Perceived Roles

Based on what I have seen during my 1 1/2 years of teaching in combination with personal experience from high school, I have concluded that guidance counselors wear many hats. They are responsible for counseling, as their titles suggest. Guidance counselors counsel students on personal as well as academic matters. During times of crisis, guidance counselors may also provide counseling to faculty and staff as well. Guidance counselors are responsible for creating schedules for students, and adjusting the schedules as necessary. Another role of the guidance counselor is that of a facilitator. They facilitate parent and teacher conferences and also facilitate the students' transition into college in numerous ways. Some of these ways include assisting students with career planning and completion of college applications. They even help provide scholarship opportunities to eligible students. Although I have already mentioned many roles, I feel like this is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are also many other responsibilities placed upon guidance counselors.