Supporting Students Through Struggles: A Middle School Guidance Counselor's Insights

In a recent episode of the Hornet Hive podcast, Dr. Christopher Lewis had an engaging conversation with Sophia Mackoul, a dedicated guidance counselor at a middle school in Williamston. Throughout the discussion, Sophia shed light on the importance of her role, her personal motivations, the challenges students face in today's society, and the resources and support available to them.

The Impact of Community and Relationships

Sophia spoke about the strong sense of community and the unique opportunity to build deep relationships within a smaller school district. Her enthusiasm was evident as she shared her delight in getting to know each student and being able to greet them personally every day. She expressed her satisfaction in cultivating trusting relationships with students and creating a safe space for them to thrive, learn, and overcome challenges.

Motivation and Personal Experience

During the podcast, Sophia shared the personal experiences that motivated her to become a guidance counselor. Her own struggles with mental health during middle school inspired her to provide support and guidance to students navigating similar challenges. Her empathy and understanding of the difficulties faced by students during this pivotal period in their lives became the driving force behind her decision to pursue a career as a middle school guidance counselor.

 Navigating Challenges and Finding Support

As a newcomer to the district, Sophia acknowledged the learning curve associated with her position. She expressed her desire to carve out her own path and shape the role of guidance counselor according to her vision. Sophia highlighted the emotional toll that comes with the job and emphasized the importance of having a supportive team. She recognized the invaluable support provided by her colleagues, including the school psychologist and social worker, in navigating the complexities of the role.

Embracing Vulnerability and Emotional Resilience

 Sharing a poignant anecdote, Sophia articulated the emotional weight carried by herself and her colleagues when confronted with students' distressing experiences. She emphasized the significance of having a strong support system within the school environment, providing a safe space for counselors to process and manage their emotions. This vulnerability and resilience play a crucial role in enabling counselors to continue effectively supporting students through their challenges.

Challenges Faced by Middle Schoolers

 Today Sophia highlighted the pervasive influence of social media and the pressures students face to excel academically. She illuminated the impact of stress and anxiety on students' well-being, emphasizing the need to address these mental health challenges effectively. Through her insights, she provided a glimpse into the multifaceted difficulties that modern middle schoolers encounter and the importance of providing support tailored to their specific needs.

Resources and Support Systems for Students

 In addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by students, Sophia discussed the various resources and support systems available within the school community. She emphasized the importance of creating a network of resources, including external support groups and mental health professionals, to provide students and families with comprehensive assistance. By actively collaborating with colleagues, guidance counselors can ensure that students receive the holistic support they require.

In conclusion, Sophia's firsthand account as a middle school guidance counselor illuminated the immense impact of her role in supporting the well-being and academic growth of students. Her experiences underscored the importance of empathetic, dedicated, and resilient individuals in guiding and nurturing the next generation. It was evident that her commitment to her students extends beyond the professional realm, reflecting the profound influence a compassionate guidance counselor can have on the lives of young individuals. Through her devoted efforts, Sophia exemplifies the essential role of guidance counselors in providing students with the tools and support necessary to thrive during their formative years.

As parents and educators, understanding the pivotal role of guidance counselors allows us to appreciate the diverse challenges students face and the crucial support systems available to them. By recognizing and valuing the contributions of individuals like Sophia, we can collectively work towards fostering environments that nurture the holistic well-being and growth of our youth.

 

TRANSCRIPT

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:19]:
Welcome back to the Hornet Hive. I'm your host, doctor Christopher Lewis, one of the members of the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education. Really excited to have you back again this week. Every week, I love being able to talk about this amazing district that we all are a part of, that we are Supporting in our local community. It is so exciting to hear about the amazing things that are happening in our schools, but also It's exciting to be able to talk to the people that are working in our schools, that are doing amazing things with our kids, Interacting with our kids in so many different ways and making the experience of our kids a unique one and one that will help them to flourish, Thrive and move forward in their lives. Every week, I also love being able to bring you different people, people that are doing just that. They're working with our kids on a regular basis, on a daily basis. And today, we got another great guest with us today.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:17]:
Sophia McCool is with us. And Sophia is a guidance counselor at our middle school, and she's been with the district now for a little bit of time. And we're going to get to know her better today. So I'm really excited to have her here. Sophia, thanks so much for being here today.

Sophia Mackoul [00:01:31]:
Thank you for having me.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:32]:
It is my pleasure having you here today. And I guess, 1st and foremost, you've been with the district for a short period of time. It's not been a a ton of time, but talk to me about What brought you to Williamston?

