Internship Students

Considering the recent challenges globally (i.e., COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, etc.), how are you as a CHS student planning to promote social engagement and connection as a future professional?

As counselors, we can help our clients remain supported and uplifted socially by listening intently to their personal stories or reactions to what may be going on within or outside their community. Additionally, helping them to identify their strengths and connecting them with resources that are unique to their specific needs as well as recommending participation in any relevant in-person or virtual support groups would prove to be beneficial.

Like so many others, I’m often overwhelmed by the injustices in our world today. I let the size of the problems become larger than my/our ability to solve them. I entered the school counseling profession to find a way to fix what I saw. Over time, I’ve instead learned my role will be to support young adults in their efforts to improve the world. I have placed my full trust in the students I serve. As a result, my job as a school counselor is to create the settings in which they flourish individually and collectively, as thoughtful, cherished and empowered members of society. I am to do this by elevating diverse student intelligences, creating opportunities for student advocacy and leadership, prioritizing and reinforcing social –emotional development, collaborating with other professionals and stakeholders to sustain comprehensive programming and integrating multiculturalism as a fundamental framework.

As we face current global challenges, such as, COVID-19 it is crucial we focus on the socioeconomic changes as a result. A forced barrier that occurred was isolation. A mentor had said to me, “We shouldn’t be using the term social distancing rather we should be using the term physical distancing”. This resonated with me because, as professional counselors, we work so hard to promote personal support and connection as a coping mechanism. When we use the term “social isolation” we are promoting the exact opposite of our goal. As I move forward in my professional career, my goal is to put much more emphasis on recovering from the socioeconomic damages as a result of COVID-19. More than ever, it Is important we stick together and work through these global challenges as a community.