NNorth Star is spreading warmth during this frigid week by appreciating their counselors and social workers. North Star’s counseling center is a place of acceptance and support for many students. From schedule changes to advice, North Star’s counselors and social workers do it all to support their students. Counselors and social workers help students with bullying, relationship trouble, grades, and family troubles. Counselors are essential in the school system and help teach students crucial social skills and can help correct behavioral skills through intervention. Not only do they help with subjects regarding mental health they also help students with their grades. Counselors can improve students’ academic performance by creating a plan with students to maximise their time and potential. Another part of their jobs is giving accommodations to students. Accommodations can include break times during classes, permitted use of headphones and phones, and the use of North Star’s service dog Tilly.
One of North Star’s counselors Sherri Svoboda has been a school counselor for “32 fun-filled years.” Originally Svoboda went to UNL with the intention of becoming a lawyer. However, after some time she ended up graduating college with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Master’s of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Before becoming a counselor at North Star, Svoboda was a counselor at Pershing Elementary, Mickle middle school, and Park middle school. Svoboda believes that North Star is unique compared to other schools because of the climate and community in the building. There are many things that inspire people to start their careers, for Svoboda, it was the students she had formally taught in high school. After working with her students, she knew she needed to become a counselor. She believes the most challenging part about being a counselor is “not let [her] emotions get in the way of helping and supporting them.” But, challenges come with their benefits and for Svoboda, it’s seeing her students walk the stage and open a new chapter of their life.
