There And Back Again: Charting A CourseFor Student Success
MeganBledsoeBrand Contributor
Civic Nation
BRANDVOICE| Paid Program
Leadership
While the path that led me to schoolcounseling was straightforward, my journey since has been anything but. And yetI still find myself navigating the path forward.
I began my career in a middle school wherestudents navigated poverty, systemic racism, and housing insecurity. Many of mystudents faced more challenges in one school year than I had experienced myentire life. While I desperately wanted to help, I struggled to understand wherethey were coming from. Middle schoolers seemed moody and unpredictable. Turnsout, I was just often confused and overwhelmed by the circumstances they faced.The start of my career seemed a daunting challenge, but I was committed torising to it.
Author Megan Bledsoe playing double dutchwith students.
THE COLUMBIAN
I remember trying to engage students ininterventions that I had carefully curated, only to have them fall apart.During that first year, I often thought about quitting and returning to my jobat an engineering firm. Engineers are logical, practical, and even-tempered, Itold myself; middle schoolers most certainly are not. I had to shift myperspective from being someone with all the answers to someone who was there tolisten, learn, and support.
I didn’t give up, though, largely becauseat least once a day something wonderful would happen. Sometimes a student wouldsmile and tell me how I helped them or a parent would thank me for taking thetime to listen. These were moments of respite that helped carry me through allof the difficulties, failures, and frustrations. I began understanding that inorder to be effective, I needed to focus on building relationships. Then Icould navigate these small successes into greater victories.
Instead of allowing the hard moments toderail me, I started to see them as opportunities to learn. I spoke with othercounselors, parents, students, and teachers. I read books and attendedtrainings to better understand the challenges my students were facing. Mostimportantly, I recognized and accepted that I didn’t have all the answers. Iwasn’t going to give up on my students. Instead, we would tackle the problemstogether as a team.
2020 was the most challenging year that Ihave ever experienced. I know that I am not alone in having these feelings.Students, families, and educators across the world faced immense hardships andnew challenges in addition to the old ones. The pandemic, economic disruption,and social justice movements affected us all in universal and unique ways.
Author Megan Bledsoe showing her workingfrom home set up.
MEGAN BLEDSOE
Just like others, I struggled with newtechnology, how to best support social justice in my community, and my ownfamily’s medical crisis. And I know that the students and families I serve faceeven more challenges than they did before. 2020 put up many new and unexpectedobstacles for us all, and it was up to school counselors to seek out ways toadapt. We collaborate more with families to build and maintain meaningfulrelationships during COVID-19. We host groups to keep students connected,utilize a redesigned social-emotional curriculum, and implement endlessinterventions to meet student needs. As the world changes, our approach tosupport and serve all students does too.
Though my first steps as a counselor wererocky, I found my stride. 2020 may have led me and my peers to unchartedterritory, but we found our way through it one step at a time together. I lovethe work I do and while I won’t ever have all the answers, I am adapting toovercome whatever is in my path. And so are the students and families at myschool. I take strength from their resiliency, insight from their experiences,and solace from each small victory. We need to work together and learn from oneanother as we face a new year, a new day, and a new challenge. I've learnedthat a student’s path to success is never precisely mapped out. But I amconfident that by listening, learning, and leading, we can help students heal,grow, and succeed.
