School Counselor Application Essay
Why are you obtaining/seeking a school counselor certification?
To me, teaching is much more than simply delivering instruction. I strive to develop the whole child as opposed to just teaching the curriculum. Throughout the school year my main focus is to ensure that my children feel a sense of security. This is a must as I want them to know that their life is valued and it is critical for working relationship. My desire to transfer from an educator to a counselor rests with the fact that I love working with the human in my students as opposed to the academic abilities my students posses. At times I find myself, yearning to sit with a students that display the silent call for help either through being withdrawn or causing disruptions …show more content…
in a classroom. Although, I am well aware that when undesirable behavior needs to be redirected, it is stated utilizing a calm, assertive energy (think Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer!) that corrects the behavior while not demoralizing the soul of the child. Daily my students are encouraged to grow into readers and writers, but also to be stronger individuals, to live in the moment, to respect the future, and to empathetically acknowledge others while using common courtesy.
Commonly, I find myself giving lectures on human development as opposed to teaching my TEKS as many of my students have questions that arrive from their own personal readings or class novel studies. I find these conversations more fulfilling than teaching my core content as my yearning to be a counselor never vanished while I spent the last 15 years teaching. My desire to become a counselor started in college (Psychology degree) and now 15 years later I hope to pursue my life goal.
What personal attributes do you possess, that would enhance the quality of counseling services in a school setting?
I am a patient listener that understands it is better to listen than to speak as this gains the respect and trust of the person expressing their thoughts. Often the inner truth is hidden behind excuses, denial, and fear therefore needing patience as they truth is slow to present itself. I believe that by being a patient listener/communicator this builds rapport with students and colleagues. Part of being an effective listener is the ability to correspond and communicate productively. I understand it is essential for students to feel a sense of ownership as they create solutions and form decisions so in the future they have the ability to devise solutions independently.
Los Angeles, California- America’s “Melting Pot”- born, raised and lived in L.A. for the first 30 years of my life. I appreciate and acknowledge the dynamics of diversity found within our student body. Often in class discussions I am eager to get students to share their personal stories that stem from their cultural group to enhance acceptance of our civilization. When my students share their stories, I make it a point to build a bridge by demonstrating how we each have very similar stories that are unique in their own way. Often I try to end the discussion with heartwarming anecdote or a humorous insight to make all feel at-ease and
appreciated.
On campus, I am not only a teacher but also coordinate our book fair, poetry slam, library visits, positive-interventions, and attend college field trips. As a counselor, I am excited to devote more time to arranging activities on campus partially bullying awareness/prevention and graduation motivation a well as be more involved in our student council.
I end with a famous quote by Nicholas A. Ferroni which drives my desire to build empathetic relationships with my students, “ Students that are loved at home come to school to learn, and student that aren’t come to school to be loved”
I simply want to devote my time to a student's well-being so they can walk into the classroom to receive an education.
To me, teaching is much more than simply delivering instruction. I strive to develop the whole child as opposed to just teaching the curriculum. Throughout the school year my main focus is to ensure that my children feel a sense of security. This is a must as I want them to know that their life is valued and it is critical for working relationship. My desire to transfer from an educator to a counselor rests with the fact that I love working with the human in my students as opposed to the academic abilities my students posses. At times I find myself, yearning to sit with a students that display the silent call for help either through being withdrawn or causing disruptions …show more content…
in a classroom. Although, I am well aware that when undesirable behavior needs to be redirected, it is stated utilizing a calm, assertive energy (think Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer!) that corrects the behavior while not demoralizing the soul of the child. Daily my students are encouraged to grow into readers and writers, but also to be stronger individuals, to live in the moment, to respect the future, and to empathetically acknowledge others while using common courtesy.
Commonly, I find myself giving lectures on human development as opposed to teaching my TEKS as many of my students have questions that arrive from their own personal readings or class novel studies. I find these conversations more fulfilling than teaching my core content as my yearning to be a counselor never vanished while I spent the last 15 years teaching. My desire to become a counselor started in college (Psychology degree) and now 15 years later I hope to pursue my life goal.
What personal attributes do you possess, that would enhance the quality of counseling services in a school setting?
I am a patient listener that understands it is better to listen than to speak as this gains the respect and trust of the person expressing their thoughts. Often the inner truth is hidden behind excuses, denial, and fear therefore needing patience as they truth is slow to present itself. I believe that by being a patient listener/communicator this builds rapport with students and colleagues. Part of being an effective listener is the ability to correspond and communicate productively. I understand it is essential for students to feel a sense of ownership as they create solutions and form decisions so in the future they have the ability to devise solutions independently.
Los Angeles, California- America’s “Melting Pot”- born, raised and lived in L.A. for the first 30 years of my life. I appreciate and acknowledge the dynamics of diversity found within our student body. Often in class discussions I am eager to get students to share their personal stories that stem from their cultural group to enhance acceptance of our civilization. When my students share their stories, I make it a point to build a bridge by demonstrating how we each have very similar stories that are unique in their own way. Often I try to end the discussion with heartwarming anecdote or a humorous insight to make all feel at-ease and
appreciated.
On campus, I am not only a teacher but also coordinate our book fair, poetry slam, library visits, positive-interventions, and attend college field trips. As a counselor, I am excited to devote more time to arranging activities on campus partially bullying awareness/prevention and graduation motivation a well as be more involved in our student council.
I end with a famous quote by Nicholas A. Ferroni which drives my desire to build empathetic relationships with my students, “ Students that are loved at home come to school to learn, and student that aren’t come to school to be loved”
I simply want to devote my time to a student's well-being so they can walk into the classroom to receive an education.