Having my son at the school I teach has opened my eyes to the counselor's role in the student's academic career. Here's an example of what happened at my meeting with the counselor and my son.
She had his grades already opened with all his test scores right there while we talked. She asked my son questions about his interests and then asked him about his grades...
My son has an interest in culinary and wanted more culinary classes. Before agreeing, she wanted him to explore the success/failure rate of those going into culinary. She also asked my son about his math/science grades which happened to be in the 99th percentile.
She mentioned that based on his current test scores he could go into AP calculus as a junior and pretty much exempt his senior year and go right into GA Tech.....For FREE!!!
My son's eyes grew big as she related that GA Tech is one of the best schools in the country and asked him to explore ALL of his interests...
The challenge that his counselor faces is that delicate balance between a dream and a reality...not that she would squelch his dreams, but that she could open his eyes to something bigger and greater....
She also suggested many options that we had not yet considered as to careers that are not yet invented...my son loves technology and is a whiz for all things electronic...a gift and a curse for me (anyone ever experienced a son/daughter that knows more tech stuff than you?) Then you know what I am talking about.
The fact is, the counselor looked at the big picture first and then after we decide a big path, we can start looking at narrowing that path....she made a huge monumental task seem rather simple.
I have a huge amount of respect for her.
Tracy, that is wonderful that you could have that "real world" experience with your son and the guidance counselor. I really believe that you don't know how something works until you try it personally. It's wonderful that a third pary person with no "personal interest" could help you son consider other options. If your son is anything like mine, he is more likely to listen to someone other than me!
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