Andrea Perez
School Counselor
Young Oak Kim Academy
Los Angeles, Calif.

 

I Am ASCA

Why are you a member of ASCA?
I am part of ASCA because I want to continue to grow as a professional school counselor. ASCA is more than a professional organization; it’s a community of student-centered educators and advocates.     

What inspires you about being a school counselor?
My students and the greater community that I serve inspire me. I want to show up every day for them.

What makes you unique as a school counselor?
I am first-generation, social justice and equity-focused school counselor. I am committed to supporting BIPOC students like myself with their career aspirations, academics and social/emotional development.

What words do you live by?
Quizás todos los días no sean buenos, pero siempre hay algo bueno todos los días. (Every day may not be the best, but there is always something good every day.)

What would you be doing if you weren't a school counselor?
I would probably be a teacher. I feel like I was meant to be in a school.

When and why did you know you wanted to pursue a career in school counseling?
I knew I wanted to be a school counselor when I was an undergraduate. I worked for a student diversity program, and I realized I wanted to return to my community to continue to support students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education.    

What's your favorite thing about being a school counselor?
I enjoy personally meeting the families of my students and learning more about my students outside of the educational setting.            

What is your favorite tool you use in your work as a school counselor?
I love books that encourage students’ social/emotional development. My favorites are: “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst, “It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book about Gender Identity” by Theresa Thorn, “Here and Now” by Julia Denos, “I am Brown” by Ashok Banker and “Listening to My Body” by Gabi Garcia    

What do you do when you need inspiration to tackle another day working on behalf of your students?    
After a long day, I enjoy eating a bowl of ice cream and watching my favorite television series.