Counselors advise all 1,920 people that make up the student body. From personal issues, schedule concerns, to academic assistance, the counselors are there to help.

“We’re trained a lot in individual counseling, small group counseling, doing therapy, and how to manage a well rounded school counseling program, so that we’re not just schedule changers. A lot of students think that’s our job, and there’s a lot more to it than that,” counselor Brittany Mathews said.

Astheir work exceeds just schedule changing, counselors work with many other staff members.

“Right now, we’re working on getting ready for students to input their course requests for next year. I’m working with two or three other counselors who are getting PowerSchool ready. I’m working with career navigators and administrators to get lessons ready for students, get new teachers prepared for what happens in enrollment, and continuing to get course updates from Central Office on things that have come through the board and different curriculum departments,” counselor Taylor Chandler said.

Even while working with so many staff members, LSHS counselors also tend to many personal student needs.

“I always tell students…if it is getting in the way of you being able to concentrate on school work, that is something that maybe a school counselor should be aware of. I’m never going to say that a school counselor can fix your problems or necessarily have solutions to all of your concerns, but we are really good listeners,” Chandler said. 

If a student does not want to go to their counselor for personal reasons, there are many other resources that they could use. 

“If we’re not the person, then we can help get you to that person. A lot of times we’re just kind of a liaison to help kids find exactly what it is they need. We’re a great starting point for any social, emotional, academic [problems]. All the problems that you might have. We’re a good starting point to help either solve the problem or get you to the person who can,” Mathews said.

Many students have found the resources they need from their counselors, including senior Janet Garciga. 

“I completely 100% recommend you going to your counselor and asking for so many of the opportunities that they give you. I myself have found myself there for a multitude of reasons, one being scholarships, class reasons, personal reasons, and they’re here to help you,” Garciga said.

Counselors are also there to help transfer students and ease their transition into high school.

“I was in two different meetings last week with students who transferred here from other districts, and both of their parents are like, my kids did so well last semester…And they said, ‘because the teachers are better here, I’m learning more, which means I’m getting better grades on my homework and getting better grades in classes in general,’” Chandler said.

For the students who are thriving, and for the ones who are struggling, the counselors always have the support each student needs.

“I’m meeting with everybody, because it doesn’t matter your background or if you’re doing well…that goes for the students that are doing really well, and want all the knowledge, finding out all the scholarships. It’s also for the other end of the spectrum, those students who need assistance trying to figure out the best path to graduation. We spend a lot of time with students on both of those sides of the spectrum,” Chandler said.

School counselors have resources that each student can utilize, and they are prepared and eager to help students. 

“Feel free to visit your school counselor. We love getting to know students, and we want to get to know students, and we’re always trying new things,” Chandler said.