At Miami Palmetto Senior High, success is not solely defined by grades or test scores. It is a part of the entire student experience, guided by the dedicated school counselors and advisors who help make it one to remember. Their impact goes beyond scheduling classes, reaching into the heart of students’ academic, career and social-emotional development.
The MPSH counselors are involved in a wide range of activities that help build and raise student growth. They assist students in making course selections, evaluate aptitudes and abilities through test scores and help students develop educational and occupational plans.
Beyond academics, the counselors focus on equipping students with essential life skills. They strive to teach responsible behavior, promote conflict resolution through effective communication and foster an environment of understanding and acceptance.
The College Advisement Program (CAP) is a central part of the counselors’ work, helping students explore post-high school options and navigate the college application process. Counselors assist students with admissions, scholarship searches and identifying potential career and educational paths.
The counselors use different methods to help students prepare for the upcoming school year. MPSH’s CAP Advisor, Linda Dwyer, has been a dedicated member of the school’s team for years.
“I think we all use a holistic method when it comes to helping students navigate, because on any given day, we will use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Family Systems, Behavioral Therapy and more. One student might need only information, another might need hours to work through the application process,” Dwyer said. “I may talk to a parent a hundred times and I may never meet another.”
Counselors also play a crucial role in providing resources for students’ mental and emotional well-being, including support for issues like anxiety and depression. This is a significant factor impacting preparation for the school year, and counselors make it their mission to try to get to know each and every student they work with at MPSH.
“It’s not easy, but I attempt to be present in each moment with whomever I am talking to. Every person is unique, and everyone has their own goals, circumstances and priorities,” Dwyer said. “But the end game is the same for everyone. All want to graduate and have a post graduate plan that helps them meet future goals. All Panthers are headed in the same direction. My job is to help students open doors to opportunities.”
Counselors have realized that their priorities in preparation lie with the students.
“Panthers want to know how to get into college and what they should be doing now. They need guidance with grades, testing, essays, college lists and extracurriculars,” Dwyer said. “I communicate via meetings, class visits, Scoir, social media, phone calls and emails. Most questions can be answered online, so the majority of the job is guiding, reassuring and clarifying.”
Overall, preparing for a new school year is not just about selecting the right classes or checking off boxes for college. It is about feeling supported, understood and ready to take on whatever comes next, and that is exactly what MPSH’s counselors and advisors work toward every day. With their support, students are not just planning for a school year, they are building a better future for MPSH.
