My career and education have led me to become a professional school counselor. I am grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and education that I have received. I am better prepared as a person and professional to assist those in need through the school setting. My experiences in the Master of Science in Education - Professional School Counseling program at Buena Vista University have prepared me for the school counseling field across all grade levels. I have had opportunities to connect with and learn from new mentors, colleagues, and those that I can now call friends, as well as gain valuable knowledge from the instructors and advisors. New resources have prepared me to ensure the growth and success of the students that I serve, support, and advocate for. The BVU program is supported and accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and the Iowa Department of Education.
Growing up around the educational setting has provided me with many enjoyable experiences that motivate me to have many more experiences similar to those in my career. I have the desire to work in the school counseling profession from my personal and career experiences working with youth and educators.
In my previous positions, each day I experienced the importance of having a quality and understanding school counselor who can help students personally, socially/emotionally, and academically. Our youth deal with obstacles daily inside and outside of school that affect their well-being. Youth must have a positive educational experience and gain as much as they can while being students to help prepare them for life.
In addition, I have been fortunate to work collaboratively with school counselors. These experiences have allowed me to develop my skills and abilities towards becoming the best school counselor that I can be. My BVU master's education has given me the foundation to become a quality school counselor and a lifelong learner of the profession. I look forward to building and developing a school counseling program, conducting needs assessment surveys, and selecting curriculum and materials to best meet the needs of the students, staff, and school.