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Meet Kathy Boller, High School Counselor

© Terrie Lynn Bittner

Kathy Boller is one of the most popular counselors at Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Illinois. Every minute of her day - which often extends far into the night - is filled with service to the students she cares for. Her normal counseling duties include helping students select classes, advising teens about possible careers, and helping them to select the best colleges. She also helps out with the personal lives of her students. She meets with teens and their parents when there are substance abuse problems and participates in a program to help teens with addictions. She advises teens on problems with their families, friends and romantic relationships. She comforts them through their crises. When they are having trouble with their classes, she arranges tutoring or mediates between student and teacher. She attends every special education meeting. As if that weren't enough, she participates in a variety of extra-curricular activities, including serving as musical director for the school play, running the show choir and sponsoring the dance team. Because teenagers adore her, they often just stop in to talk (and are welcome to do so), adding to an already busy schedule. Even with so much to do, she wants to see more of you and your teen.

School counselors are one of the most vital and underused resources the public schools have to offer. It is essential that your teen develop a good relationship with his counselor and to understand all she has to offer. Ms. Boller believes that many students think the counselor is only for troubled kids, and are therefore unwilling to visit. The students least likely to see their counselor are bright boys, who may be too shy or who simply feel they don't need a counselor. Girls are more likely to stop in regularly to chat about their lives and dreams. As a result, girls may be in the best position when it comes to one of the most important services a counselor offers: the college recommendation letter.

When your teen applies for college, he will be required to submit a recommendation from his counselor. If he has never seen her, she will have difficulty writing more than the standard letter. Ms. Boller feels that college admissions officers see many generic form letters. She works hard to create a personalized, detailed and heartfelt letter that will really show an officer what a student has to offer. It helps if she knows the student. If your teen has not developed a relationship with the counselor, it is time to start. The less well she knows your child, the more information she will need from him. Bartlett High School gives seniors a resume form to complete. Less than half bother to return them, and counselors insist on receiving them before writing the letter, calling it a gift a teen gives himself. Your student can help the counselor by providing her with information about himself. A resume should include his GPA, his activities, his special accomplishments, his personality and any other information he thinks will help the counselr describe him to a college. Give the counselor several weeks to complete the letter if you want more than a form letter.

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