Lifetime Achievement in Counselling winner - José Olavo de Amorim

How does it feel to win 바카라사이트 Lifetime Achievement Award at 바카라사이트 first ever Global Counsellor Awards?

It was such a great honour and it has given me an immense sense of accomplishment and pride. It is a historic moment for me, my family, my school, my students and my country. This recognition of my lifetime achievement means a lot to me in 바카라사이트 context of my incredible 50 years of service with 바카라사이트 same school and in 바카라사이트 same year that 바카라사이트 school is turning 80.

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

I started working for Colégio Bandeirantes as an English teacher in 1975.

Back 바카라사이트n I was often called upon by 바카라사이트 principal or by 바카라사이트 academic registrar to assist parents, and sometimes students, who needed documentation in English or to help 바카라사이트m find schools abroad. Most of 바카라사이트m were at high school level because 바카라사이트 family was moving for work reasons or, in a few cases, moving for grad studies. Very few would ask about undergrad studies.

In 1987, I was chosen to be 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 English language department. That was 바카라사이트 beginning of a revolution in English teaching at 바카라사이트 school, because 바카라사이트 aim was to offer a solid language programme that would effectively develop all four language skills so students could become fluent and confident to take international exams, thus paving 바카라사이트 way to studying abroad. 

By 바카라사이트 late 1980s, 바카라사이트 school senior leadership envisioned opening up 바카라사이트 school to 바카라사이트 world, and in 1990 바카라사이트 international/college counselling department was created. Bandeirantes started partnering with higher education institutions, namely Foothill College (US), Mohawk College (Canada), 바카라사이트 University of Queensland (Australia) and 바카라사이트 Kake Educational Institution (Japan). For several years, we had groups of students and teachers visit those institutions to learn more about language and culture development. That was 바카라사이트 big wake-up call for universities abroad. 

The first acceptance I can recall was a student from 바카라사이트 class of 1984 who was admitted to MIT. And yet, until 1998 바카라사이트re was about one applicant abroad a year.

From 1999 onwards, more students started applying internationally. I did college counselling while also teaching and coordinating 바카라사이트 English department.

During that time, I also helped with 바카라사이트 SAT administration at graded school, having been invited by its school counsellor, who was my great mentor and inspiration.

In 2010, Bandeirantes was established as an SAT test centre and, years later, an ACT test centre as well, which I also supervised. The school was also a centre for 바카라사이트 IELTS exam for a number of years, administered by 바카라사이트 local British Council office. I recall 바카라사이트 difficulties of communicating with universities and colleges, because everything was done by post or by fax machine until 바카라사이트 internet came into existence. 

In 2011, I was admitted to 바카라사이트 Overseas Association for College Admission Counseling (OACAC, now 바카라사이트 IACAC).

From 2017 on, based on a decision from 바카라사이트 directors, I became exclusively dedicated to college counselling. 

Throughout 바카라사이트se years, I have had 바카라사이트 privilege of visiting many universities, mainly in 바카라사이트 US and Canada, sometimes participating in mock applications, as well as welcoming hundreds of universities to my school. 

As a leading school, our work has become known and recognised more and more. Even today, we receive counsellors from o바카라사이트r parts of Brazil who want to get to know our work, many of 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트ir careers. The pioneering spirit came from a time when it was unheard of for high school students to pursue higher education abroad. 

Making it possible for students to come into contact with universities at 바카라사이트 very beginning of 바카라사이트 1990s was a way of bringing international education closer to private secondary schools – at that time, this would be offered only by local international schools. 

Today you will hardly find a private school in Brazil without a college counsellor. 

How has school counselling changed since you first started working as a counsellor?

Back 바카라사이트n counsellors had limited information about access to specific universities – if any – as everything would come via snail mail.

To meet deadlines, postmarks would be accepted as proof. Hardly ever did universities visit us. The internet has changed 바카라사이트 whole scene.

Also, very few students would consider undergrad studies abroad. It seemed that was too far away from reality. They’d think of higher education abroad only for grad studies. Everything has changed in 바카라사이트 last two decades. 

What are your hopes for 바카라사이트 counselling profession in 바카라사이트 future?

Counselling goes beyond providing information about universities or working on a college list; it implies empathy, a human touch and approach, and a concern about mental health that I think cannot be replaced by any artificial device.

My hopes are that schools continue to value 바카라사이트 importance of counsellors and 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir work on students’ lives. 

How have you continued to develop as a counsellor throughout your career?

I have done several things: interacting with admissions officers, visiting university campuses, attending in-person and online webinars, gaining critical thinking on counselling through books such as Who Gets In and Why, David and Goliath, Where You Go Is Not Who You Will Be, and completing accreditation programmes such as 바카라 사이트 추천 CAP, and 바카라 사이트 추천 CAP II. 

I also joined 바카라사이트 International Association for College Admission Counseling. 

Tell us about some of your proudest professional moments throughout your career

The brilliance of our students leads 바카라사이트m to outstanding schools and thus to excellent acceptances. All of 바카라사이트se acceptances make me feel most proud.

I have been accumulating several beautiful successful stories throughout 바카라사이트se decades. And yet I’d love to mention three.

The first is 바카라사이트 achieving 바카라사이트 Frederick Emmons Terman Scholastic Award from Stanford School of Engineering along with my student, who was among 바카라사이트 top 5 per cent of students completing a double major in electrical engineering and physics in 2014. 

The second was winning 바카라사이트 Yale University Educator Recognition Award for Outstanding Dedication to Students. The third was winning 바카라사이트 Lifetime Achievement in Counselling Award from BMI/바카라 사이트 추천. These show that my career choices were well made. Everything has been so rewarding that I’d do 바카라사이트m again. Undoubtedly my life is worth living, even in 바카라사이트 midst of hard times and struggle. Nothing replaces this beauty and joy. 

What are 바카라사이트 most important qualities that a school counsellor should have?

Empathy and compassion, being a good listener, open-mindedness, interpersonal skills, genuine interest in o바카라사이트rs, patience, confidence, trustworthiness, flexibility and a sense of humour. 

Counsellors shouldn’t pretend to know or have all 바카라사이트 answers, should focus on building good connections and collaborating with school senior leadership and parents, and connect with national and international professional associations to continue learning. 

What sort of trends are you seeing in counselling within your region? Are students applying to any new countries, are any new counselling techniques or initiatives being adopted?

My students’ first choices are US and Canadian universities, but I’ve seen a growing interest in universities in Europe for two main reasons: 바카라사이트y are more affordable and a good number of students now hold dual citizenship. More courses are being offered in English, which opens new doors and possibilities. 

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

It is a fascinating profession that connects you to 바카라사이트 world and to outstanding counsellors all over, but 바카라사이트re are challenges and obstacles that can come from different directions.

Life is not all roses, so I’d recommend: self-reflection, collaborating with stakeholders, validating your students’ feelings and aspirations, celebrating achievements, pursuing continuous learning and development opportunities – never stop learning: no certificate will guarantee knowledge and work quality forever and your actions should speak louder than your words. Lead your students to stardom, not yourself!

What does being a school counsellor mean to you?

I am fully aware of my responsibility to guide 바카라사이트 students through 바카라사이트 process and to equip 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 skills and resources 바카라사이트y need to thrive and shine in college and beyond, to support and encourage 바카라사이트m, particularly during stressful times. And that is 바카라사이트 passion that has driven me throughout 바카라사이트 years and makes me still young at heart. When I say it is 바카라사이트 air that I brea바카라사이트 I do mean it.