Mrs. Marsden is one of four guidance counselors at Northmont High School and she has been in the field for almost 20 years. Additionally, she loves working with kids. She actually says it’s the best part of her job! That’s why she was the perfect person to interview for this month’s edition of What It’s Like.

To start off the interview, I was wondering what kinds of things a guidance counselor does. Mrs. Marsden told me:

“A typical day would be a pretty good mix of student interaction and paperwork. So at this point, because we’ve got so many and this is high school level, we do have usually stuff scheduled for the day. So, right now it’s scholarship season. So, we have some scholarships that we have to look at. We have committees plus, I have committees that are coming in to look at scholarships. And, right now, we’re looking at senior grades. But then in the mix, it could be any crisis that comes in for example, if someone’s upset. So pretty much, you adjust no matter what. If a student comes in, everything else gets put on hold so that we can deal with a crisis.”

So, what would be considered a crisis? Mrs. Marsden says it can be anything from “if a parent comes in and has a situation that we need to deal with” to “breakups…something’s happened at the house…and other times, maybe an issue with a friend.” She added that students can come in “to just vent or chat about it and get some advice and then head back.”

To go down to talk with Mrs. Marsden asks that you email her first so she can work out a time to send you a pass; but, if it’s an emergency you can simply let your teacher know you need to leave and walk right into the main office.

If this career field interests you, you’re in luck! Mrs. Marsden explained to me that “20 some years ago they passed a law, because they were low on counselors and no one was going into the counseling field, that said you do not have to have a teaching background.” Though, she did say “They do want you to have a four-year degree in something” so that you can get your masters in school counseling. That takes around two years and then you just need to intern before you can be a guidance counselor. “Like, right now, Miss Robinson, the math teacher, actually interns in the afternoon because she wants to [become a guidance counselor] eventually.”