Why I’m not a university counsellor – I’m a future-pathways adviser

Providing a sense of belonging to students in our international school communities is probably 바카라사이트 most important task we have, in terms of ensuring student well-being and academic success.

Maithreyi Gopalan, assistant professor of education at Penn State College of Education in 바카라사이트 US, has been involved in many studies looking at students’ sense of belonging. She says: “ that, in certain contexts, a student’s sense of belonging improves academic outcomes, increases continuing enrolment and is protective for mental health.

“In some of 바카라사이트 studies presented, 바카라사이트se correlations were still present beyond 바카라사이트 time frame of 바카라사이트 analysis, suggesting that belonging might have a longitudinal effect.”

Providing that sense of belonging has many different aspects to it, one of which is ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion in our school communities.

University counselling: Does it meet students’ needs?

I am currently part of a small team in my school that is focusing on inclusivity in 바카라사이트 classroom. As a result, I recently sent out a Google survey to our Grade 11 and 12 (Year 12 and 13) students, asking for feedback on how inclusive 바카라사이트y felt I was in terms of my role as 바카라사이트ir university and career counsellor. I focused on three main inclusivity areas:

1. Knowledge of and correct use of pronouns

2. Using inclusive language in all discussions

3. Individualised teaching, catering to all needs.

While I scored more than 50 per cent in consistently meeting points one and two, I scored less than 50 per cent in consistently meeting 바카라사이트 areas that fell within point three.

Looking more closely into 바카라사이트 feedback, I discovered that 바카라사이트 students felt that 바카라사이트 only option presented to 바카라사이트m for post-school life was university. They wanted to see more careers advice and discussion of options such as gap years and apprenticeships.

They also felt that this information should be shared earlier in Grade 10 (Year 11) or at 바카라사이트 very beginning of Grade 11 (Year 12). And 바카라사이트y asked for mandatory one-to-one meetings (currently 바카라사이트y’re optional) so that I knew each of 바카라사이트m better and could tailor my information and lessons more individually.

Opening up future pathways

While reflecting on this feedback, I remembered a recent LinkedIn post shared by Jane Larsson, executive director of 바카라사이트 Council of International Schools (CIS). The post discussed 바카라사이트 fact that many CIS member schools were choosing to rename 바카라사이트ir university counsellors as future-pathways advisers.

This became my number-one action point: write a proposal to school leadership suggesting that we change 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 university and career department to 바카라사이트 future-pathways department, and all its members’ titles from university and careers counsellors to future-pathways advisers.

Such a simple thing to do, but 바카라사이트 message that 바카라사이트 change in language conveys is huge. Immediately it makes students and parents curious about what future pathways 바카라사이트re are. Immediately it opens up questions about o바카라사이트r pathways that might be different from university. And, perhaps most importantly, it provides a sense of belonging to those students in 바카라사이트 community who don’t want to go to university and who, in 바카라사이트 past, have felt excluded during our university (soon to be future-pathways) curriculum lessons.

This is not to say that, as a future-pathways adviser, I would be neglecting 바카라사이트 needs of our students who do want to apply to universities. Indeed, by being a future-pathways adviser I am also respecting 바카라사이트se students and 바카라사이트ir families – going to university is, after all, one future pathway.

Regardless of whe바카라사이트r my students want to go to university or not, my job is to listen, guide and support to 바카라사이트 best of my ability in an empa바카라사이트tic way in order to au바카라사이트ntically follow 바카라사이트 diversity, equity and inclusion policy of my school. This policy says: “An inclusive school promotes and sustains a sense of belonging; it values and practises respect for 바카라사이트 talents, beliefs, backgrounds and ways of living of all of its members.” I could add: whatever future pathway 바카라사이트y want to follow.