High School Counselors
September 19, 2004
“You’ll never graduate from a four year college.” Those words, albeit harsh and abrupt, were given to me by my high school counselor, her response to my decision to drop my Algebra 2 class in favor of taking Ceramics 101.
I remember the day like it was yesterday; a light wind swept through the campus as I strode to the Guidance office to tell my counselor about my decision. When I reached the office door I had a flashback to my early years of education.
I’ve never been exceptional at Math. During my grade school years, my family moved a few times in those critical years where students learn how to add, subtract and multiply. When I was around 7 years old my parents divorced which had a profound effect on me, both mentally and emotionally. The mental aspect affected my ability to learn mathematics alongside my classmates, wherein inevitably I would fall behind.
I owe it to my grandmother who did try her best to keep my “wits about me”. When school wasn’t in session she would home school my brother and I. Many times this meant waking up early in the morning, sitting down at the table and working through 25 or so Math problems after breakfast. Which reminds me, did you ever read the back of the cereal boxes?
Anyways, when the words “You’ll never graduate from a four year college” slipped from my counselors mouth and smacked me in the side of the face I looked back to the times where I tried my best to learn the mechanics of Math. Despite my attempts to resurface what I had learned in grade school, Algebra and Geometry got the better of me, to the point where I decided to drop Algebra 2 (of which I was failing miserably) and replace it with Ceramics my senior year.
My counselor, a petite Spanish woman with a slouch, peered through her thick glasses pecking at the keyboard, grunting under her breath. She slid open a drawer in her desk, retrieved a piece of paper and pushed it towards me. “You realize this might effect your overall GPA? Dropping a class, especially Algebra 2, will hurt you later on in life.”, she said trying to warn me of impending doom on my part. I nodded and signed the Class Release paper, filling in the replacement course with Ceramics. She clipped the paper to my file and added, “One more thing. The Ceramics class is full, which means you’ll have to enroll as a T.A. or Teachers Assistant”. At that point it didn’t matter, so long as it wasn’t Math I was content with whatever situation lie ahead.
At the end of our lengthy and drawn out conversation, as I walked out of the doorway, she reminded me once more, “You’ll never…”, but she never was able to finish because I walked away. When I got to my Ceramics class, fully prepared to assist the teacher, I wondered if other high school counselors were as “encouraging” as mine.
Looking back I can’t wait to prove that lady wrong. I have every intent to obtain my degree and send Mrs. Orso a letter describing how I avoided her advice, but thank her at the very least for providing an example of what a bad counselor can be. Afterall, these are people who are paid to guide our children throughout their academic careers, not with words to cripple their aspirations, but advice to pursue success with every intent to become a better person.
13 comments
Thats a sad little tale Erik. I never thought about dropping any of my math classes, but looking back I cant figure out why I didnt. Math was not my friend.
Until I read this post, I had forgotten how worthless my own guidance counselor was during my senior year in high school. The lady I met with that year actually suggested that I become a weather man to gain experience that I would use as a game show host. Apparently Pat Sajak had followed a similar career path. I wish I were kidding. The strange part was that I made good grades, and had already made my college plans. But she looked at my file, had a ten minute discussion with me, and that was her advice. Game show host.
by Greg on September 19, 2004 at 11:33 pm. #
That’s an interesting testimony, Erik.
Mine is a entirely different. I’ve always been pushed to go to college by teachers and counselors for art. I found that I didn’t want to go for that though, being that I am more of the self-study type. Maybe if I had a counselor like yours, I’d be better off.
I don’t think you should neccessarily prove that woman wrong. I would thank her. If it weren’t for the negative people in our lives that try to box and label us, we’d probably be content with not accomplishing anything. I like how you’ve handled it though — using something negative for the good.
by Fernando Dunn II on September 20, 2004 at 12:03 am. #
Greg: On that note, do you think all of the game show hosts gather together for special “Game Show Host Meetings”? If so, who would be the host of the event? Something to think about.
On a serious note, I find it strange that she would even recommend pursuing a career as a game show host.
Fernando: I always attempt to turn negative situations into postive ones. I emphasize attempt because every now and then it becomes difficult.
Here’s an interesting factoid on my counselor; after I had graduated I read an article on her in our local newspaper. Apparently she loves to do calligraphy in her basement with the lights turned off or something, which now totally makes sense as to why she’s not all there in the head.
by kartooner on September 20, 2004 at 9:01 am. #
That is wild; my counselor in high school was actually quite lovely, despite my angst-ridden, snarky hope that she would be more in line with the stereotypical counselor. She always remembered my name (in a school of 2000, this was refreshing), and encouraged me to keep working on comics.
