Day In The Life of One Middle School Counselor
Article written by Monique Henderson
Submitted By: University of Redlands, School of Education

Anaheim middle school counselor Kyle Hendricksen says his work days are jam-packed - but he wouldn't have it any other way.

Hendricksen often finds his days starting with an early-morning parent conference. He also regularly finds himself holding back-to-back meetings with students who are struggling academically or getting in trouble in class.

Hendricksen frequently meets with the school's leadership team to discuss programming, goals and other decisions affecting his school, Dale Jr. High School in the Anaheim Unified School District.

At other times, Hendricksen is busy leading on-campus programs, including a college club that meets at lunchtime. He organizes the honor roll breakfast and mentor programs at the school. His work day includes visiting classrooms and talking to students about which classes they need to take in middle school and high school to be on track for college.

Hendricksen acknowledges that junior high students can be a quirky group - but he sees himself as a good fit for the job.

"As one of my friends in my (master's in counseling) cohort put it, I am just the right kind of wacko to work in a junior high. I love everything about interacting and working with the junior high crowd," he said.

Hendricksen said he thinks most people who are passionate about serving students can become top-rate counselors, if they are committed to growing professionally throughout their careers.

"I think the most important skill to have as a counselor is a true passion for wanting to help students," he said. "There is always more training available to figure out this computer program or how to work with this student, but if you don't have true passion for helping students it doesn't matter. I think to be a good counselor you have to have a genuine interest in benefiting students."

Hendricksen indicated that people considering a career in school counseling should start by making arrangements to shadow a school counselor, to get a feel for what the job involves. Volunteering at a school also is a good way to learn more about the field, he said.

"If someone has spent a lot of time with people in some capacity and has enjoyed it, then counseling might be a worthwhile career choice," he suggested.

Hendricksen said he decided to get his master's in counseling from the University of Redlands in part because of the School of Education's solid academic reputation. He also said the schedule, which allows students to finish in two years, was appealing.

Article submitted by:
University of Redlands, School of Education

The University itself has a 100-year history and has carved its permanent place as a leading academic institution with an excellent reputation in the Inland Empire and beyond.