The counseling department welcomed a previous program assistant staff member into a new role as a counselor this fall.
Shawn Summit transitioned from a program assistant to a school counselor while pursuing a master’s in school counseling. His online program, including internships at his current school and an elementary school in Naperville, took about three years to complete.
He enjoys meeting students individually to discuss their post-high school plans and supports them in feeling comfortable and supported. His schedule involves meeting with students during school hours, particularly seniors, and he spends his free time outdoors, playing disc golf, hiking, and with his one-and-a-half-year-old child.
His goal as a counselor is to help students with their future plans and provide a supportive environment. He plans to stay at West Chicago long-term, appreciating the school and its students.
“I just want to help each student that I come across and kind of just help them with their figure plans, help them here, West Chicago, help them feel comfortable and supported,” Summit said.
Summit’s goal at WCCHS from the start was to become a counselor, but for this, he would have to take online courses to be able to receive his master’s degree in counseling. The process took him a few years, but he made it.
“My program was online, and it took three ish years to do that, because I was also doing internships. So I interned here, and then I also interned at an elementary school in Naperville,” Summit said.
Summit’s overall transition from assisting programing to an official school counselor at West Chicago was ultimately the goal for him. But even after accomplishing his main goal, Summit strives to make the best of his position by talking to students and help guide them to whatever they decide to do after high school, especially seniors.
Other than that, Summit also has a lot of interesting hobbies he does outside of his passion for counseling, such as disc golfing and going on trails.
“I like being outside. I like disc golfing. I like hiking, going on trails. I like watching sports. And then I have a one and a half year old who I spend most of my time with,” Summit said.
