collaborative leaders and to make a direct impact on students’ lives, which can help guide them as they grow towards becoming successful, contributing members of society. As a teacher and school counselor-in-training, I’ve helped students dealing with issues that include suicidal thoughts, gun violence, college and career readiness, and more.
The 14-month School Counseling program within the UNC School of Education has been an intensive and rigorous program that has given me many opportunities to grow personally and professionally.
My professors push me. They also provide support. I have realized that when given proper support, any person can succeed at pursuing their passions despite challenges they may face along the way.
I carry the qualities of my professors to my internship site at Hillside High School in Durham.
At Hillside — the oldest historically Black high school In North Carolina — I have experienced a school whose staff have made my internship professional and family-like, and a school environment that’s unmatched in terms of culture and excitement.
This school year is a special one as Hillside celebrates its 100th anniversary. Being a member of Hillside’s staff during its 100th year has enabled me to experience and celebrate Hillside’s culture in full effect. Attending sporting events and extracurriculars such as step shows and parent’s nights, I have been able to meet proud alumni and see the best of what Hillside, which is often referred to as a “mini HBCU” because of its similarities with N.C. Central University (just down the street), offers students and the community.
Part of that culture also includes academic excellence. Hillside offers a range of courses that include a focus on Python programming, Swift development, and world languages that will help set students up for success in a number of post-secondary pathways.
From the day I started, the school counselors embraced me – especially my supervisor Dr. Floyd, and allowed me to work alongside them as they emphasize college and career readiness, relationship building, and community within the school. This has also provided me the chance to meet many amazing students when they stop by to either check in and/or meet with their counselors. Five of those students, current seniors, exemplify both academic and community excellence. They will attend various universities where they will continue to develop and make a positive impact beyond graduation from Hillside.
Alysia is a hardworking student who shows drive, passion, and resilience in and out of the classroom. She ranks top 3 in her class and is an International Baccalaureate (IB) student. During her four years at Hillside, she accomplished great things, including being the president of Theta Phi Delta Sorority, certification in Harvard’s CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science, and participating in the Duke Research in Engineering program in which she created a computer programming environment that assists in analyzing the composition of a human cornea.
As a counseling student, my professors emphasize dedication and passion in our classes. I wanted people to see Alysia’s passion for STEM firsthand so I connected her with Dana Griffin, Ph.D., a school counseling faculty member and dean’s fellow for diversity, equity, and inclusion, to give a presentation titled “Breaking Barriers: Creating a Pathway for Young Black Females in STEM.” Alysia shared her experiences and explained the benefits associated with the STEM field to students and community members at UNC and Hillside. I wanted Alysia to show this group the drive, excellence, and passion that every student and professional should strive toward.
Nicole is an exceptional student, friend, and businesswoman. At Hillside, she was named Ms. Freshman, Ms. Sophomore, Ms. Junior, and Ms. Hillside as a senior. She is a member of Theta Phi Delta Sorority in which she participates in event organization, school activities, and community service. This fall she will attend UNC-Chapel Hill with plans to major in business and psychiatry so she can assist people with mental health in the workplace.
Nicole also runs a successful baking business. Her passion and desire to succeed has shown across all aspects of her life.
According to Nicole, one advisor that has had an impact on her is Mrs. Scott, who is also known as “B-Lock,” the head of Theta Phi Delta Sorority at Hillside. Nicole stated that B-Lock has been like a mom to her with her guidance and is always willing to tell her what she needs to improve on. As a school counseling student, my classes have shown that the leadership skills B-Lock display are essential to the development and well-being of students.
Monica, who moved with her family to North Carolina from Philadelphia, is an exceptional person and ranks in the top 5 of her class. I have spoken with many counselors whom all brag and state how wonderful a student she is. Monica plans to major in a form of Anthropology at Princeton University in the fall.
While Monica is a gifted and passionate student, she also has another passion: road cycling! Monica told me that she began cycling during the pandemic and that she biked 750 miles in two weeks! She estimates she’s ridden about 2,000 miles since 2020. This active lifestyle is something that Monica is proud of.
Giving students the opportunity to discuss their passions helps counselors develop better relationships with their students. It’s something I have done this year and will continue to do in the future.
Nikkyla is an exceptional student with a big heart who hopes to become a clinical psychologist. According to Nikkyla, “My biggest aspiration is to start a non-profit organization dedicated to educating youth on mental health.”
Working with Nikkyla in the past few months, one thing became clear: She loves to help others. She strives to make a positive impact on her community through various ways. At Hillside, Nikkyla is a member of Theta Phi Delta Community Service Organization, and beyond school, is a member of StrongHER TogetHER, an organization that enables her to work with girls in areas such as schoolwork and life. Her kind and caring nature will help her to make a positive impact in the lives of people — just as she has on me as a school counselor.
Having the opportunity to assist Nikkyla has helped me improve my knowledge and ability to help young people in their college and career readiness preparation. I am excited to see where her path takes her.
I met Tahir in the hallway, but I had seen him play on the football field before that. He values strong personal relationships. Next year, he will play football at Davidson College on a full scholarship and plans on majoring in fine arts. He wants to be an art director at a software business and hopes to work at Apple. Tahir is a great kid whose positive energy rubs off on his teammates and classmates.
As a school counselor, working with athletes is important as many will need assistance with application and eligibility processes. However, Tahir has displayed the ability and maturity to make sure his talents in the classroom and on the field have been taken care of. He is an exemplary student that every counselor would enjoy working with.
Working with the students at Hillside makes my time a joy every day I walk through the doors. The passion and drive for excellence they display pushes me to become a better advocate and leader for my students. I look forward to becoming a full-time school counselor after I graduate this year.