A short trip to the Guidance Counselor: It's a matter of course(s)

"Let's visit" A nice opening, which could just as easily be experienced..."Let's get to know each other..." But the latter, these daze, may be too long on words, too short on substance, given the pressures and time and numbers...in the "school setting" In particular if you, the student, find yourself, either by request or appointment, at the office of the "School Guidance Counselor" which is generally preferred to that of the "Office of the Principal" in grade school or the one that handles more of the disciplinary, corrective actions in the upper grades (usually designated as either middle or high schools) -- the office of the "Assistant Principal" 😟😢😠 -- the latter emoji representing the parent in this triangulation of woe-full-ness...The Guidance Counselor, by definition and professional training, are those who "...are first trained, then complete an internship, and finally seek to assist students in their personal and social development, academic achievement, and eventually their career choices and decisions..." Yep, all this while a School Counselor is "...a licensed counselor who works in school environments to support the student body's well-being and overall success" And then comes the plain old Counselor, whose role, simply stated, is found in "...a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or even academic challenges..." Lots to ask of them, eh? As in a lot to put on those trying to guide as well as those seeking, in trying to first get comfy, then "open up" about "why are you here...?" It's...

"All in Due Course" As in "I'll provide you with your whole course of work early in your academic career here...what you'll have to take first, what your (few) areas of discretion are...in terms of electives...and what it takes to get out of here, on time...isn't that why you came to see me?" Well, mostly, most of the time...as in mostly out of necessity, here and there out of choice...A guidance, school, or plain old counselor who resides mostly in schools generally don't have a lot of say as to who they see, as historically it (not sure how it all started) became a trend, to simply divide the so-called "student body" by alphabet, depending on how many there were in each segment, and assigning them to a particular counselor. So that if you had an older sib, one you didn't want to be compared with (either because "I am guilty by association" or "in the shadows of...") it generally takes a lot of pull at the front office (actually the principal's office is usually located a bit behind...) Given the numbers of students they are now responsible for and the numbers of roles they have (mostly by necessity) had to assume, you are lucky if they get to know you by name throughout the course of your four years here -- a relationship which probably originated at your school's "Orientation" when you initially became associated with the "last four digits of your student number..." given the land and time we find ourselves, governing not only the student handbook of conduct, required courses of study, but also protecting your privacy...just in case you're "called down" to their office for a so-called "personal matter" or even to check in on your "well-being"...rules and regulations which might become a bit more relaxed once you gain access to their office, after waiting..."You know I'm trained for this...now what do you want to talk about or are you just trying to duck out of class...?" As for the rest of you...

No, Waiters: As in "Take a seat...be with you in just a minute or so...just have to get dinner under way...kinda' pressed for time, got your brother and sister to think about as well..." This out of the mouth of my very own "guidance counselor" who doubles as the assistant principal -- speaking of name calling: "I've got your number buddy, and right now your name is MUD...we'll have to settle this later, though, after dinner and dishes...for now consider yourself in time out..." GEEZ, thought home or now frequently referred to as online, schooling would prove to be more personal...

"Thanks, but no thanks" What guidance counselors are hearing too often these daze, whether inside the "brick and mortar", or the four walls of your student's study (i.e., bedroom, which doubles as the time-out room, conveniently...) -- from students of all ages, whether it's in the context of choosing courses or trying to get them to steer a slightly different one, when they get a bit wayward (as in "off course"). Given that they are growing up in this so-called "information age" -- the access of which have given rise to whole gen of DIY'ers...My guidance on behalf of all those would-be guiders, who have trained and interned, and put themselves out there for this underappreciative audience...So little guidance being accepted, let alone followed...

Timely add-vice, clever come-backs": Then why did you come to see me, in the first place...come back when UR good and ready...until then, go back to class...I mean your room...don't come out until it's clean..."

Next: student retention, as in "Keep (all of this) in mind..."