A day in the life of a guidance counselor is a lot different than most people think. Central’s guidance office gave some insight into what life is like as a counselor.

“There’s not really an average day,” senior guidance counselor Lindsey Ruggles expressed.

At Central, the guidance office is looked upon to handle many tasks beyond helping students with a personal issue – their job branches out to handling students schedules, marketing and public relations, working with outside agencies, bringing programs to Central to prepare students for life after high school, and more.

“We have a lot of programs that go on here at Central like ‘The Reality Check’ and ninth grade orientations, which I’m in charge of scheduling,” freshmen guidance counselor Chelsea Long stated.

Setting up the numerous programs, working with all the outside organizations, and counseling students and parents requires you to be a people person more than anything else; one way to find out if the job is a true fit for you is to work in that environment (with people!) for a long period of time.

“The amount of time I’ve been here let’s me know I want to remain here and that I chose the right career… If I save one life or more, it makes me feel good that I was able to save a life,” sophomore and junior guidance counselor Karen Atkins expressed.

Being able to help people solve problems and possibly save a life takes certain character traits that not everyone possesses… but these are certain traits that every guidance counselor must possess to accomplish the goal.

“When you counsel somebody, your opinion doesn’t really matter – what matters is the person you’re trying to help, and not you,” Mrs. Long identified.

This rewarding but taxing job can leave counselors vulnerable to emotional effects.

“I think sometimes you have to be counseled to be a counselor!” Mrs. Ruggles confessed.

Another major part that is overlooked in a guidance counselor’s job is the fact that there are truly no breaks in your day. If you must take a break, then there is more flexibility in your overall schedule, but all three of the guidance counselors admitted to never being able to take a break because of the amount of work they must do with every student in their department.

The job becomes pretty evened out between the good and the bad, and most of the time, the good comes after the counselors handle the bad situations. Mrs. Long and Mrs. Atkins gave insight into what truly makes their day worth every second.

“A lot of the greatest things are the little things. I’ve had students give me thank-you cards, [and] even hearing a student say they so much as like you and getting to feel like you helped students… those days you leave and feel like you made a difference,” Mrs. Long shared.

“The greatest thing that has happened to me is being chosen by Central’s Class of 2005 as their Class Dedicatory,” Mrs.Atkins recalled.

Deciding to become a guidance counselor is not a choice made overnight though, according to Mrs. Long, who shed light on what gave her the motivation to become a school guidance counselor and help students.

“I can pinpoint, in my head, the adults in elementary, middle, and high school [who] affected me the most. For me, I wanted to be that person for someone else, even if it’s just for one student,” Mrs.Long stated.

Of all the things a guidance counselor is required to do, there is one thing that is not required but must be thoroughly thought over before deciding to leap into a career as a guidance counselor.

“It is hard to not take things home with you, and just because I turn the lights off and shut the door behind me doesn’t mean the problem is solved,” Mrs. Ruggles shared emotionally.

Guidance counselors are often overlooked and under-appreciated, but the Central Digest wants to extend a belated and much deserved thank-you to the three ladies who pour into Central’s students day in and day out.