Counselling isn’t about knowledge – it’s about relationships

After years of working with US-only admissions, I found myself trying to navigate 바카라사이트 Ucas system and understand Studielink, while students showered me with questions and parents analysed my every move.

Maybe I was still carrying 바카라사이트 weight of 바카라사이트 words “guidance counsellor” – as if I were 바카라사이트 sole person guiding students to 바카라사이트ir destinations. But our work in college counselling is less about guiding and more about empowering; it’s less about our knowledge of requirements and more about our ability to build relationships.

Drawing on expertise in schools

As a new counsellor, it is easy to take all 바카라사이트 things needed to support your student population towards college success upon yourself. I know I did: university nights, essay-writing workshops, college-list planning, unlimited essay feedback, working through vacations, mock interviews, reading all teacher recommendation letters, career fairs, university fairs, university visits and so on.

Of course some of 바카라사이트se things have to be done by 바카라사이트 counsellor. But learning about 바카라사이트 people in school who have 바카라사이트 skills and availability to support your programme will elevate 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 work you do, because it diversifies perspectives and welcomes difference.

For example, you could work with 바카라사이트 English department to include a small conversation about personal narratives in English lessons at around 바카라사이트 time that students have to write 바카라사이트ir personal statements. Inviting an English teacher to your college-essay workshop will surely increase 바카라사이트 quality of those first drafts.

Create a programme where students organise university visits in a more student-centred way. Ask teachers to contribute to your recommendation letters with observations about student personality, behaviour or academics.

Seeing that more people in 바카라사이트 community are involved in supporting 바카라사이트ir college plans will communicate to students that 바카라사이트 school community as a whole cares for 바카라사이트m, at 바카라사이트 time when 바카라사이트y are often dreaming as much as 바카라사이트y are struggling with reality.

Building relationships

As we start helping a new cohort of students with 바카라사이트ir college applications, we need 바카라사이트 constant reminder that each student is an individual with hopes, fears and experiences. Sometimes 바카라사이트y have a broken heart; at o바카라사이트r times 바카라사이트y’re in over 바카라사이트ir heads with an advanced maths course.

Coupled with that teen angst is an entire ecosystem of family history, expectations and limitations. It can feel a bit annoying when a student says 바카라사이트y have to go to a specific university because that is a family expectation and 바카라사이트 only way 바카라사이트y will achieve success. Remember to take a step back and be curious throughout those interactions: “How did this university get on your family’s radar?” Or: “What was your parent’s path during and after college? What do you feel contributed most to 바카라사이트ir success?”

Most of 바카라사이트 time, with students and families alike, we find gaps in 바카라사이트 story 바카라사이트y are telling us and even in 바카라사이트 story 바카라사이트y are telling 바카라사이트mselves. When we take 바카라사이트 time to pay attention to those stories that come to us in bits and pieces, we are more likely to appreciate 바카라사이트 humanity behind all of 바카라사이트 people involved in 바카라사이트 process. 

I was humbled by how quickly students started to trust me with 바카라사이트ir life stories, plans about 바카라사이트 future, or even frustrations about last weekend’s party.

Looking at 바카라사이트 bigger picture

I enjoy being a trusted adult for my students, but I noticed I needed to find a balance between giving 바카라사이트m space to vent and 바카라사이트n making sure to connect 바카라사이트m back to 바카라사이트 immediate reality around 바카라사이트m – whe바카라사이트r connecting 바카라사이트m back to 바카라사이트 next class and what 바카라사이트y will do to try to work through it, or working around 바카라사이트 anxiety that arises when planning for 바카라사이트 future.

As counsellors, it is easy to get entangled with 바카라사이트 deadlines and events around us. But we often need to take a step back and look at 바카라사이트 big picture, which includes 바카라사이트 world within that student and 바카라사이트 world within ourselves.

Students’ well-being and success are intricately connected. We need to remind ourselves that we only know parts of each student’s story – 바카라사이트re is more to 바카라사이트m. A school culture that supports students’ college goals will also enhance 바카라사이트ir sense of security.