School Counselor Interview Essay

Professional School Counselor Interview Middle school marks a very exciting, yet challenging time for many students, parents, and teachers. During this time period students are exploring their interests, moving deeply into their studies, taking on more responsibilities, and trying to find their personal identities. Most importantly, this is a time where students turn from their parents and seek advice and approval from their peers. Because many adolescents are emotionally sensitive and vulnerable during this stage of development, their heavy reliance on peers for acceptance and approval makes them more susceptible to emotional damage. For that reason, school counselors plays an essential role in the lives of their students. Gonkawon Strother and Sheree Leonard, middle school counselors at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Temple Hills, Maryland understands the importance of their role. Gonkawon Strother, the primary counselor for sixth and seventh grade students, has been a counselor for five years. His colleague, Sheree Leonard, has been a professional school counselor for three years. Leonard primarily

Strother expressed that as a counselor, he is “constantly advocating” for his job. This is most likely due to the difference of perspectives when it comes to defining the role of the school counselor. Mr. Strother makes this clear when he states “our role within the school is usually determined by how the administrator view our position. This is the most challenging part.” At times, Mr. Strother feels as though he is assigned roles and duties that are not in his best interest or the student(s). On the other hand, Ms. Leonard believes that it is important for a counselor to establish a “delicate balance”, specifically when it comes to counseling students and meeting the expectations of administrators. As practicing school counselors, both Strother and Leonard believe they have various roles, but their main role is to be a support system to their