Pursuing a Master's in Counseling

Goal Statement

Personal, Academic and Professional Goals/Personal Qualities

I am seeking a Master’s degree in school counseling with a general program specialization. My interest in pursuing a counseling degree is based on my desire to help young persons in school as they work to overcome life’s challenges on their way to adulthood. I fell that now is the right time to start because I have already completed my Bachelor’s studies and this is the next step in my higher education.

What influenced me to choose this field was my love of administration and supervising. I have experience in teaching and in training, and I want to develop the skills I have and implement them in a meaningful way. I know from my own experience that the primary and secondary school years represent a very impressionable time in a young person’s life and being able to provide counseling to young people as well as to faculty can be helpful and have a big impact on all stakeholders.

My personal and professional goals after I receive my degree are to put it to use immediately. Long-term, my professional goal is that I want to obtain a counseling position in a school in order to assist people in achieving the school’s vision. My personal goal is to dedicate myself to stakeholders in the education system where I work so that I can support the overall aims and objectives of the system and provide help to people on an individual basis in a positive and supportive and ultimately meaningful manner.

The personal qualities that I possess and rely on to form effective interpersonal relationships with others are my social and emotional intelligence, both of which allow me to identify the needs of others and communicate with them in positive and supportive ways. I am able to pick up on verbal and non-verbal cues, understand where people are coming from, and demonstrate servant leadership skills so that the people who come to me for assistance can leave knowing that they are in good hands. I listen well, empathize, communicate effectively, and implement effective strategies for problem-solving.

Academic Experience

I earned a BS in Business Administration in 2006 and earned an MBA in Business Administration in 2010 from Florida Memorial University. I obtained a Specialist in Education certificate with a Specialization in Reading in 2015 from Barry University. I am professionally certified to teach Reading K-12B, Math 6-12, ESE K-12, Elementary Education K-6, and Social Sciences 6-12.

I plan to apply what I have learned previously to my Master’s program at Walden by bringing my business mindset to the tasks and duties expected of a graduate student. My prior learning has taught me to focus on problem-solving, communicating effectively, and responding appropriately no matter the challenge.

Work/Other Experience

From 2007 to 2010, I served as a substitute teacher in Miami-Dade County Schools at various locations working with an average of 28 students per class. I also attended a variety of professional development workshops that focused on setting and achieving learning goals, classroom management, student motivation, and engaging learning activities.

From 2011 to now I have served as a Special Education instructor in Math at Robert Renick Education Center in Miami Gardens. In this role, I have acted as a liaison between parents, students and administrators in order to assist in developing the best Individualized Education Plan for fifty students each year. I actively and continually helped to improve overall student test scores by 10%. I have successfully trained educators in special education techniques for classroom management and IEP development. I conduct small group and individual classroom activities with students based on differentiated learning needs to ensure all students are at full potential. I take part in ongoing staff training sessions, organize parent-teacher conferences to maximize student-learning opportunities and develop forward-thinking plans to correct ongoing issues, and I employ unique assessment tools to improve instruction methods. I also provide afterschool math tutoring and have spearheaded afterschool initiatives to improve student grades.

Why Walden

Walden is the perfect place for me to obtain my graduate degree while maintaining my current work commitments. Its online program is respected among my peers and colleagues, and its faculty and courses come with a great reputation. Through Walden, I will be able to balance work with education and achieve the professional, personal and educational goals I have identified for myself.