JACQUELINE HARRIS, Student Services Department

Q: What do you teach?

A:   I am a school counselor.

Q:  What made you decide to do counseling?

A:   When I first started education I taught Physical Science and Biology for middle and high school, but I always found myself talking to students about their issues and concerns, which gravitated me to going back to school and getting my counseling degree. And once I did that, I have been in counseling ever since.

Q:  What is your typical workday like?

A:  It’s not typical, and that’s one thing I love about it. You never really know what the day is going to bring. Generally, it involves interaction with students on a number of issues. It can be academic concerns, questions about college applications, or help deciding on classes. It’s never boring.

Q:  How has virtual learning impacted your job?

A:  It’s been tough. We don’t get nearly the amount of interaction with students as we used to when we were in the building. They’re also harder to get in hold of, and we are limited on what we can do to help them. It’s been more challenging than I expected. I definitely am looking forward to return[ing] in person.

Q:  What is your educational background?

A:   I attend the University of Michigan for my undergraduate degree and my teaching degree, and I went to grad school for counseling in Washington D.C. at George Washington University.

Q:   What brought you to Wakefield?

A:  I spent the last 4 years at Rolesville. Wakefield was a little closer to home and also reunited me with an ex-member and friend from Rolesville, Mr. Douglass, who is the Dean of Student Services here. I really enjoyed working with him there and Wakefield seemed like a good fit because it has a similar student population. So far, everyone has been really nice and welcoming to me.

Q: What do you like about Wakefield so far?

A:  The students have been great. Everybody I’ve met with so far has been very responsive and welcoming to me. This seems like a place where everybody’s working for the betterment of the student. It’s been a good fit for me so far.

Q:  What do you like to do outside of school?

A:  I’m a big reader [and] I also enjoy yoga. I have three kids of my own so they keep me busy. But other than those two, I love shopping and traveling.

Q: Do you have any crazy teacher stories? 

A:  My second week at Rolesville, I had a student that I was meeting with. She came to me with a concern that she had. As we were talking about it, she started screaming to the point where other counselors could hear and wondered if I was okay. Even though she was hysterical, I tried my best to stay calm, because I needed to be. I kept my composure and eventually she was able to calm down and be able to get herself together. It’s not a funny story, but it is funny in a sense that I just started working there and it made me wonder, “What have I gotten myself into?” Rolseville kept me busy.

Q:  What is your advice for students?

A:  Try to make the most of high school. They have so many opportunities now that they can take advantage of while they are high school students. Get to know your counselor, because they are a great resource. Four years go by really quickly.