TPC Journal-Vol 11-Issue-1

126 The Professional Counselor | Volume 11, Issue 1 5. School counselors are often relied upon to be political advocates for students. What has been your experience as an advocate for issues such as social reform, educational policy, administrative functions, and multicultural issues? How can school counselors become more active in advocating for students? My experiences regarding these issues have been challenging but also positive. When you discuss any of these issues you will always have two sides. I have always advocated for the best interest of the students; I always want what is best for them. I may be a little different in that I advocate, but I also try and look at the bigger picture. I think so many times when people say they are advocating for one thing or another it can become one-sided. They are only advocating and focusing on the one side. I always take the approach that I need to advocate but also to listen and educate. I always wanted to understand perspectives from both sides. I felt this always helped me advocate better for students. For example, when it comes to multicultural issues or social reform, I always want to know why some people feel that multicultural issues may not be as big of a deal as they are, or why others feel social reform isn’t necessary. If I can stop and listen to both sides, then when I advocate for my students, I have a better understanding of where there seems to be a gap. For me that is how I have been most successful as an advocate. I know I can’t go in with an agenda and tell parents or community members how they are wrong about things, because then they will become defensive and all is lost; but if I go in and have a conversation, then in the end it is more productive. I think that’s important for students to see, too. It is important to show students that things are not always going to be how you want them to be. Life is not always going to be kind to you, but keeping a calm head and being able to have constructive conversations will go further than screaming and yelling back and forth. School counselors can be more active in advocating for students by making sure to speak up when the opportunity presents itself. Advocating does not always need to be on a big stage with politicians involved. I will say that most of the advocating I did for my students was in my office on phone calls or in meetings with parents. Sometimes the small battles are more impactful than the big ones. 6. Has advocacy changed or shifted with COVID-19? What additional challenges or concerns have emerged due to remote and virtual learning experiences? In the situation we are currently living in, with COVID-19 and schools facing decisions of going back to school or staying in a remote setting, I think it is more important than ever to continue to advocate for our students and their needs. A lot of the discussions we hear are about academics and students falling behind academically, which I am not going to argue against. I do not think that our focus should be on academics right now, and my job in advocating for students is to make sure that their social and emotional needs are being met. That is where I will advocate our time and resources need to be spent. Kids are resilient, but that does not mean that we should act like nothing happened and try and get our students to catch back up academically. We need to check on our students and make sure they are okay and that time is built in throughout their day where they can be a kid and have time to have their social and emotional needs met. That is how I will continue advocating for students during the time we are in, by making sure we do not put social and emotional needs on the back burner—that they are constantly being discussed and things are being put into place to address them.