The Role of Career Counselling in The Induction of New Students To The Academic Environment
A school counsellor isn’t just the awkward hippy trope you see in movies and TV. Counsellors are real people interested in helping students learn and grow. They help create an environment for students to find their path to successful adult life. Looking at it from the surface, it’s easier to conclude that academic counsellors only help students prepare for success within the school.
However, digging a little bit deeper, it becomes clear that the role of a school counsellor goes beyond just that. The academic counsellors play a much role in the moral and mental development of the students, especially the new ones, and help them relate to the academic environment – the school, and the outside world, in the long run. Some of these keys roles are;
- Human Growth and Development
The school is the most important place where a student’s individuality is moulded. Many of them are often admitted at a very prime age, and as such, they are in a constant state of physical, mental and emotional growth. Still trying to blend into the environment and navigate it, students are caught up with the disturbing demands of the adolescent age.
While a few can cope, a larger percentage of others find it to flow along with whatever is convenient for them. The academic counsellors help students navigate through these confusing times, leveraging their understanding of human development stages and helping design academic programs and projects that complement their behavioural patterns and interests.
- Career and Lifestyle Development
Knowing how much their career choice affects their future, school counsellors, particularly high school counsellors, are typically charged with helping students prepare for life beyond school walls. The students may have little or no capacity to decide the study area they want to dive into. They can barely identify their strengths and weakness. In fact, they have a conflicting choice; of course, it’s medicine and law tomorrow. Thank heavens for the timely intervention of the counsellors who help students identify and nurture specific strengths and interests and correct weaknesses like poor time management and lack of organisation that otherwise would have affected their future.
As if that is not enough, counsellors go the extra mile to collaborate with students to develop plans for achieving specific academic and career goals. These plans can also help establish responsible lifestyle habits that benefit students as they venture into the real world.
- Help Students Develop Social skills.
School counsellors work with students to develop various academic and social skills that can translate to better grades, stronger friendships, improved behaviour and other positive outcomes. You may wonder why they need social skills to excel academically or otherwise. In a learning environment, students depend on each other for help at some point and, as such, must interact with each other.
Meanwhile, some students are cut off from these benefits because they are too shy to relate with classmates/coursemates or have a feeling of inferiority complex. Furthermore, this prevents them from acquiring better knowledge only from sharing and listening to their classmates’ ideas.
School counsellors may guide students through tough transitional years by helping them establish supportive communities comprising their parents, teachers and friends. In the long run, this creates a mentality of teamwork and team achievements. If one head is good and two are better, imagine how much better a handful would be.
- Builds Parent-Student Relationship
At its core, the role of a school counsellor is to cultivate trusting relationships. These connections define the dynamics among counsellors, students and parents. Counsellors sometimes participate in developing parenting and bonding strategies to form stronger connections within a student’s family. This element can be particularly helpful for teenagers going through dramatic developmental changes. It amazes you that many parents don’t know who their children are; they’ve done enough to pay their school fees ad buy their texts; what more do the kids want from them? So, it isn’t surprising that students would rather open up to their teachers/counsellors than talk to a parent who barely has his/her time. Over time, counsellors call for parents’ attention and even schedule meetings with them, if need be, concerning the general welfare and well-being of the kids. The bridge between that child and the parent could be bridged as time passes if attended to early enough.
- Social and Cultural Foundations
We’ve seen cases of junior students being bullied by their mates or seniors and dare not report it because they’ve been threatened. Counsellors are trained to recognise issues that may hinder a student’s ability to thrive, such as bullying, academic struggles and conflicts with friends. They have a firm grasp of the social and cultural metrics that shape behaviours and relationships within the school environment. Whenever a case of like magnitude is discovered, they help students overcome these challenges by implementing support programs designed to build confidence, positivity and self-worth.
- Research and Program Evaluation
School counsellors routinely assess school programs to ensure they meet students’ needs. These evaluations typically involve collaboration with students, parents, teachers and administrators. They aim to identify potential stumbling blocks within a curriculum that could impede a student’s graduation and career progress. In addition, academic counsellors work with other school stakeholders to develop strategies for closing these gaps and preparing students for the challenges ahead.
- A Fulfilling Career
The evidence of counselling is evident. Students who have continually received guidance and help from academic counsellors in choosing their careers, according to their abilities, perform exceptionally in their careers and become professionals in their fields. Undoubtedly, counsellors make a difference in the lives of young people on a more personal level compared with many other education professionals. In addition to guiding students’ paths through school and beyond, they also help young people develop as a whole — personally, academically and professionally. The position entails great responsibility but can also lead to substantial rewards.
Conclusion
A counsellor always advises students at crucial turning points in their lives. Whether these counsellors work in elementary, middle, or high schools, they are there for students who are going through a difficult time or need advice and support. A few words from a helpful counsellor can profoundly impact a student’s life by improving their outlook on school, family, and the future.
High school counsellors may direct students to think more seriously about their academic and professional options as they prepare for graduation.
To speak with any of our counsellors at Light House Counselling, call or WhatsApp +2348055507808.
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