Sophia Mackoul [00:01:44]:
Yeah. I think the thing that drew me to Williamston first was kind of this community and the feel of the School. It is a smaller school, which I really like. The district I was at before was small as well. And I feel like it's a really good environment for me to be able to make And build relationships with every single one of my students, and kind of be able to know every single one of their names as I walk down the hallway and be able to Do little events with them that I might not be able to do at kind of a bigger school. So it's been so far a really great way for me to kind of Cultivate relationships. A lot of our kids kind of have that feeling with that, which I've really been enjoying so far.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:02:21]:
Now you are, as I mentioned, A guidance counselor at the middle school. And not everybody wants to be a guidance counselor. Not everybody wants to engage with students in that specific way. Talk to me about What drew you to wanting to be a guidance counselor, and what made you decide that middle school was the place for you?

Sophia Mackoul [00:02:42]:
So I think growing up myself, I kind of struggled with my own mental health struggles. In middle school for me personally was a more difficult kind of Time in my life where I felt very lost. I went to a much bigger school district where I felt like I also didn't really have anybody to talk to or a counselor that I could reach out So I knew I think school is a place where students obviously spend the majority of their time. They spend like 7 to 8 hours of their day here. And I know a lot of where my struggles from kinda came from being at school alongside kind of at home, and this was really a space that is safe for a lot of our kids. And I wanted kind of be in a place where I can make a difference, I kind of contribute to being a safe space for a lot of our students. And knowing that middle school was a very difficult time for me, I I wanted to kinda jump into a space where I could hopefully now, and as adult, make that time for some of our students who are also in 6th 7th 8th grade will also maybe struggling to make it a little bit easier for them. So that was kinda one of my motivations to becoming a middle school guidance counselor.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:03:46]:
Now you've been with the district now for, as I said, a short period of time, and you have been finding your way and and figuring out kind of what has happened in the past and where you are leading things in the future. Talk to me about what you've learned so far and what You have loved about the position, but also what you may see as areas that in which you may want to Grow the position in many different ways to engage students and help students in different ways.

Sophia Mackoul [00:04:17]:
Yeah. I think kind of going back to what I've loved is just that piece of, like, building relationships I'm getting to know each and every one of the kids. The thing I look forward to the most is like being able to stay at the door and say good morning to them every single day. And I have like students who come to me at lunch or like in the morning or in between classes to come and say hi to me. And I really just like, look forward to seeing their faces and saying hi to them or like meeting with them. So that's been like my favorite part and I just look forward to building upon those relationships. And then as I am here longer since I am still a new base, like building upon that with more and more of my students. So that's definitely been something that I've really enjoyed.

Sophia Mackoul [00:04:54]:
Something that I'd like to improve upon is I guess kind of paving my own way. The counselor before me had been in this position for a long time, I think over 20 years. So It's kind of this year, along with learning all the things that this position has come with, this kind of figuring out what I want to do and what I kind of want this position to be for myself. And I think maybe not this year, but as the years kinda go along, kind of figuring out what like events I wanna do and how I want this Position to look at initiatives that I wanna take on and kinda make it up as my own and make it me. So that's kinda what I wanna do.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:05:29]:
Now for every staff member in any type of school, there are things that sustain you. You talked about the being able To get to know the kids and saying good morning to them and getting to know their stories. But as you look back at the time that you've had within the school district thus far, What sustains you in the role, and what makes Williamston a great place to work?

Sophia Mackoul [00:05:51]:
I think definitely the team that I have here. I work with Amazing coworkers. And so far the social worker and the school psychologist have really been like amazing assets I can go to when I need help, and have really given me the energy that I need, especially on days that have been harder. There has been a big learning curve for me as I've Started here and they both have been here a little bit longer than I have. So being able to turn to them as well as our principals and the teachers here, And having their expertise and their knowledge, and even when it comes to the kids, because they have also had better relationships with some of the students and being able to Turn to them, and their knowledge that they have has been absolutely amazing and has really helped kind of sustain you while I've been here, so that's been great.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:06:34]:
Now every teacher, every Staff member, every person that works with kids has stories. Stories that, again, sustain you, but also stories that Touch your hearts and impact you in many different ways. As you think back to the time that you've had within the district, and I know it's not been Too long. But as you think back to the time you've had thus far, is there a story that you could share with me that for you really epitomizes the Experience that you've had as a Williamston staff member?

