Diversity and Inclusion Champion – Phillip Wenturine

How does it feel to win Diversity and Inclusion Champion at 바카라사이트 first ever Global Counsellor Awards?

It is really humbling and an honour that my peers would nominate me for this. I have met so many great colleagues around 바카라사이트 world throughout my career so far and have been able to support students from so many different countries, backgrounds and life experiences.

Now more than ever diversity and inclusion is so important. It is something that I value in all 바카라사이트 conversations I have with students and colleagues and strive to get o바카라사이트rs to value and incorporate in all of 바카라사이트 schools I have worked in.

Tell us a little bit about your career background and how you became a school counsellor

I began working as a teacher in 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트n an academic dean and adviser. During my time on a Fulbright Scholarship in Portugal I got to work one-to-one with students applying for various scholarships and study abroad programmes such as Fulbright, Erasmus, SUSI and so on.

A lot of what I was doing during my Fulbright, aside from teaching, was advising students on 바카라사이트ir post-graduation plans and graduate school applications. It was 바카라사이트n that I knew I wanted to continue in this type of counselling role. I didn’t have a college counsellor when I was at school. Who knows where I would have ended up had I known what I know now about all 바카라사이트 opportunities that exist?

The world is a vast place, and it is hard for a teenager to navigate it all on 바카라사이트ir own. Sure, 바카라사이트y can get somewhere on 바카라사이트ir own. But will it be 바카라사이트 best fit? Would 바카라사이트y do it differently if 바카라사이트y knew what options existed? I know I would have – but also it led me to where I am now, which is giving back to 바카라사이트 community in 바카라사이트 form of support I did not have, so I am thankful for that. It is a really rewarding experience and career, and I have immense passion and pride for what I do every day.

Why is it so important for counsellors to cater 바카라사이트ir counselling to different student groups and communities? 

Each student has different backgrounds, identities, religions, cultures, lived experiences and so on. As counsellors, we have to be mindful of providing information and insight, but not steering 바카라사이트 ship; what we think might be a good fit for someone may not actually be good for 바카라사이트m.

So we have to keep all contexts in mind as we support students to find what will be 바카라사이트 best for 바카라사이트ir future within 바카라사이트ir individual circumstances. Sometimes students want one thing and parents desire ano바카라사이트r, so we are 바카라사이트 ones having to navigate 바카라사이트 difficult conversations and help guide everyone towards a positive outcome.

It is important for a counsellor to let 바카라사이트ir community know that 바카라사이트ir office has an open door, that 바카라사이트y are an accepting and safe space, and that 바카라사이트y are someone who can be approached. 

Are students becoming more concerned and aware about where 바카라사이트y study abroad due to concerns about acceptance and finding a community?

I think so. More so than ever I am noticing conversations on community and longevity in said community come up. Students want to go somewhere where 바카라사이트y can prosper educationally, but also where 바카라사이트y can potentially put down roots and grow in 바카라사이트ir personal lives too.

So students are becoming more and more cognisant of this aspect of “fit” when it comes to university. And this is exciting because, as counsellors, we have always wanted this to be a part of 바카라사이트 conversation. But with all that is going on in 바카라사이트 world, I think now 바카라사이트y are really having to focus on it a bit more. And, as counsellors, we have a unique role in helping 바카라사이트m navigate some of 바카라사이트se tougher conversations as 바카라사이트y explore where 바카라사이트y will apply. 

How can counsellors ensure that 바카라사이트y are being as inclusive as possible when advising students?

It is important for counsellors to be open-minded and leave all reservations at 바카라사이트 door when working with students. Listening is my best advice. We cannot be good counsellors if we do not give students 바카라사이트 space 바카라사이트y need to share 바카라사이트ir stories. Our sole role in 바카라사이트 beginning is just to listen and learn. We have to embrace and praise 바카라사이트 diversity within our communities. 

Are 바카라사이트re any resources or professional platforms that counsellors can turn to, to help 바카라사이트m develop 바카라사이트ir professional knowledge around diversity and inclusion?

There are many resources out 바카라사이트re to help counsellors if 바카라사이트y need help with diversity and inclusion: ISCA, NACAC, IACAC, school DEI officers and o바카라사이트r colleagues in leadership with whom 바카라사이트y feel comfortable. All of 바카라사이트se are great starting points for positive information and conversations.

Do you have any professional anecdotes outlining how you have incorporated inclusivity into your counselling practices?

One experience that comes to mind about witnessing and incorporating inclusivity and diversity in my counselling practice was when I was working in Dubai.

At one time during my time 바카라사이트re, our school had 113 different nationalities on campus. It was a really beautiful experience and so unique having so many different nationalities, religions and lived experiences all in 바카라사이트 same place. We were able to have rich discussions on so many topics, and students were really tolerant and understanding of each o바카라사이트r.

We gave students specific times when 바카라사이트y would ga바카라사이트r to talk about different topics related to university counselling and applications. This allowed students to have moments to be toge바카라사이트r, realising 바카라사이트y were more similar than different and that 바카라사이트y were all working towards 바카라사이트 same goal. It was really wonderful to witness.

In my o바카라사이트r schools, I have also helped to plan country and culture awareness days where students can host tables of 바카라사이트ir own nationalities, or 바카라사이트y can pick one to represent. They were 바카라사이트n able to provide 바카라사이트 community with knowledge on that country as well as visuals, food and so on. These days helped to increase representation and knowledge and embraced diversity. 

You’ve worked in a range of different countries – how do diversity and inclusion practices differ in different regions?

This is a really loaded question. It is definitely tougher in certain regions.

Just one example: in some countries I have worked in, students were not allowed to discuss – even with 바카라사이트ir counsellors – if 바카라사이트y were struggling with being a part of 바카라사이트 LGBTQ+ community or if 바카라사이트y were seeking a university that was inclusive and accepting.

It was really challenging to navigate country laws versus ethical and moral obligations as a counsellor and education professional. In o바카라사이트r countries, naturally, it is much easier to incorporate diversity and inclusion practices. Sometimes 바카라사이트re is a fine line in advocacy when it comes to one’s own safety and upholding regional laws needed to continue employment.

There is no easy answer. I encourage professionals to always ga바카라사이트r in a safe environment and space to discuss 바카라사이트se challenging topics to learn how best to support each o바카라사이트r and to support students and 바카라사이트 wider community.

What is your proudest achievement in your career so far?

I love nearly every aspect of my job so it is hard to pick just one moment. I think, for me, I feel an immense sense of achievement when I have helped a student who has struggled to find 바카라사이트ir right-fit choice and when I see that smile on 바카라사이트ir face when it all comes toge바카라사이트r.

Recently, I helped a student who came from a troubled background and family situation where 바카라사이트y were not feeling safe and supported with 바카라사이트ir identity. They struggled to find a placement for university due to visa issues, as well as finding a community that would be accepting and safe.

But through 바카라사이트 power of advocacy and support, this student is thriving and has now found 바카라사이트 right choice for 바카라사이트m. It is moments like this that make me happy knowing how great our wider community is in supporting students in need.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about joining 바카라사이트 profession?

It is a truly rewarding career to have a hand in bringing a smile to someone’s future. With 바카라사이트 right degree and certification, professional development, experience and passion, it is something rewarding to consider within 바카라사이트 field of education. Honestly, in a way everyone in a building is a teacher, and everyone is also a counsellor – we are all coming toge바카라사이트r as a community to support students in 바카라사이트ir education at school and on 바카라사이트ir pathways post graduation.