There's no denying that your high school years will be some of the best years of your life. At the same time, they'll also be some of the most difficult. You go to school all day, have sports practice, club meetings, and/or a part- time job after school, then homework at night-not to mention trying to find time for friends and a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Most students spread themselves pretty thin, which means any added stress can be like the straw that broke the camel's back. One advantage kids in high school have over people in the business world is the resources available to help them with their problems.
All high schools employ at least one full-time guidance counselor who is there to help students. Guidance counselors are an invaluable resource to high school students: lending an ear, helping with college advice, sorting through conflicts with a teacher and dealing with family problems.
After graduating from the University at Buffalo in 1991, Tami Chamikles taught English in a junior high school for six years. She enjoyed it, but wished she could have more one-on-one interaction with her students. So, she went back to school and got her Master's Degree in counseling at CW Post/Long Island University, and became a high school guidance counselor.
She currently works at New York City's High School for the Performing Arts. There are about 2,500 kids in the school; Chamikles is the counselor for 650 of them. As a guidance counselor, Chamikles gets to spend more time talking to students and helping them with their problems, and doesn't have to worry about creating a lesson plan. "As a teacher you're finished with class by about 3:30 p.m., but then there are papers to grade and the next day's lesson plans to go over," she says. "As a guidance counselor, my day ends at 3:30 p.m., and I just walk out the door."
Of course, it's not exactly a walk in the park. Teenagers, as we all know, are going through a difficult time in their lives, and it can be a challenging task listening to their problems. Chamikles says to be a guidance counselor takes a certain skill. "You have to be a really good listener, Chamikles says. And it helps if you're super- organized. Chamikles keeps records of every conversation she has with each student, each teacher and each parent. This is especially helpful if a student comes back a few months later. Chamikles will probably remember that she spoke with him or her, and she'll likely recall the gist of their conversation, but by referring back to the notes she keeps, she'll have all of the details.
A typical day on the job begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. During that time, Chamikles spends 75 percent of her time with students, 15 percent talking to parents and about 10 percent with teachers. She's also responsible for getting referrals for kids who have serious problems, and for transferring students out of school. Students at the High School for the Performing Arts come from all over the New York City area, so when someone needs outside help, it's up to Chamikles to find a doctor or counselor somewhere near their home.
The biggest benefit of her job, says Chamikles, is "working with the kids." At the School for the Performing Arts, students have a half-day of studio practice and a half day of regular academics. Because the kids are artistic, Chamikles says they're more expressive than kids at a typical high school and tend to be more in touch with themselves.
Chamikles says a frustration with her job is being responsible for many students, making it hard to give them all enough individual attention. Chamikles suggests that for those thinking about a career in counseling, there are many ways to get another perspective of the field. Find out if you can help out there during your free periods. Contact crisis intervention or counseling centers in your area about volunteering there after school or on weekends. Take as many psychology courses as you can.
Salaries for guidance counselors vary with geographic area. In New York City, the average starting salary is around $35,000-40,000, and Chamikles estimates that salaries can go as high as $75,000-80,000 with experience. A Master's Degree is required, as well as state certification.
As for the field itself, there are always going to be kids who need someone to talk to, so there will always be a need for guidance counselors. Chamikles is confident she made the right decision when she went back to school to be a counselor. "It's the kind of job you feel good about afterwards. That's my job, helping kids. It's rewarding," she says.
