California School Counselor - Winter 2008 - (Page 15)

Book Review By Bruce M. Langedyke Assistant Book Editor many sources and highlighting them in this concise format. This review itself will depart from a conventional format and oﬀer some free associations that arose as this reviewer read the various chapters. I hope that applications that occur to me will cause counselors to make their own links to their own students. That’s the most useful feature of this book. whether the discrepancy is fair or not.” The chapter argues for making choices and deﬁning one’s own success. Scenes from a documentary called “Trouble the Water” arose in my mind. This was a story of Hurricane Katrina seen through the eyes of three young adults with a video camera, and not much else, caught in the ﬂoodwaters in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward. Their words and images spoke of abandonment and anger. The contrasting points of view are to me stark and compelling. Death Nurse An oncology nurse tells her story in the New York Times. She faces some “bad” deaths. She says, “What can one do? Go home, love your children, try not to bicker, eat well, walk in the rain, feel the sun on your face and laugh loud and often as much as possible, and especially at yourself. Because, the only antidote to death is not poetry, or drama, or miracle drugs, or a roomful of technical expertise and good intentions. The antidote to death is life.” I read this on the same day as I read Chapter 8, “Cherish Your Relationships.” It is about how to cherish everyone on the team. The author mentions a person who packed the parachute—valuable to the pilot who used it—and lived. Concluding Thought— Profession Reflection If integrity, persistence and discipline are qualities that people come to expect from me, then I have, like Coca-Cola or General Electric Co., a worthy brand that deserves to be protected. Dr. Dietz reminds the reader of Ben Franklin’s thought, “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” The question arises: What is the professional counselor’s brand? What are the qualities of expertise or attitude that school counselors want to be known for— that distinguish the conversation between student and counselor from all others? Dr. Dietz brings attention to this critical item in her chapter called “Protect the Brand.” Her little book is loaded with this and other meditations that make it a valuable and accessible tool. ■ The 3 Simple Secrets of Success After the Diploma: Integrity, Persistence, and Discipline Author: Janis Dietz, Ph.D. Publisher: iUNiverse, Lincoln, Nebraska (2007) In this book, Janis Dietz, Ph D., presents a kind of compendium of personal and work-ethics wisdom gleaned from her 24 years of experience in the business world and as an instructor of marketing and strategic management at the University of La Verne. She draws also from a current crop of authors/ sources such as John Wooden, Peter Drucker, Don Shula and Zig Ziglar. Thematically organized around three central habits—integrity, persistence and discipline, the book is addressed to recent college grads and oﬀers 20 short (two or three page) chapters that weave these three personal qualities through many topics nicely condensed from the quite vast ﬁeld of writings of this kind. The service performed by Dr. Dietz then in this book is valuable— grabbing the kernels of truth from Poverty In Chapter 7, “You Can’t Have It All …,” Dr. Dietz states, “The ability to be at the top or the bottom is purely a matter of education, persistence, and performance. It is your choice The best in behavior and classroom management resources. OFFERING HOPE, HEART, STRATEGY, AND STRENGTH TO ALL EDUCATORS. 800.733.6786 www.solution-tree.com 373841_Solution.indd 1 The California School Counselor | winter 2008 4/15/08 7:41:36 PM 15 http://www.solution-tree.com

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

California School Counselor - Winter 2008 Contents Presidential Perspectives Jackie’s Jottings Executive Director’s Report Creating Possibilities Through Language The Six C’s Orange County Counselors Form Book Review Legislative Update Research CASC’s 2008 Leadership ASCA Announces Hughes Middle School Memory Tips for School, Work and Life California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Releases Statistics on Pupil Personnel Services Credentials Technology Tips Pics, Clicks and Technics Calendar Index to Advertisers

California School Counselor - Winter 2008

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