California School Counselor - Summer 2008 - (Page 15)

feature Making a Difference One Family at a Time An AB 1802 Success Story By Faye T. Arco Professional School Counselor Badger Springs Middle School Moreno Valley Unified School District The bill was law, the money was in the district coﬀers, new counselors had been hired in record numbers and in California we began our unprecedented journey toward proving that we were indeed part of the team that helps families overcome barriers to learning, to build resiliency in our youth and empower the productive citizens of the future. We set out to hold a record number of individual conferences with our identiﬁed at-risk youth and their parents and/or guardians, further proving that what we did made a diﬀerence in the lives of students. In Moreno Valley Uniﬁed School District a rainstorm was about to turn into a rainbow and then a bountiful pot of gold. On a warm August afternoon, a mother and her two children arrived at Badger Springs Middle School to meet with me for a conference designed to share information and set goals for a bright future for one middle school student. As I speak only minimal Spanish, my student’s high appears to come from the knowledge one gains while journeying toward high school graduation. As I interpreted CST scores, reviewed A-G requirements, discussed career paths and the California High School Exit Exam with her mother and brother, she translated ﬂawlessly. As I paused at the end of the meeting for signatures, she quietly inquired, “Mrs. Arco, may I ask you one question?” “Of course,” I replied, eager to repay her kindness for coming back to middle school to assist me in communicating with her family. “Are Obviously I should never try to play poker because the look on my face must have crossed all language barrier lines as she turned to answer her mother’s immediate inquiry as to what was wrong. It was definitely time to expand this meeting to help more than just my student. school sister joined us to act as translator for the conference. After greetings, I explained that this was a positive meeting and that my student was not in trouble. Indeed, we were all going to work together to help him plan his future and ensure that he understands the steps he would need to make his career goal a reality. The meeting proceeded in good order with this intelligent high school senior translating with the ease that these things we just talked about for high school too?” She certainly had my attention with that question. “Yes, they are,” I stated. A long pause preceded her quiet statement, “I think I’m in trouble.” Needing clariﬁcation I asked her what she meant. Quietly but with absolute determination to continue she said, “I am supposed to graduate in June and I wanted to go to college to be a nurse, but if I understood you correctly, I don’t think I am going to make it.” The California School Counselor | summer 2008 15

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of California School Counselor - Summer 2008

California School Counselor - Summer 2008 Contents Presidential Perspectives Jackie’s Jottings Executive Director’s Report Cyberbullying and Equal Access Northern California Conference Highlights Book Review Making a Difference One Family at a Time An AB 1802 Success Story Legislative Update CASC Members Honor Assemblywoman Linda Sanchez Pics, Clicks and Technics Calendar Index to Advertisers

California School Counselor - Summer 2008

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