I had just started my job as a middle school guidance counselor. The first thing I did was go around to the class rooms and introduce myself to all the students. I wanted them to know who I was and to feel comfortable talking to me. I wanted them to respect me, but also know they could trust and confide in me with any social issues. After my introduction, I had a few students who would stop by my office just to say hello. Last week a student stopped in and asked me a few questions. I asked her to sit down and offered her something to drink. Once she relaxed a bit, she opened up to talk about the real reason she had come by. She wanted to know about alcohol. She said her friends were drinking a lot and she was scared to try it. I talked to her for a bit and when she left my office she said she felt better. I told her if she had any other questions she could come back. I immediately went online and signed up for an Alcohol Drug Class so I would be prepared to answer any questions the students had. I've been setting time aside each day during my lunch hour to read through the material. It's an interesting way to learn, convenient and highly educational. I've been taking some notes and have learned a lot.
