We’ve all had to go through some level of schooling and education to get to where we are now, and we all know that going through adolescence can be a difficult and confusing time. Many students of today are worrying about getting good test scores, handing homework in on time, as well as excelling in extracurricular activities, making the want and need of school counselors even more important. 

If you have a caring personality and want to help the youth of today flourish and succeed in their academic studies, you may be interested in going into school counselling. During the course of a school year, professionals in this sector will work with a range of students to help them get the most out of their schooling. If your aim is to make a difference to a child’s life, a career in school counselling may be the perfect route for you to go down. Join the support group to get help from some experts regarding becoming a school counselor.

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Becoming a School Counselor

If you are interested in becoming a school counselor, you need to be aware that there is a lot of schooling involved before you can become qualified. Firstly, you will need to undergo a bachelor’s degree, and then pursue a master’s degree. St. Bonaventure University offer a masters of education counseling online which can provide you with the tools and skills you need to support primary, middle, and high school students throughout their academic studies and personal development. 

The Need for School Counselors

School life can very easily feel isolating, confusing, and overwhelming. While many students flourish in their studies, others may find the experience that little bit more challenging, which is where school counselors come into the equation. The main purpose of a school counselor is to help the youth of today mold into productive members of society. Engaging and working with students on a day to day basis to ensure they’re fully supported, making the right decisions, meeting targets and challenges, and moving in the right direction is crucial. Without school counselors, there will be many students who may fall through the cracks as they struggle to keep up with academics or make the wrong decisions, which can have disastrous consequences on their future career.

Many students may feel that they cannot open up to their friends or family about the struggles and problems they are facing; if they have a school counselor to talk to in a safe environment, they are much more likely to open up about their worries and concerns. 

Roles of a School Counselor

There are a range of responsibilities and duties that a school counselor must do on a day to day basis. A typical day will see a school counselor work closely alongside students, teachers, school administrators, and parents. Understandably, students are a school counselor’s number one priority.

To begin with, a school counselor will identify a student’s skills, strengths and weaknesses, as well as what their interests and career goals for the future are. Once they’ve got to learn more about the student, they can help them decide which courses and classes are right for them to take to ensure they graduate with the right credentials.

There are various social, mental, emotional, and behavioral issues that need to be tackled by school counselors too. For example, school counselors have a tendency to help those who are struggling academically, having problems at home, being bullied by their peers, or going through alcohol or drug abuse. Students who have low self-esteem and confidence can also benefit from the help of a school counselor. 

Required Skills

As a school counselor, you will be working with students of all ages and backgrounds, so having the right key traits behind you can help you get the most out of your role. Having listening skills, knowing how to communicate effectively with your students, working out problems, as well as having empathy and compassion for their situation can help students feel more at ease and comfortable talking with you. Every school counselor needs to have patience too. While some students may be able to talk about their feelings from the get-go, others may need more time to open up.

If you are interested in changing the lives of others for the better, becoming a school counselor may be the right career path for you to go down. The youth of today need guidance and support more than ever, so being on hand to listen to their worries and concerns and providing the right advice and steps to take to succeed can help students flourish in their academic learning.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
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