This is an article that has to do with first generation college students, I see these kids every day. I'm looking into finding the documentary.

http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/the-biggest-obstacle-for-first-generation-college-students/30126

This is another article that I found to be interesting, it is by Dell so of course they are plugging their software but it is an interesting concept to look at the education picture of where technology is taking us and even more exciting to see that we are looking at it as a K-20 viewpoint. The truth of the matter is, we are all seeing, and will continue to see education as we knew (for most of us this is already the case) it nonexistent in a very few years. My partner is working on a lecture for his grand rounds on Friday with the topic of the E generation of students. These students do not remember going to the library, finding the book they need on microfiche, then going to get the book, reading the book and making notes by hand and then typing a paper without spell check or word and heaven forbid that they run out of ink or white out. They had no Google, smart phone, or even the ability to copy a book on a Xerox machine. They are a generation of instant gratification, lacking many skills like time management that are developed by having to wait. Wait for the mail man to come, wait until you are home to use the phone or find a phone booth, or heaven forbid someone be on the phone and having to wait for them to get off of it. We have raised an entitled generation and as demanding as these students can be, we have to realize where they are coming from and change the way we educate, especially when it comes to technology in the classroom E-books, I-books, nooks and pads and Wikipedia are all a large part of education today. It is exciting to imagine where we might be headed.

http://chronicle.com/article/Empowering-educators/131524/

 

Our Weekend

Our Weekend Started by making apple butter at my mothers home where I grew up in Greenup County.

 

 

Bobby keeping the apple butter from sticking

 After the sugar, cinnamon, and food color is added our 40 gallon copper kettle is about to overflow!

 133 quarts of apple butter and this is what the friends and family get for the holidays!

 The day wasn't done until some of the apple juice went into a pot on the stove to make apple Jelly!

 

 We also took the time to bottle the strawberry wine we made in the spring...It's not the best we have made but is great in sangria.

 Then it was time to relax and have some cool Pumpkin ale with orange slices

 

 And then it was time for a nap!!

Reflection Week 3

This week was, like the last four, frustrating, rewarding, exhausting, and exhilarating. I have counseled nearly 100 students (82) are in my caseload as my Beacon students and the others were overflow from the one other counselor that is not a Beacon counselor. The Beacon project is a new project that is funded by a grant to investigate the variables that can make a first time college student be successful in completing a two year degree. The Beacon project is an experimental program to improve retention and see students from start to finish at a two year institution. My school was one of five community and technical colleges in the country to be awarded this grant.  The students who meet the criteria to be a Beacon student have three support members assigned to them. One is a peer coach, a recent graduate of a two year degree program and hired full time by the college. One Faculty Advisor the same instructor that teaches the college 101 class they are placed in and thirdly a Success Counselor (me). There are nearly 400 students that have entered the program this semester and there are six Beacon counselors. Two who are also highly trained in working with students with disabilities ( I feel very lucky to be working so closely with the two of them) and the other four having masters degrees in counseling with some experience to very little and then there is me, with my last class before graduating with a masters degree in counseling and twelve years experience in higher education and five years experience in counseling/advising students who were first time college students and developmental. I am used to having a much smaller case load and a much older established college system. My School has just in the last two years separated from a large university in Huntington West Virginia. The staff is short and the growing pains are insurmountable but we are working through the frustration and trying to figure out what changes need to be made. This week alone I had 9 of my students have their schedules dropped and I had to fight tooth and toenail to keep them from falling through the cracks and letting the system win.

http://www.ascanationalmodel.org/content.asp?contentid=54

Without seeming to be "well obviously" This is the first website that I go to when I am stumped or looking for specific information related to school counseling. The "Ask an Expert" tab has a wealth of information.  I have learned that some websites are vague or flat out wrong and trust this site completely.  I have found myself on this site http://www.ada.gov with colleagues this semester as well and have found it's resources very helpful in instances when working with special needs students at the college level.

http://chronicle.com/forums/This is the link to a online chronicle of higher education that I refer to often when I want to get the opinion or views of colleagues across the country and globally if I have an issue or need insight on a particular subject. I find it useful for many different topics. I just recently looked over a forum on better college counseling in high school that I found very interesting as well as several articles on bullying. I hope this is helpful, one can never have too many resources.

 

WEEK 2

This week you should make at least one post that responds to these questions: What does it mean to be a counselor? Why are counselors important in your area (i.e. school counseling, higher education, mental health counseling, etc.)? With that being said, why do you want to be a counselor? How do you plan to contribute to the lives of your students/clients/community?

I also encourage you to make one additional post this week on your own topic related (or semi-related) to counseling, mental health, etc.

       The ACA defines the description of counseling as such “Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals”.  In short what being a counselor means to me are these same things with the big emphasis on EMPOWERS! I feel that as a counselor first and foremost is do no harm, and empowerment is the most amazing thing to see when a client goes through the metamorphosis and is truly empowered through understanding and enlightenment through the counseling process. In my area of higher education counseling is important for many reasons, education and career goals stand out of course, but in reality this arena may well be the only place that diverse groups from all walks of life come together in a structured atmosphere, culturally diverse, by race, age, gender, SES, sexual orientation, religion or any other cultural difference can be found on one campus and many times in one classroom. 

        I am a counselor because I believe in education and career goals.  I believe that the adult and higher education system is difficult to navigate for many students especially in our geographic region where many are first generation college students. Jumping through the hoops can become overwhelming for even the savviest of students. I enjoy helping them navigate the process from every aspect. From financial aid to time management, through probation schedules to grief counseling it all happens in the area of higher education.  In being a counselor at the community and technical college system I have the ability to change people’s lives and inspire and empower students and their families to set and achieve goals in all aspects of their lives, adding skilled, empowered and motivated individuals to the community and workforce.