A Mindset Is a Terrible Thing to Waste
By Monica Fugedi | July 2018
The work of a school counselor can be grueling. In few professions do you go from data entry clerk, to master scheduler, to academic intervention specialist, to testing coordinator, to crisis counselor all in the matter of a day. Sometimes, all in the matter of an hour! School counselors are the nucleus of a school. We are the complaint department, the cheerleaders, the referees, the navigators of everything. When parents or students do not know whom to go to for answers, they come to us first. On many days, we feel like we are a Jack and Jacqueline of all trades, but master of none. After the end of a very long day, week or year, we often get the question, “What is it that you do?” We have times when our profession is rewarding and times when we think we might lose our minds! When times get rough, it is important to remember that our mindset can determine whether we see the forest or the trees.
Simply put, a mindset is how we think about things. Typically, people are prone to a growth or a fixed mindset. The distinction is simple. Those with a fixed mindset will answer a question “yes, but.” Those with a growth mindset will answer with “yes, and.” We all know people who fit into both camps. Someone with a growth mindset is always looking for possibilities, or growth.
In a profession where we often feel like firefighters instead of builders, keeping a growth mindset can be difficult. However, school counselors more than anyone know the impact that thinking has on behavior. Our job is to see possibilities where others do not. We do this for our students all day as we help them navigate through life’s challenges to find their passions. However, helping someone else see the possibilities is often easier than seeing our own.
When the going gets rough, as it always does, keeping our mindset positive and productive is so important. After all, we are the gatekeepers of the future, and our students will feed off our energy. Brene Brown, esteemed author, professor and researcher, often talks about the stories we tell ourselves. Brown is referring to the stories that we make up in our heads about who we are and what we are capable of doing. In a profession where we are always wearing so many hats, it can be easy to see a tsunami instead of a wave. We can begin to tell ourselves that the tasks ahead of us are too overwhelming, that we will never be good enough and that we are letting everyone down. A simple change in mindset (the concept is simple; the task is not) can help us drop some of the weight. Words are powerful. We tell this to our students all the time, yet we often do not take our own advice. Therefore, when the going gets tough, we need to remind ourselves that we can do this. Change the thought “I’m never going to get all this done,” to “Let’s prioritize what needs to be done now and what can be done later.”
Creating a vision for our practice will help us to focus on what is important, which is, of course, our students. And a vision gives us something to refer to when we do not know where to start. It helps us weed out the less important, time-consuming tasks to make way for the things that have more impact. Equally, allowing time to reflect on our practice is powerful. It helps us slow down and take note of what is working and what needs tweaking. Breathing is also an often-underestimated action. Remembering to exhale and taking time to do what we need to recharge is essential. Other people put their emotions in our hands on a daily basis – taking some time for self-care is so important.
As the need for mental health professionals in schools becomes greater, our jobs become more important. Maintaining a mindset that will allow us to see possibilities is essential. Practicing self-care, creating a vision, and remembering that it has always been and will always be about the students will help us remain grounded in our practice.
Monica Fugedi is a high school counselor at Wiley E. Groves High School in Birmingham, Mich.
Mission: Students from around the state need your support in the areas of academics, social/emotional skills and career development. Learn best practices, develop your leadership and advocacy skills, and network with other counseling professionals so that you can reach your full potential in becoming a “Change Agent 4 Student Success.”
The conference will take place at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in Lansing, and will offer breakout sessions in topics such as
If you accept this mission of becoming a Change Agent 4 Student Success, please visit www.michiganschoolcounselor.org for more information and registration.
Simply put, a mindset is how we think about things. Typically, people are prone to a growth or a fixed mindset. The distinction is simple. Those with a fixed mindset will answer a question “yes, but.” Those with a growth mindset will answer with “yes, and.” We all know people who fit into both camps. Someone with a growth mindset is always looking for possibilities, or growth.
In a profession where we often feel like firefighters instead of builders, keeping a growth mindset can be difficult. However, school counselors more than anyone know the impact that thinking has on behavior. Our job is to see possibilities where others do not. We do this for our students all day as we help them navigate through life’s challenges to find their passions. However, helping someone else see the possibilities is often easier than seeing our own.
When the going gets rough, as it always does, keeping our mindset positive and productive is so important. After all, we are the gatekeepers of the future, and our students will feed off our energy. Brene Brown, esteemed author, professor and researcher, often talks about the stories we tell ourselves. Brown is referring to the stories that we make up in our heads about who we are and what we are capable of doing. In a profession where we are always wearing so many hats, it can be easy to see a tsunami instead of a wave. We can begin to tell ourselves that the tasks ahead of us are too overwhelming, that we will never be good enough and that we are letting everyone down. A simple change in mindset (the concept is simple; the task is not) can help us drop some of the weight. Words are powerful. We tell this to our students all the time, yet we often do not take our own advice. Therefore, when the going gets tough, we need to remind ourselves that we can do this. Change the thought “I’m never going to get all this done,” to “Let’s prioritize what needs to be done now and what can be done later.”
Creating a vision for our practice will help us to focus on what is important, which is, of course, our students. And a vision gives us something to refer to when we do not know where to start. It helps us weed out the less important, time-consuming tasks to make way for the things that have more impact. Equally, allowing time to reflect on our practice is powerful. It helps us slow down and take note of what is working and what needs tweaking. Breathing is also an often-underestimated action. Remembering to exhale and taking time to do what we need to recharge is essential. Other people put their emotions in our hands on a daily basis – taking some time for self-care is so important.
As the need for mental health professionals in schools becomes greater, our jobs become more important. Maintaining a mindset that will allow us to see possibilities is essential. Practicing self-care, creating a vision, and remembering that it has always been and will always be about the students will help us remain grounded in our practice.
Monica Fugedi is a high school counselor at Wiley E. Groves High School in Birmingham, Mich.
Calling All Change Agents
MSCA Fall Conference, October 28-29, 2018 Mission: Students from around the state need your support in the areas of academics, social/emotional skills and career development. Learn best practices, develop your leadership and advocacy skills, and network with other counseling professionals so that you can reach your full potential in becoming a “Change Agent 4 Student Success.”The conference will take place at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in Lansing, and will offer breakout sessions in topics such as
- restorative justice
- equity and access for underserved students
- career development
- trauma-informed practices
- comprehensive school counseling programs
- and many more
If you accept this mission of becoming a Change Agent 4 Student Success, please visit www.michiganschoolcounselor.org for more information and registration.