When you think about the characteristics of a school counselor, words like compassionate, caring, helpful, friendly, empathy and ethical come to mind. While every one of the aforementioned qualities is indispensable, I believe that allowing a student to develop and grow in a way that is true to their own person is essential in every aspect of my job. Every day I want to know that students feel comfortable and free to grow, dream, discover, and overcome struggles in a safe, loving, and nonjudgmental environment.I graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in 2001 and then started a career in teaching. In 2003, I continued my education in graduate studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. In 2006 I graduated with a M.S. in Education with an emphasis in School Counseling. The last 15 years I have been Secondary School Counselor at Haworth Public School District serving students in 6th-12th grades. As a school counselor, I engage students in classroom guidance lessons, provide one on one counseling services, advocate for students and work closely with staff.