Student Anxiety Crisis: Counselors Can Empower Kids Decide Their Future

Jan 15, 2025 3:24:54 PM

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Student Anxiety Crisis: Counselors Can Empower Kids Decide Their Future
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Anxiety among students seems to be higher than ever. That’s my experience as the Director of Community & Alumni Partnerships at a charter public school in Massachusetts. In conversations with students, I’ve noticed more are unsure of what they want to pursue as a career or where they see themselves in the future.

While this uncertainty has always been common, the level of anxiety regarding their future continues to escalate, worsening the post-pandemic mental health effects for students.

To combat their anxiety, I believe we can empower students to take ownership of their learning and identify their passions. The earlier they do so, and the more guidance they receive throughout, allows them to become more confident in choosing a successful path. Ultimately, by exposing students to potential careers and professional skills throughout high school, learning becomes relevant, and their future and the fear of the unknown become less daunting. 

At my school of 800 students, we typically have a graduating class between 85-100. Unlike most public high schools, which average 385 students to 1 counselor, we have a full-time school counselor and a psychologist on staff who manages a large share of social/emotional specialized needs. The shortage of mental health professionals in schools also disproportionately affects students of color, and it's a significant problem in my home state.

Additionally, while only 29 percent of public high schools in the country have a full-time college counselor, we have a full-time counselor whose sole responsibility is assisting students with college admission counseling and developing a targeted post-secondary plan for each student. 

A student's personalized post-secondary planning begins during freshman and sophomore years when students visit with their college counselor. They discuss the importance of academic performance and extracurricular activities to try to discover their passions and talents. In junior year, students can attend around 80 visits from various college representatives and career speakers from across the country, allowing them to visualize which school would be the right fit to continue their education journey. 

In the spring of their junior year, the college counselor meets with students and their families to provide guidance on which classes to take, extracurriculars to participate in, potential areas of study, schools, standardized tests, etc.  Meeting with students and parents makes the post-secondary planning process more visible, quelling their anxiety as they learn about pathways, including college, trades, workforce, gap years, and the military. The individualized support allows students to visit various colleges, attend résumé workshops, and receive guidance on understanding financial aid packages.

Further, to expose students to various careers, we offer an internship program to all juniors and seniors where they can receive academic credit during school hours or in the evenings and expand their résumés alongside their passions. More than ever, it is incredibly worthwhile for students to experience real-world learning opportunities and realize their abilities in a professional setting alongside learning within the walls of a classroom.  

I have witnessed firsthand the success of a student who was unsure that college was right for her. She was passionate about helping others, so she enrolled in an internship at a local hospital, assisting at the concierge desk. Today, she is a successful practice manager in healthcare administration and holds multiple certifications.

I’ve had students interested in the medical field who found that they did not wish to pursue a career as a physician after interning at a hospital. I have seen internships lead to paid summer jobs and post-collegiate careers, including an intern who worked for local television and went on to become a full-time manager there.   

Allowing students to be passionate learners and self-reflect throughout high school provides a foundation for confidence in real-world situations and chips away at the anxiety of not knowing what they are going to do with their futures at a time when they are continuing to grow and shape their identities.

Personal interests and career exploration leave room for flexibility, passion, and potential. Just as providing an inclusive educational environment helps students become self-directed problem solvers, effective communicators, and invested community members, individualized counseling and support help each student walk away, recognizing the importance of mentors in their lives and the first steps to future success.

Shannon Morocco

Shannon Morocco is the Director of Community & Alumni Partnerships at Innovation Academy Charter School located in Tyngsboro, MA.

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