Walnut Grove High School Appreciates Its Counselor

Walnut Grove high school counselors were shown appreciation this week for their hard work on a daily basis and dedication for our students.
by Tristan Banks and Addison Butler

Mrs. Samantha Desjarlais
Counselor Mrs. Desjarlais shares her thoughts on counselor appreciation week at WGHS. She works with students' last names G through N and has a lasting impact on each kid's life. She says, “We got lunch provided for us and the school store gave us a goodie bag, and from the admin we got flowers. We also got a little gift bag from the administration.”

She also expresses how she feels about her job and her impact on the school.  She says, “One of my favorite things is working with students and helping them figure out what they want to do after high school.  There are just so many options and ways to go.” She also says, “When I was in high school, I didn't know my counselor, and I think it's really important to have someone to go to that's not their parents or family to help give them guidance.”

​Three words Mrs. Desjarlais thinks describes her job as “exciting, challenging, but rewarding.” Some advice she would give someone who would like to go into this job would be, “It's hard work, most days you hear the not so fun stuff, but remember that you want to help people and students succeed.”

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Mrs. Megan McCollum
Counselor Mrs. McCollum is a great counselor here at WGHS. She works with last names A-F. She makes a great impact on her students' lives. She says, “I love interacting with the students and getting to know them and watching them go from freshman to seniors and seeing them grow.”

She mentions her initial drive to be a counselor, “I wanted to help people. I was a teacher and loved teaching but realized I loved talking to the kids a lot more than teaching.” Being a counselor has many responsibilities, and a few words Mrs. McCollum used to describe being a counselor as, “Never dull, and invigorating.”

Mrs. McCollum loves seeing her students grow through all the tough times and the good things they accomplish. She states, “I think it's watching kids succeed when they struggle, even if it's very small. I love just seeing them walk across graduation, get a job, or just many victories... Let them know that it is not an easy job and that lots of things are out of your control and you have to learn to do what you can and be okay with the things you can't control... It makes me feel really good. I can speak for all the counselors when I say we are very awkward when receiving gifts, but we love getting appreciated.”

Lastly she mentions the career she dreamed of when she was younger: “Actually I wanted to be a marine biologist, I blame Jaws for kicking me out of that.”

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Mrs. Caitlyn Cook
Counselor Mrs. Cook is a great counselor here at WGHS. She works with last names O-Z. She tries her hardest to give her students the best impact throughout their high school years, so they can have a great life ahead of them. She states, “I appreciate the strong sense of community at Walnut Grove and the welcoming atmosphere of our school.” She also says, “I became a counselor because I have a passion for working with students. I wanted to be a source of guidance and support, helping them navigate important decisions about their futures. I never saw my own high school counselor, but I often think about how an interaction like that could have impacted my own trajectory.”

She really enjoys watching her students grow, “I take great pride in seeing students achieve their goals after graduation and witnessing the impact of our efforts within the school. It is especially rewarding when I see a student who has faced academic, social, or emotional challenges overcome those obstacles. Knowing that I played a role in their success is incredibly fulfilling even if it's just listening to students rant about things so they don't blow up on someone else!” She also mentions, “Our administrative team honored us with a special lunch, and we received various tokens of appreciation from staff and students, including heartfelt cards, signs, gifts, and kind words of gratitude.“ The staff and students have done some really good things this week. She says, “It is always nice to feel appreciated. Much of what we do happens behind the scenes, so many people may not realize the extent of our role. Recognition reminds us that our efforts are valued.” Some words that she used to describe how it is to be a counselor is, “Multitasking, exhausting, yet rewarding.”

Mrs. Cook gives some advice for the upcoming people who plan on being a counselor,  “Develop strong coping strategies for managing stress and taking time to decompress. Burnout is a real challenge in this field, so prioritizing self-care is essential... I initially worked as a substitute teacher at Grayson High School, where I connected with many educators and coaches who spoke highly of Walnut Grove. I began my counseling career in Jackson County but made the transition here when a position became available.” She says, “It is always nice to feel appreciated. Much of what we do happens behind the scenes, so many people may not realize the extent of our role. Recognition reminds us that our efforts are valued.” Lastly she says, “I hope that our work has a positive influence on students. Ultimately, our goal is to support both students and staff in any way we can.”




As a result we want to thank our amazing counselors here at Walnut Grove High School for always being there for the students and always having a positive attitude around the school.

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