A Day in the Life...

I am a school counselor, formerly known as a guidance counselor. I work in the wealthiest school system in the state of Maryland, and one that is highly recognized throughout the country. Nevertheless, sometimes it feels like the 'hood. Working with teenagers, there is never a dull moment. Just this week I've had to deal with minor squabbles, fighting, gang involvement, suicide threats, blackmail, drug purchasing, child abuse, substance abuse, self-mutilation, sexual harrassment, sexual promiscuity, truancy, dysfunctional families, poverty, lying, and child neglect. And that's not to mention the academic issues. Earlier this week, a student wrote a suicide letter because one of my male students told her that if she didn't want him to break up with her, she would have to agree to a threesome. Just yesterday, one of my students was punched in the face in the middle of class in front of both a teacher and a paraeducator. Another one of my students was suspended for trying to buy drugs and then she attempted to blackmail her mother by fabricating a child abuse story. This morning, a huge melee broke out in the hallway when two rival gangs met up. One of the gang members is the student whose family my office donated a Thanksgiving food basket to. A more experienced counselor here told me this always happens between Thanksgiving and Christmas because of the added stress that the holidays bring on broken families and families that are struggling financially. The kids bring their anger and frustration into school where it bubbles over and combusts into fights that leave teachers injured and my office into a tumultuous mess. I am already in need of Christmas break and Thanksgiving was just last week....