Patrick Wood's take on the most rewarding and the most challenging counseling situations.

Likely, a counselor’s most rewarding situation is that of a student who has struggled to finally find their way to success on the coattails of the counselor’s advice and encouragement. As for the most challenging situation faced by a counselor, there are many possibilities. It seems apparent to me that a person willing to undertake the rigorous training and testing to attain certification has obvious care and compassion for students in their heart. Thus, I feel the most challenging situation would be that of a talented student who has given up. Many challenges can be addressed with the counselor’s various weapons. However, finding the magic bullet to destroy a student’s own inner apathy must be the most difficult situation.