It is hard to believe that people act so poorly in education sometimes. Some kids would have taken that “You’ll never…” statement as gospel, so good for you that you didn’t, Erik.
by max on September 20, 2004 at 10:08 am. #
That’s sad. My guidance counselor was a deadbeat as well. I was encouraged to take Spanish because it was so much more useful (I wanted to take French). Now that I am in Architecture, and working on a thesis, I am stuck, unable to read any of the French stuff I keep running into in my research. So far, I haven’t used my Spanish for anything except joking with the cook at the restaurant I used to work at. “Narciso, necessitas tengar mas cuidado!”
by Eric on September 20, 2004 at 11:31 am. #
While all of this is true, I’ve never had to determine the height of a flagpole by the length of the shadow it casts, given the angle at which the sun is hitting it.
That said, I’d probably have more interest in programming if I knew some math.
by Charlie on September 20, 2004 at 12:16 pm. #
I used my counselor to get me out of Math so I could get a 5th-6th off. Not only that, but I also got her to give me PE but instead of actually going, she set it up so I would just leave..
If I remember correctly, her name was also Mrs. Orso… Dear Erik, its all about kissing the right ass in life.. Dad has taught me wonderfully..;)
by Matt (Brother) on September 20, 2004 at 1:09 pm. #
I can relate to this in so many ways. I remember how high school math was hell to me, but unlike American schools there is just no opt-out option — only the “suck up and deal with it” option. Anyway… since I (predictably) barely made it with math to get into college and began a budding career into art, I already knew what I wanted to go for in college, and specially what I didn’t… I avoided math like the plague.
Several years later, the web crossed paths with my career and the rest, as they say, is history. I got my Arts degree but over time, I evolved from visual web designer to “bridge” web programmer (as someone who domains both sides of the fence), and it was with Javascript and Flash that I discovered that math and algebra could be beautiful and interesting, specially when you could see a visual result. If kids were taught how to apply algebra using Actionscript, I’m sure many would dig math instead of repelling it.
However, I’m feeling my experience on the web has already run its course (I don’t want to spend the rest of my life coding like a maniac), and I’m yearning to go back to my art roots in some way, do more drawing and painting, things like that. I’m hoping there’s a way.
by beto on September 20, 2004 at 1:52 pm. #
Beto: If you’re yearning for your non-technical art roots, I’d suggest just sketching daily. Believe me, it helps and keeps you inline, not to mention allows you to constantly hone your skills.
Post your sketches using Simple PHP Gallery or some other gallery method. I’m planning on deploying something similar in the upcoming months to practice sketching again. It’s something I’ve missed dearly ever since doing more web development and programming.
by kartooner on September 20, 2004 at 2:00 pm. #
Oh the hours I could spend reminiscing of the lack of counseling actual done by school counselors. Those at my school decided to take the “No.” approach. Which normally led to having to have a parent come in and complain. Rather foolish process when one is 18 and technically able to make any other decision related to the establishment.
One day people will all realize that Algebra is not required if you do not plan to do something in a field with a massive backing in math. Sure, technically we use basic algebra for many little things, but there comes a point in every math class where it turns into random dribble they used to fill in pages in order to charge more for this has-been tree.
The lovely education system here in Florida basically tosses repetitive nonsense at you until you learn it long enough to pass a test. A college degree does not do this(well, in most cases) and many majors unrelated to math/science/computers do not require anything above College Algebra, and occasionally Calc1.
Best of wishes in your pursuit to prove someone wrong. I find this tends to be the best motivation, which is often sad because it leaves a gap for them to attempt to take a bit of glory away from you.
P.S. I’ll take to that daily sketching tip as well. I would love to switch to a Digital Media major from computer science(math…killing…me) but many of its intro classes are pencil/paper art based, which I am rather sub-par at.
by Mark Michon on September 20, 2004 at 8:36 pm. #
I have experiences exactly to the contrary. The guidance staff in my school (all 4 of them) are wonderful. And I didn’t have to drop any Math courses either. But it’s just me.
by Jarek Piórkowski on September 21, 2004 at 6:31 pm. #
According to a co-worker in my office, his friend, a High School guidance counselor mentioned that degrading students is common. To which I replied, “Why is it important to degrade the student when you should be, as their counselor, guide and inspire them?”.
Their strategy is to wake you up to the perils and tribulations of reality, which to a certain degree I’m okay with. My counselor, however, saw it fit to remind me for the next several weeks which had its effect I suppose.
by kartooner on September 22, 2004 at 9:20 am. #
Too bad. So sad. Every social event I ever attended had someone who was eager to tell me their horror guidance counselor story, and since I was the only school counselor in the room, I got to take the hits. Get a grip! If you had counselors such as those you described, shame on them. But dammit, I never do that to a kid, nor do my caring and committed colleagues. Any smart counselor doesn’t set limits, they offer possibilities. I know lots of counselors who do that every day. I’ve met bad teachers, truckers, salespeople, telemarketers. website authors, doctors, lawyers, Indian chiefs and any other occupation you want to name. But which one of you will take a caseload of 500 students and try to make any impact for 40K a year? Lots of us do. Some of us fail. But most of us have great experiences taking special students to the next stop in their lives, whatever that is for that kid. Don’t throw away the baby with the bathwater. Every hit sends more good people away from education and brings more weak replacements in.
by Cheryl on September 7, 2006 at 11:50 pm. #