HIGH SCHOOL counseling

Supporting Balance

As a college preparatory school, King’s Ridge Christian School provides students with rigorous academic preparation combined with social, spiritual, and physical fulfillment, which are all necessary for college and life beyond. Research supports this call for students to live a balanced life. According to the Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program, “Students often prioritize academics at the expense of personal factors, including relationships and exercise. This can lead to a decline in academic performance, as general health and well-being are critical to optimal academic functioning.”

Perhaps most surprising is that college admissions departments tell counselors that a High School resume filled only with academic accolades is not what they seek in applicants.

As such, the High School counseling department at KRCS focuses on developing the whole student, one who successfully balances academics, extra-curricular interests, the arts, a spiritual relationship with Christ, and athletic pursuits. Counselors educate students on the importance of being well-rounded and creating balance within academics and social, spiritual, and physical health.

High School is a transformative time for young adults; our counselors work as partners during this transition. At KRCS, freshmen begin receiving personalized guidance for course selection, develop essential tools for time management, communication, and life skills, and start identifying potential interests in post-secondary opportunities. Sophomores lean into KRCS and their community at large while continuing to strengthen the groundwork laid during their freshman year. Juniors focus on self-reflection, understanding that the road ahead calls for a time of self-advocacy. This year is built around long-term goals. Students are tasked with determining wants such as collegiate athletics, career aspirations, service academy interests, and any untapped High School opportunities they want to explore during their senior year.

Our students are mapping out their direction as a freshman, following that map to investigate opportunities as sophomores, and identifying doors of opportunity they are interested in exploring as juniors so that, as seniors, they can choose and walk through these doors toward their future goals. Then, our seniors dive head-first into the college application process, receiving guidance, assistance, support, and celebration to achieve these goals confidently in God’s ultimate plan.

To do this, KRCS counselors work with students on four key areas, thus ensuring that students attain their post-secondary goals. These four areas are:

• Guiding academic choices,

• Supporting academic achievement,

• Developing social and emotional well-being, and

• Initiating, supporting, and managing college planning and applications.

Through one-on-one meetings, large and small group presentations, family conferences, and daily informal settings, counselors seek to know each of the students as individuals through their unique talents, aspirations, struggles, and strengths. Counselors act as guides, encouraging students to build the resiliency, self-confidence, and independence crucial for success in college and beyond.