Rewards and Challenges

After speaking with my counselor in casual conversation she has mentioned that it breaks her heart when students aren't motivated. We were sharing ideas about how we could reach a few students in particular. I know the feeling because no matter what you do there will be those students that you can't reach. I personally think there isn't a particular type of training or schooling that can give you strategies on reaching 100% of the students because motivation has to come from within. I would also imagine that dealing the students who are abused on any level would be difficult to deal with, especially if that occurs often at their particular school. I think the most rewarding experiences for school counselors are their success stories. We they know of students that they have motivated to become "better" students. Also those students who have become productive citizens after experiencing abuse on any level. My counselor is really proud of our students when they get scholarship offers. She even has brag bulletin board near her office. When we have Gates scholars, it's always a proud moment for her. Another proud moment is when students come back to visit her and tell her about how they are coping after high school.