To be a professional in a given field, anyone should start from looking critically inside oneself and asking: what can I give to this job? There’s a set of skills required, of course, as well as persistence to improve existing and acquire new ones. But most importantly, there’s dedication, even more so if we’re talking about a job that deals with such intricate subjects as kids. And in my case, what I can offer is compassion. Working as a personal aid for some time, I have come to the realization that I really take to heart the emotional well-being of people I work with. I always step forward wherever I can aid somebody, be it socially, psychologically, or emotionally. This fact, combined with my affection for children, gave me a reason to seek for a position where I could apply my skills and aspirations. This has led me to school counseling.
It is a marvelous sight indeed – to witness the development of a human being. But to aid it, guide it and see it succeed, to take part in this miraculous process is even more exciting. That’s why I chose to pursue this career – I feel it is a great opportunity to aid the young, and being a part of this process is equally challenging and rewarding.
Counseling, being a blend of education and psychology (Davis xi), presents me with opportunities for personal fulfillment. On the one hand, I can apply my longing for the emotional and social well-being of others. On the other hand, I can give students much-needed support in the academic field.
Of course, nurturing one’s aspirations is not everything. One also needs to take into account the responsibilities. Counseling provides guidance and support at three essential levels of student activity: academic, personal and social (“Being a School Guidance Counselor: Information and Statistics” par. 1). That means one needs to constantly address students’ issues in given fields to make sure they succeed in their own goals. Besides, a school counselor is expected to contribute to students’ vision of positive change and understand the psychological well-being of students and the elements necessary for a positive learning environment (Davis and Osborn xi). A school counselor is crucial to students’ success. I understand that and am willing to accept the challenge for the sake of our youth.
Of course, I understand that is not an easy task. Counseling is constantly changing and improving and still needs to be improved further (Grimes et al. 41). It is not a static field, it constantly develops and presents counselors with ever new challenges. However, my cultural background, as well as my previous job experience allow me to address these issues. While not exactly qualifying as a certified training, this is a good start for working with multiculturally diverse demographic characteristic for modern schools (Ahmed et al. 18). And that brings us to yet another reason for my choice – my cultural interest. School counselor’s working environment is culturally diverse (“Why Middle School Counselors” par. 3), which allows for unparalleled opportunities for both research and guidance.
To conclude, I decided to become a school counselor to both give the needed social and emotional support to others, which both satisfies me emotionally and gives youth the opportunity to find their place and succeed in their aspirations.
Works Cited
Ahmed, Shamshad, et al. “What does it mean to be a culturally-competent counselor.” Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology 3.1 (2011): 17-28. Print.
Being a School Guidance Counselor: Information and Statistics 2006. Web.
Davis, Tamara E. Exploring School Counseling, Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2007. Print.
Davis, Tom E., and Cynthia J. Osborn. Solution-Focused School Counselor: Shaping Professional Practice, New York: Routledge, 2013. Print.
Grimes, Lee Edmondson, Natoya Haskins, and Pamela Paisley. ““So I Went There”: A Phenomenological Study on the Experiences of Rural School Counselor Social Justice Advocates.” Professional School Counseling 17.1 (2013): 40-51. Print.
Why Middle School Counselors. n.d. Web. 2016.