Sophia Mackoul [00:07:03]:
There've been a lot of stories shared from the kids that have been very hard For, I mean, all of us to hear, we hear very, very like our students have some very difficult lives and Some of them have gone through trauma and things like that. And a lot of the times, like, we're the ones that they go through or go 2, to kind of voice that and get some help through that. And we have to make some very difficult decisions when it comes to hearing some of these stories in their, like, in making these decisions in their best interests. I'm thinking back to like those times where I felt very low after hearing all of that, and like being able to turn to like my team members and like the school psych and then the social worker and all of us kind of sitting together and debriefing, but also like being there for each other and also being a shoulder to lean on. Because at the End of the day, we're like the only ones who can kind of understand what it's like to be in our position. And we're the only ones that we can kind of like turn to when we're in that kind of position. And that's been like Really amazing because, like, there's been times where I felt like very low and very sad, and there's like a lot of emotional baggage that kind of comes with it. I personally struggle with leaving some of that at work because it's very hard when sometimes you hear something that's really heavy and Wanting to leave that here feels really hard not to take that home with you.

Sophia Mackoul [00:08:21]:
And I remember just, there's a time where I'm sitting, his name's, Nathaniel Gibson, he's our social worker. I was like sitting in his office just Talking to him, I was I just don't know how to compartmentalize it and just leave it here. And I remember having to talk through that with him and him just Being a great support through that. And that was what came to mind when you asked me that question. There's some heavy things that come with it, and I've always been able to Turn to them and talk with them and work with them through it.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:08:45]:
So let's talk a little bit about some of the challenges that our middle schoolers are facing and things that you're dealing with, whether it be on a daily basis or weekly basis because not everyone understands what Kids are dealing with these days, especially if they don't have kids in the district or if they have kids that have graduated and, you know, life is a bit different now after the pandemic. So talk to me about some of the challenges, some of the things that you're dealing with, and some of the things that kids are dealing with that you're trying to help them work through.

Sophia Mackoul [00:09:17]:
I think Social media has been playing a really big part in a lot of the stress and anxiety. A lot of our students are managing. I think that's definitely playing a really big I think there's a lot of pressure put on our students, whether it could be themselves or maybe there's some outside sources from like grades and things like that. So kind of just to succeed academically, that's a lot of things that we kind of work through in general, just like stress and anxiety is a very big one that we talk about as well. That is a lot of what I've been seeing in my short time here.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:09:50]:
Also as a guidance counselor, I mean, you talk about all of these different things that kids are dealing with, and I'm sure that there's 1 on 1 type of opportunities to work with you. But what are some other resources, Some things that you do to be able to help students through these challenging situations or challenging things that they're dealing with in their lives.

Sophia Mackoul [00:10:12]:
We actually just finished up. We have an ELLs Place group that we had going on here. So we had, for some of our students that may be going through some grief, we had a goal based group that some of them attended, but that's another resource that we give to families that they can seek outside of pool. We have a mental health resource packet that we also give to families that has So many different resources depending on the different needs that a family may have, both in the Williamston area or in like Ingham County, We can kinda refer them out to, it has different support groups or even if a student is like in need of a therapist or anything like that, this also has supports For that, we do have some resources that come into the school that can meet with students for families that aren't able to kind of just take their or doesn't have resources to take student may be out to therapy after school, we do have somebody who does it during the school day. So that's something else that we can refer a student to kind of CMH is a great resource that we take advantage of. So we do a lot of referring out and kind of asking questions. We do have Between all the mental health professionals throughout the whole district, a lot of us collaborate and we have meetings kind of on the side, but we'll talk and kind of see what's best for a student or a family. And And we talk and kind of see what we can do on our own to kind of do what's best for a student and kinda refer them out.

Sophia Mackoul [00:11:29]:
I know it's hard within a school day to tackle it on our own, so definitely referring out is referring out is something we do quite a bit.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:11:35]:
Well, Sophie, I just wanna say thank you. Thank you for all that you do. It is definitely not an easy job, But definitely something that is so necessary within our schools, and it's so important for our kids to have a place, have people that they can go to, to talk to work with, to be able to work through the situations that they have within their lives to Help them to be able to prepare themselves for the next step as they move to high school and beyond and set the ground right In regard to setting the building blocks for the future as well, and it starts early. So having those opportunities To talk with you, to work with you, the social workers, the school psychologists that we have in place is so important. And I just wanna say thank you for the work that you do, for all of the interactions and and work that you're doing to be able to build that strong foundation for our kids, and I wish you all the best.

Sophia Mackoul [00:12:33]:
Thank you.