Having students see you involved in their education makes you more accessible, and it is such a happy part of my day. I am always out greeting the students as they come off the buses in the morning and am always waving goodbye to the kids in the afternoon when they leave. I always feel better after having someone else’s take on the situation, and having the school nurses work with me makes such a difference (especially because they are under that oh-so-important umbrella of confidentiality).Ħ) Be present with the students. They are incredible at their jobs and are always willing to listen to each individual situation I present to them. My go-to people for these situations in the buildings in which I work are the school nurses. In a pinch, it always helps to be able to refer back to an email or a document you have kept to make sure you are on the right track. On the other hand, put anything you may need to revisit later in writing. If you have concerns, speak to the person face-to-face or give them a call. When sending emails, think about what you’re writing and don’t put anything in writing that could come back to haunt you. In this era of school counseling, this has become more important than ever.
I have even convinced some of my friends to adopt the concept of self-care Saturdays as well.ĥ) Document everything ( everything), and never act alone. Carving out that time for myself to recharge and regroup was a lifesaver. I established “self-care Saturdays” for myself and took myself out to breakfast, went to the gym, got a manicure, etc. This is true when working as a counselor as well.
Always secure your own air mask before assisting others. I always use the example of being on an airplane and listening to the safety instructions. You have to take care of yourself before you can help others. This is huge! They do touch about self-care strategies a bit in graduate school, but it is important enough to mention again here. I am so grateful for these integral members of the school team.Ĥ) Practice self-care. They have been invaluable to me in terms of the logistical stuff, but beyond that, they have become friends and mentors to me on a personal level. I count our secretaries and custodians among my favorite people in each of the buildings in which I work. Her advice, counsel and expertise were invaluable during my first year, and I have no doubt that will continue into year two.ģ) Befriend the secretaries and custodians. I put the extension of another elementary school counselor in my district on speed dial, and I am so grateful that I did. I was not given a mentor, but I learned very quickly that I needed to have someone in my corner who had been around a long time and knew the ropes. Some districts assign mentors to new staff members, but others don’t.
Google Drive allowed me to make folders electronically with all my student files in them so that I didn’t have to keep paper notes after sessions with students, teachers or parents.Ģ) Find a mentor. I am split between two buildings, so I also had to quickly come up with a way to differentiate between the schools. It is very friendly to use, and I set everything up (color coded and separated by grade level) so that I could keep each grade straight. Our district uses Google for everything, and Google Drive became my best friend. So much of what I dealt with during my first year as a school counselor was never discussed in my graduate classes.Īs a result, I compiled a list of the top 10 things I wish I had learned in graduate school that would have ensured I had a wildly fun, rewarding and successful first year.ġ) Keep notes electronically.
I learned early on, however, that graduate school only teaches you the textbook stuff about being a school counselor. I was so happy to have my summer off, and I rested easy knowing I had worked so hard to help the students and families of Hillsborough, New Jersey. I can tell you that after a lot of education, hard work and collaboration with professionals in the field (including my awesome, supportive mom, who is also a school counselor), it is possible.Īfter finishing my first year on my own as a school counselor split between two elementary schools, I felt incredible. Then I talked to people who loved their jobs, and I wondered what I could do to get to that level. I used to talk to people who hated their jobs, and I knew I never wanted to be in their shoes. I feel so lucky to have found my dream job as an elementary school counselor.
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