Blog 1: Chapter 1

When reflecting on the case study that was presented in the beginning of the chapter, I feel as though the belief that Robbi has on school counselors is a thought that still comes to peoples mind when they hear the word school counselors.  It is a shame that the vision many people have on counselors is that they have our feet up on the desk and complete only minimal work possible.  When Bobbi stated, "I am tired of worrying about kids and their lives-- I want to be able to relax in my last years before retirement," she has under minded what the role of school counselors truly is.  As a school counselor our role is to support students  through various challenges they may face and aid them in their growth academically, vocationally, and personally.  However, I believe that as time goes on people will realize the difference that school counselors make and will have a more positive viewpoint on what is done. 

I found it interesting when Dollarhide and Saginak (2012) compared school counselors that have teaching experience compared to those that do not.  Even though I have teaching experience, school counseling is a whole new journey.  We will all face challenges as we embark on a new career in our life.  As we continue our journey I feel as though the qualities of school counselors which were creativity and imagination, flexibility, courage and belief, and passion are vital to keep in mind.  When reviewing these qualities, I thought of my experience with teaching.  As an educator my philosophy is that everyone learns in various ways and it is important to meet each individuals need.  This relates to working with a client where you have to address the concern or challenge that they are facing.  In doing so you may have to change your methods to better suit your client.  In our many techniques we need to be creative to meet the particular need and exhibit passion to show our commitment to our clients.     

In conclusion, we as future counselors need to keep in mind the vital role that we play in individuals lives and remember that we do make a difference.  The example that was presented where a young girl threw the stranded starfish back into the see because even though she could not save them all she did what she could to save one at a time was a great illustration of this belief .  We need to remember that we are not miracle workers but we have the ability to make a difference in peoples lives whether we realize it or not. 

Dollarhide, C. & Saginak, K. (2012).  Comprehensive school counseling programs: K-12 delivery systems in action (2nd ed.).  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Pearson Education, Inc.