On the first full week of February every year, school counselors are celebrated for their hard work and dedication to assisting students. This year, counselor appreciation week took place on Feb. 2-6. UHS’s counselors, Ms. Hanna Addessi, Ms. Shannon Dean, Mr. Nate Schoch, Mrs. Joyce Chung, Mrs. Ciara Ramirez and Mrs. Angelique Strausheim, were honored for their contributions to helping students succeed in their lives.
Counselors help students understand how to set themselves up for future success and ensure they do not overload themselves while still meeting prerequisites.
“My counselor gave me great advice on which classes to take and was very helpful in understanding course requirements,” sophomore Hashir Talha said.
Counseling emerged as a distinct profession in the 1900s in response to social reform movements and a desire to match students with suitable careers. In the years after the 1900s, the National Vocational Guidance Association was founded, playing a crucial role in establishing school counseling. The American School Counselor Association was founded nearly 40 years later, in 1952, and currently organizes National School Counseling Week.
“My counselor, Mrs.Strausheim, supported me during the college application process,” senior Bradley Son said. “She always responded to my emails very quickly and made the process much easier.”
Counselors also assist students with real-life issues, advising them on how to address their problems safely.
“My counselor [Ms. Dean] helped me with overcoming adversity many times,” junior Jason Lim said. “I really appreciate how she did not see my problems as insignificant and gave me great advice.”
To show their appreciation for the counselors’ hard work in ensuring student well-being, both emotionally and academically, students can engage in a variety of activities to express their gratitude.
“Students can give their counselors small gifts or write cards to show their gratitude towards their counselors,” Son said.
School counselors have a significant impact on their students at UHS. Whether it is giving advice on which classes to take, resolving schedule conflicts, guiding students toward a career path that fits them or building college lists, counselors work very hard to ensure that students have a great high school experience.
