I used to be a big deal. For over three decades I would enter a building and people of all ages would trail after me calling, "Miss, Miss" or later "Mrs., Mrs." to get my attention or assistance. Now, recently retired, I enter a crowded space and barely a head turns in my direction. I was an educator and counselor in an urban New Jersey school district. In a novel I'm currently reading (I favor mysteries and historical fiction.), one of the characters wonders what he might have been had he had a different guidance counselor. It was unusual to see someone give deference to the kind of influence we counselors have. While we all have our guidance counselor horror stories, I was one of the very good ones. (I have Wood Shop produced plaques and World's Best Teacher chachkas to prove it!)
I did a great deal of social counselling on both the elementary and high school levels, but I really loved the academic and career planning part of the job. So, I'm going to endeavor to impart some guidance to parents and high school students alike as to how they can navigate the road to a satisfying career/careers. Each Wednesday I'll post a few ideas and suggestions. While the emphasis will be on high school, we'll need to start somewhere so next Wednesday's topic will be, "Eighth Grade - The End of Middle School Madness"
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