A Week In The Life

I never knew what a counselor really did until I became one. I am still not sure if I am doing exactly what others do outside the realm of my world. In fact, I think that each and every place is probably unique to the locale, the makeup of the kids, the dynamic of the ratio of kid/counselor. Country, city, you get the drift. Elementary, middle school and high school are completely and utterly different, I have discovered, from conversations had and mutual blank stares while trading acronyms in district wide meetings.
Now, while I am detailing what I do, as I said once before, there is a rhythm to the year, with highlights and lowlights, and some weeks can be frantic while others are mundane and have a grinding quality. So, in order to fully edify and illuminate, I am going to do, by memory and creative license, a condensed version into a week. Everything is true, but the time frame and details are changed for dramatic purposes.
MONDAY
Over the weekend, there was a move by a family from a neighboring town. They want to enroll first thing, and they don't have all required paperwork. They must make phone calls, ask for faxes, meet with their assigned counselor, after Cheryl has greeted them and  explained what is required, by law, to be able to enroll. They don't like it, and they are not dressed to sit in a school setting. One "uncle" has their pajama bottoms on, with Homer Simpson prominently featured. The student is mad, sad, glad, sleepy, scared to be moving to what is their third school in the last two years. They will be reassured, assessed, checked over for discipline issues at their prior school, which WILL be transferred to us (something they don't want to happen.) Parents and their grandparents and a squirmy toddler finally leave them sitting alone, waiting on a schedule and a tour. We strike up a conversation with them, and we try to make a connection.
E-mail and phone messages are checked, triaged for urgency. A grandmother has died, and the parents are letting us know, and they have concerns about missing school. Someone needs a transcript or a VOE (driver's license attendace form) or a password for PowerSchool. There is a request for a conference to discuss the teacher who has failed their preciousness, and there is a call from a teacher who wants to know why another student has been put into their room that holds 30 with Susie being 31. We apologize and shrug, all at once, as there is no place to put that student and helpful suggestions about space aren't asked for or appreciated.
We call for students as the day starts, with our aides delivering passes. Many we call for are absent, but we block that time aside. There is a link to not being there and why we are needing to call for them. We make plans, hear rationalizations and justifications, and we give information regarding tutoring times. Some are receptive, and others give death stares and stumble out.
TUESDAY
Classroom guidance day in English classrooms to our freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors. We divvy up the assignments into mostly 5 classes out of the 7 periods, but sometimes we go to 6 classes, if a counselor is away. We talk about study skills and show a Cosby clip where Cliff gives Theo the business. We play a game related to GPA and how much more goes into preparation for college than just grades. We give information about the SAT or ACT or PLAN or PSAT. We do surveys, and we hand out transcripts, and we go over scheduling requirements. (The state of TEXAS makes changes daily, monthly, yearly, and we have to get ahead of the curve. Sometimes, we get twisted.) We end most sessions by imploring or inviting students to come see us with issues, get applications turned in for classes or college, and there is some begging involving tutoring.
WEDNESDAY
Testing day with the PLAN, the PSAT, an EXIT level TAKS test in the library technology center or the administration building. Our jobs have been to conduct trainings, get materials into testing boxes, check those materials out, roam the halls maing sure rooms are unlocked, desks are arranged, clocks are on walls. During testing, we put out little fires, with a reluctant scholar slobber sleeping on their desk, a late genius strolling in late, and a dress code issue that is beyond reasonable. We check tests back in, sort them, count them, package them, check for mistakes, load them up and we take them on a huge cart across the campus. They can't be left alone, at any point, and every single one must be accounted for or there is high anxiety. We leave later that day than usual to make sure all is secure, but we do get to wear jeans.
THURSDAY
Meetings are plentiful, as we meet in ARDs wtih our Special Ed kids and their parents, either in person or by phone. 504s convene in our offices or the conference rooms,. Some take a few minutes, and some take hours, with legal types in the room. (I have personally been in a meeting with 16 people discussing one child's modifications, and I have heard some obsene language. Police have been summoned to be there as a precaution. I got breathed on by a nice lady with some Bud Light on her breath. She called me Tiger once on the phone.)
We trudge over to the admininstration building to meet with all the other counselors of the district. Sometimes, there are cookies there, and we have an agenda. It is nice to see all the other counselors, but we often have very little in common.
A military rep asks to meet with us to check on the progress on their recruits. A college rep comes by to give breakfast and update us on all the exciting opportunities there. The local workforce contact comes by to tell us of specifics of their program. The mental health facility invites us to come tour their programs, and there is a future lunch invitation.
FRIDAY
Traditionally, this has become on most Fridays "Lamp Day" as previously mentioned, and there is a sense of closure to the week.  This is a day for catchup on paperwork, schedule changes, recommendation letters, checking credits. Jeans are worn with a spirit shirt, and there is a pep rally.
Many teachers are gone to events or tournaments, and there is a free flow into the Counseling Center by students with wanderlust or real problems. We try to touch base with students with more dire circumstances before the weekend. More students are absent on this day than Monday, so that makes time even more precious when they are there, with reassurance for the weekend ahead.
Once a month is birthday cake day in the lounge. We make sure we grab our piece early before it all disappears. There is sighing, and then there is an empty building by 4.
SATURDAY
Some of us give the SAT or ACT on 9 Saturdays a year. We get paid for it about a month or so later, and often it comes in handy. The duty is about 5 hours long or so, and we feel that it offers a reassuring testing experience that we are there on our campus. We get to see our students' pajamas and what their hair looks like in a backwards cap. They get to go the college of their choice or get that scholarship.
SUNDAY
Transcripts books are worked on from home, often, and e-mail is checked late in the evening. Tragedy strikes, and we spend time back at school helping kids or getting ready to do so on Monday.
A new week looms ahead, and there is less sleep on Sundays than any other. Sunday is a day of reflection, of rest, of dread and anxiety.
Henry Kissinger once said it well, "There can not be a crisis next week. My schedule is full."