NDSCA School Counselor Spotlight: Julie Sjol

This month’s spotlight features Julie Sjol, the school counselor at Rugby High School in Rugby, North Dakota. In her 15th year at the school, she serves 295 in-person students and a handful of virtual students for whom she oversees NDCDE classes.

How did you get into the counseling profession? What made you interested in the field? 
I was teaching sixth-graders for nine years and noticed there was a critical need, and I felt my students benefited greatly by learning social and emotional skills and life skills, so I did that daily with them.

From what program did you graduate?
I graduated in 2009 from the University of Mary in Bismarck with a cohort of wonderful people from around the state. It was a hybrid program and I feel fortunate to have been part of it.

What is the best/most fulfilling part of your job as a school counselor?
The most fulfilling part of my job is when I can help a student figure out who they are, what they can do to make things better in their own life, and the steps they can take to help them achieve happiness and success.

What is the hardest part of the job? Anything that surprised you about school counseling once you got into the field?
I was not aware of the hours spent test coordinating, scheduling, making phone calls, taking phone calls, the meetings upon meetings. The hardest part, though, is probably the disappointment I have in some people’s ability to parent.
 
Are there any programs or initiatives you have started since being at your school that you are proud of and would like to highlight?

• I host a Teen Maze every few years.
• I have hosted a “Be Careful Out There” event twice where students had hands-on experience with distracted driving of all sorts and we highlighted safety measures to be a responsible driver.
• I have hosted the Career Discovery event four times (every few years).
• I make sure to host a night to help parents and students complete the FAFSA and a night to get information about Financial Aid. I take each grade level to a College Career Fair.
• I teach a seventh-grade class daily (new group every quarter) that is named Social Emotional Learning (we also do career exploration, of course).
• I schedule myself into classes monthly to do lessons addressing depression and anxiety, career exploration, service learning, etc.
• I set up job shadows for all juniors.