School Counseling Personal Statement

My passion for school counseling began almost two years ago. While attending Widener University for my undergraduate career, I was place in a field placement at Widener Partnership Charter School during my fall semester of junior year. While there I was one of six who were implementing the EarthForce Curriculum to sixth grade students. Since there were six undergraduate students designated to this class of about twenty, our professor decided to split the class up and we would each have our own individual groups to work with. I was so thrilled and excited to have my own miniature class, however my professor had something else in mind for me. My mentor came to me asking if I minded working one-on-one with a student who had multiple behavioral issues and could not participate in

group work; honestly I was a bit frightened at first, but I did not want to turn my professor away, nor disappoint her, so I said I did not mind and began working with this new student the following day.
Looking back now, I can honestly say that working with this student allowed me to grow not only professionally, but also personally.

My student inspired me to be a better, stronger teacher, while I inspired him to be a more cooperative and productive student, with fewer outbursts. From that moment on, I had a new understanding of the quote “so often you find that the students you’re trying to inspire are the ones that end up inspiring you” (Junkins). I was able to break down the walls of the students and not only become an educator, but a confidant. He could tell me if he had any outbursts that day and why or what he wanted to do after school or in the future for that matter. He started the class not speaking a word to me and by the time my field experience was completed, the student was holding conversations with not only the other undergraduate students, and his classmates, but also myself. He had made a complete turn around. This still brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes, because at that very moment in time, during my last day with my student I realized how much I wanted to become a school counselor so that I could help thousands of other students just like

that.
Now as I currently work within a new Charter School and hold my Baccalaureate degree in Middle School Math Education, I want nothing more than to continue pursuing my dreams and that starts with the School Counseling Master’s Program at Kean University.
As I further my education, I want to be inspired, as well as inspire others. I want to be able to grow intellectually and personally. I want to be within a student-centered environment, where I am able to come up with my own understanding of material and share my thoughts with my professor. After researching many schools to pursue my passion of School Counseling, I concluded believing that Kean University meets all of the requirements for myself. I am a driven, hard-working student just trying to navigate my way through my educational career, with hopes that I grow into the professional I want to be. My dreams are finally setting sail, and my only hope is that they can begin at Kean University, after that it will be up to me to make sure that those dreams of mine come true.