The Role That Changed My Life: Reflections on Being a Professional School Counselor

As an Educational and Training Implementation Specialist for the School-Based Mental Health Training at C.A.S.E., my work centers on strengthening systems that support student well-being, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of students in foster care, kinship care, and adoptive placements. However, the foundation of my career was built as a Professional School Counselor, a role that deeply shaped my understanding of the impact educators can have on students’ lives.

National School Counseling Week: “Amplifying Student Success”

Each February, National School Counseling Week provides an opportunity to recognize the essential role school counselors play in fostering academic achievement, supporting student mental health, and guiding students toward success. 

Having walked the halls as a school counselor, I can say with certainty that this impact is meaningful for students connected to adoption, foster care, and kinship care. I have witnessed firsthand how the presence of a caring, consistent educator can be the difference between a student feeling lost within a system and a student feeling seen, supported, and capable.

Students connected to adoption, foster care, or kinship care often face challenges many individuals can hardly imagine. These students experience placement changes, family separation, disrupted routines, and educational instability that can significantly affect their academic progress and emotional well-being. Frequent school transitions often result in gaps in instruction, confusion about transfer of credits, and increased anxiety about meeting matriculation and graduation requirements.

Building Belonging Through Care, Connection, and Support

School is more than a place of learning; it is a place where students seek belonging. Many students with lived experience in adoption, foster, or kinship care feel isolated or misunderstood. During my years as a counselor, I learned that belonging does not happen by chance; it must be intentional. I worked closely with teachers, administrators, and support staff to ensure students felt welcomed, included, and understood. Small actions, such as a thoughtful check-in, an invitation to join a club, or recognition of an achievement can make a meaningful difference.

Academic support goes hand in hand with social and emotional guidance, and school counselors embody the patience, creativity, flexibility, and advocacy needed to meet each student’s unique circumstances. While challenging at times, this work is fulfilling, especially when a student finds their community, gains confidence, and begins to believe in their own potential.

Honoring the Work That Shapes Student Futures

One of the most critical roles school counselors play is helping students envision life beyond high school. For students connected to adoption, foster care, or kinship care, this guidance can be transformative. Many may lack consistent adult support to navigate college applications, vocational pathways, or financial aid. Many of my students were unsure whether higher education was even attainable. Through encouragement, intentional planning, and support, they were able to apply to colleges, secure aid, and gain acceptance. The pride and hope they expressed in those moments remains unforgettable.

Collaboration is essential in this process. School counselors often serve as the bridge between students, caregivers, child welfare professionals, and community partners. Coordinated support ensures students receive consistent guidance and the assistance needed to make informed decisions about their futures.

Reflecting on my time as a professional school counselor, it is clear that our role extends far beyond academics. We serve as guides, connectors, and voices for students who need support, whose voices might otherwise go unheard. National School Counseling Week serves as a reminder of the life-changing work counselors do every day.