Running head: REFLECTIVE PAPER 1

Role of the School Counselor Reflective Paper

Veronica Pulido

Brandman University

Abstract
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This paper is a reflection of my experiences and observations whilst performing my

practicum hours at different locations.Those hours, plus what I have learned throughout the

courses, are taken as a guidance in the type of counselor I will be at my future job site.

Compare and Contrast

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Throughout the time that I have been in this graduate program seeking my Masters and

PPS credential, I have spent numerous hours observing and working with school counselors. I

have done my practicum hours at different locations that serve different populations of students.

Irregardless, I have learned a lot from all of those hands on experiences.

One particular school in which I did my practicum hours differs from any regular public

high school. This school is a continuation school run by an organization as well as a school

district. The school is for both middle school and high school students, like a two-in-one.

Although it also is a charter school, it is not like the private ones where some parents even pay

for their children to attend there.

Due to the high number of students being affiliated with gans, drugs, in foster care, and

simply getting in trouble, the counselor would be very busy trying to work with students every

day. There was a high number of students getting on fights and having behavioral issues in class,

so they would always be sent out of class to speak to the counselor. He would then listen to the

students’ side of what happened and mainly helped them out to cool down so they can rationalize

what they did and to not have a problem with the teacher or other student when t eyy would go

back to class. The counselor was definitely a mediator amongst the students, whether the issue be

with each other or with a staff member.

On the other hand, in a regular high school setting, there was a much less action of

students going to the counselors office. Typically when a counselor called a student in, it dealt

more with academics or college stuff, which was different from the previous school I mentioned.

There was clearly more tension at the other school and there was a focus for all the staff

members to partake in making sure that the students were doing academically well to get the

credits they needed. In this regular high school, it was specifically the duty of the counselor to
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take care of that. For instance, if a student is a senior and they have a definicey notice, indicating

they have a D in a class, she would call them in to remind them that they need to pick up their

grade to have at least a C in order to remain A-G (the required courses by CSUs/UCs). She also

spent much of her time during the month of October in workshops for students for college

applications and financial aid, while in the other school it was rarely heard of when a student did

any of that.

Future Interactions

The interactions, the communications, and relationships created in my profession will be

crucial. Although the school counselor has their own distinct duties, it is never without the

incorporating working with others.

Colleagues

When it comes to adequately being able to work with my colleagues, I strongly believe

that communication is key. It is important that I get along with them, but also talk with all of

them to see where and how I can help out. For instance, if there is a teacher who is having a

student with behavioral issues and doesn’t understand why, I will take it upon myself to fully get

the details from the teacher of when it has occurred to figure out what is wrong. I would also

make sure to see the student alone in my office to see if they can open up with me.

Unfortunately, there are times where issues going on at home that can very well impact a

students behavior at school.

Aside from keeping good communication with the teachers, it is also important to always

be in touch with administrators. The administrators may be busy with their very own concerns,

but it is also important to be maintained in the same loop when there are issues involving

students. I can help by trying to speak to a student or the family, I am sure it would help the
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administrators as well. Although I wouldn't want to have involvement in discipline, it will be

nice to be there for a student if they need to vent and release some emotions.

Students

I have always considered myself as someone who will be the ultimate advocate for my

students. If there are any services that seem to be at fault or need to be implemented to help a

certain population of students, I will work on that. If there minority groups who don't feel secure

being at school, I will make sure that our campus becomes nd remains safe. I will work with my

students to have significant college and career awareness and have them sufficiently prepared for

their senior year.

I understand that I cannot be everywhere and do everything, but I am about inclusivity

and working a lot with students who will be first generation college students. Those two things

have always been key to me as a school counselor and Really do hope to be able to reflect that

one day. With that in mind, I will have an open door policy when I am available to be able to be

free to those students that will need to come in to talk to me when they can.

Families

Getting to know the families of the students is important to any school counselor. I

believe hat getting to know them family and understanding their background will help

understand the student as well. It can help us understand their beliefs and ideologies, whether

that be a cultural ideology or the belief that a woman should not attend college. Interacting with

families and getting to know them better helps understand them, the student, their issues and

relationships amongst each other, and how we can help if there is ever a problem.

Communities
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Lastly, getting to know the eare and the people in it will help us understand if there is any

diversity in the community and the culture of it. There are some areas where it may be mostly a

makeup of Latinx students, while others may be mostly whites, and others who are completely

diverse with a little bit of everything. Getting to interact with the community and the people also

allows them to know me, or any school counselor, and that way they are aware of who they can

go to at the school, if necessary.

With me, personally, as a bilingual latinx woman, I know that there will be a great appeal

to the Latinx community and they would feel comfortable enough to speak to me about issues at

home or with their child. That to me is the point of interacting with the community: to be aware

of the population and make sure that I am able to provide them in any way possible that I can.