Nichola Horn

I have dreamed of becoming a guidance counsellor for many years. In 2018 I moved into the role of Home School Community Liaison Coordinator, a position that I adored. During my tenure as the HSCLC I learned so much about myself and developed a new range of skills, many of these aligning closely to the skills required to work as a guidance counsellor. During my final year as the HSCLC I was fortunate to avail of an opportunity to study to become a guidance counsellor. From the moment I started the course, I knew this role would be for me. I truly love listening to young people, they interest me and I enjoy helping them. As a mother to a teen, I see first-hand the struggles young people face, I believe the many courses I have attended have prepared me for the challenges this role will bring. My vision of a guidance counsellor is someone who can attend to the overall holistic needs of a young person while also preparing them to manage transitions that occur throughout life. My goal as a guidance counsellor is to foster the personal, vocational and career development of students as they journey through the post primary system and beyond into college and/or the world of work. My role is to assist the young person identify their personal strengths and attributes, develop digital literacy, foster independent and critical-thinking skills, refine interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, promote lifelong and self-guided learning, support young people as they seek out and reflect upon work experience and career opportunities. As a guidance counsellor, I would be entrusted to play a crucial role in the personal development of young people through counselling and their involvement in wellbeing initiatives in the school. Wellbeing is woven through the fabric of school life, it is an essential aspect of the role of the guidance counsellor. Afterall, wellbeing is a fundamental component of an individual’s self-concept and is a key part of a guidance counsellor’s work.