After 2 years and 5 months of doing “voluntary” counselor work in school while being the Admin Officer, I can finally say it officially: starting today, I am the school’s Counselor. 😊
Funny thing is, this journey started long before the title became official.
I spent six years as a Guidance Counselor at a state university. But in 2007, after compassion fatigue and the emotional weight of the work, I thought I was done. I gave away my books and notes, gave up two licenses - because I truly believed I would never return to counseling.
Then came 2021 - my second chance at life.
I still don't know all the reasons I was given that chance. But perhaps this is one of them.
Perhaps there are still people I need to reach, stories I need to hear, and lives I can make a little lighter.
This December marks my 10th year in DepEd. I probably won't be here for another decade. But while I am here, I want to give what I can.
And when this chapter eventually ends, I hope I can look back and know that I left the school, and the people I journeyed with, a little better than I found them.
Maybe my life was spared not only so I could keep living, but so I could keep giving.
And if, somewhere along the way, I can help someone find one more reason to keep going—
then perhaps this second chance was worth it. 🤍
One student at a time.
One life at a time.
One more tomorrow at a time.
