PROCESS OF ROUND ROCKS By Becca Nydr, School Counselor
When I asked her why she loved round
the loss, collect the pieces, and
rocks so much, she said, “Think of
figure out what’s next. Despite what
how much they go through to get that
Cinderella’s fairy godmother would like
way. Rocks aren’t formed like that; it
us to believe, it actually takes time (and
takes years and years of tumbling and
often discomfort) to navigate the bumps
bumping against things, years of water
and weathering of transformation.
running by, and years of weathering for
Very few that have visited my office
a rock to become round.” She liked the idea that people are like rocks, and that sometimes on our journey there are bumps and tumbles that cause pain and discomfort, but hopefully it all leads to
have asked why the rocks adorn the table, but if anyone does, I’m happy share my mom’s theory on people and round rocks.
something really beautiful in the end. My mom’s words have stayed with me. Photo Credit: Aberdeen Hall
In my office, I keep three round rocks beside the big cozy chair nestled in the corner. I find the smooth surface of a rock calming and its solidness grounding in a time when everything feels nebulous. But that’s not the only reason I have them in my office. All throughout my childhood, my mom collected round rocks. I never understood her fascination with them, but whenever I went on vacation or to the beach, or anywhere rocks might be, I searched for them. I knew that they mattered to her. When I came back from the beach, I would unload my pockets with the rocks I had found. Through this, I discovered that round rocks—true round rocks—were quite rare. PAGE 26
The round rocks in my office serve as a reminder of my hope for where the students I counsel will go one day. The experiences that they share with me—the pain of a break up, a fight with a friend, all those bumps and tumbles of life—are shaping and transforming them. My job is to hold space for the pain, validate their feelings, and empathize with their experience. In addition, I also try to gently remind my students of hope; that adversity and hardships are a part of the process of shaping character, building resilience, and paving the way for transformation. Sometimes, there are big divots and pieces that break off, and maybe it feels like moving forward is an impossible task. That’s where I believe counselling can help: it provides a place to mourn
The round rocks in Ms. Nydr’s office remind us that hardships are part of the process of shaping character.
