Ms. Lashanna Edwards is QPA’s guidance counselor who is always ready with a helping hand and a listening ear. National School Counseling Week is celebrated during the first full week of February to recognize and honor the important role school counselors play in every student’s life. School counselors like Ms. Edwards are a key component of a system that ensures students receive the educational services they deserve. This empowering week has been observed since 2011 to acknowledge and celebrate their invaluable contributions.
“I think it’s very important to have a school counselor to help students with their emotional needs during their high-school career,” said QPA junior Teni Maraiyesa.
Moreover, according to freshman Kianu Flannigan, moving here from another country at the beginning of the year was complicated. He said Ms. Edwards helped him adjust to the new environment.
National School Counselors Week, hosted by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights how important school counselors are to creating a supportive learning environment. “Empowering Students, Transforming Lives,” is this year’s theme, and emphasizes how counselors help kids to overcome challenges, develop resilience and realize their full potential inside and outside of the classroom.
Beyond Academic Guidance
School counselors are like the ultimate problem-solvers! They help students with everything from schoolwork to personal stuff, making sure everyone feels heard and supported. They provide a safe space for kids to work through any personal issues, no matter how small, and are there for their emotional and mental health. Whether it’s helping students through tough family situations, providing advice on social challenges, or simply being a compassionate ear, counselors ensure that students feel heard and understood.
For a lot of counselors, their passion to make a difference in students’ lives comes from personal experience. QPA’s guidance counselor Ms. Edwards shared, “I truly love helping kids and think about their futures. I got started because I was working with Child Protective Services, where I was investigating abuse and I was receiving educational neglect cases, which means kids were not going to school often. I felt that if I became a school counselor, I could make a difference.”
Counselors like Ms. Edwards try to create a secure environment where students feel encouraged to succeed by providing emotional support, helping with academic challenges, and addressing underlying problems. Our fellow junior Nameera Touseef shared that, “The counselors at our school are very open and welcoming. They have made me feel extremely comfortable since the day I joined the school.”
Working Together for Student Success
To be able to assist students, school counselors also work with staff, parents, and teachers. By collaborating with others, counselors make sure students succeed in both their personal and academic lives.
“I feel like the guidance counselor provides me with a lot of help,” said senior Matthew Wright. “She helps to organize events. She works with the college counselor Ms. Summerville and Mr. Bednar, who is in charge of internships, to ensure we have many opportunities to see different colleges and businesses.” These counselors collaborate to make sure students have access to resources, career exploration, and hands-on learning. Students are able to succeed academically, personally and professionally in this supportive environment that is created by teamwork.
Counselors like Ms. Edwards contribute to creating an encouraging environment where students can thrive. By giving help, or just an understanding ear, they help children overcome challenges and reach their fullest potential. This week is a reminder of the crucial part counselors play in helping students plan for the future, while making sure they have the tools they need to succeed.
