6 answers
1
Question
Updated
564 views
What should I actually be focusing on right now to stand out later on?
I’m currently working as a paraprofessional in a school and planning to go to grad school for school counseling/mental health, and I really want to make sure I’m setting myself up the right way early on.
What should I actually be focusing on right now to stand out later on? Like, is it more about hands-on experience, building connections, getting certifications, or something else?
I feel like I’m on the right path, but I don’t want to look back and realize I missed something important.
Also, what’s one thing you wish you did differently when you were starting out?
#Fall25
#Fall25
Login to comment
6 answers
Updated
Jin’s Answer
soft skills，for example Excel /PPT
Updated
Carla’s Answer
You’re already on a great path, working as a paraprofessional is huge.
If you want to stand out later, focus on a few key things:
1. Depth of experience
Really learn from the students you work with, especially behavior, emotional needs, and communication styles. That insight will set you apart.
2. Build strong relationships.
Connect with counselors, psychologists, and teachers around you. Mentorship and recommendations matter more than most people think.
3. Get comfortable with the “hard cases.”
The students who struggle the most will teach you the most, and that experience is incredibly valuable in grad school and beyond.
4. Reflect and document what you’re learning.
Keep notes on situations, what worked, what didn’t. This becomes gold for interviews and applications.
If I could do one thing differently starting out, it would be asking more questions and seeking mentorship earlier instead of trying to figure everything out alone.
You’re honestly in a really strong position—just be intentional with the experience you’re already getting.
If you want to stand out later, focus on a few key things:
1. Depth of experience
Really learn from the students you work with, especially behavior, emotional needs, and communication styles. That insight will set you apart.
2. Build strong relationships.
Connect with counselors, psychologists, and teachers around you. Mentorship and recommendations matter more than most people think.
3. Get comfortable with the “hard cases.”
The students who struggle the most will teach you the most, and that experience is incredibly valuable in grad school and beyond.
4. Reflect and document what you’re learning.
Keep notes on situations, what worked, what didn’t. This becomes gold for interviews and applications.
If I could do one thing differently starting out, it would be asking more questions and seeking mentorship earlier instead of trying to figure everything out alone.
You’re honestly in a really strong position—just be intentional with the experience you’re already getting.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1376
Answers
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Nicole,
You’re asking exactly the kind of question that sets people apart early, and the fact that you’re already working as a paraprofessional means you’re ahead in a very practical way. To put it simply, doing a few things deeply and purposefully rather than everything is what helps you stand out later.
First, your greatest value at this point is practical experience. Don't just "do the job"; instead, use your current position strategically because it is highly valuable. Observe how counsellors assist students, how interventions function, how various instances are handled, and how students behave. Reflect on what you've learned. Future employers and graduate programs truly value this kind of expertise.
Second, concentrate on developing a solid rapport with mentors. Make connections with supervisors, psychologists, and school counsellors around you. Observe their work, ask questions, and demonstrate your interest and development to them. Strong recommendation letters and future possibilities are usually the result of these connections.
Third, start developing fundamental counselling abilities early, including communication, active listening, empathy, and emotional awareness. At this point, these are more important than a big list of qualifications since they are fundamental.
Certifications can be useful, but unless they directly support your work, they are not currently the top focus. Experience depth and purpose clarity will be more noticeable than qualifications.
Start documenting your journey as well. Keep a record of the circumstances you've faced, the lessons you've learnt, and your personal development. Writing personal statements or getting ready for interviews in the future will be considerably simpler as a result.
Being more intentional rather than merely going through the motions is something that many individuals wish they had done sooner. Not only do they acquire experience, but they also actively consider it and relate it to their long-term goals.
You’re already on a strong path. If you stay focused on meaningful experience, mentorship, and skill-building, you won’t miss what matters; you’ll build it step by step.
Best wishes!
You’re asking exactly the kind of question that sets people apart early, and the fact that you’re already working as a paraprofessional means you’re ahead in a very practical way. To put it simply, doing a few things deeply and purposefully rather than everything is what helps you stand out later.
First, your greatest value at this point is practical experience. Don't just "do the job"; instead, use your current position strategically because it is highly valuable. Observe how counsellors assist students, how interventions function, how various instances are handled, and how students behave. Reflect on what you've learned. Future employers and graduate programs truly value this kind of expertise.
Second, concentrate on developing a solid rapport with mentors. Make connections with supervisors, psychologists, and school counsellors around you. Observe their work, ask questions, and demonstrate your interest and development to them. Strong recommendation letters and future possibilities are usually the result of these connections.
Third, start developing fundamental counselling abilities early, including communication, active listening, empathy, and emotional awareness. At this point, these are more important than a big list of qualifications since they are fundamental.
Certifications can be useful, but unless they directly support your work, they are not currently the top focus. Experience depth and purpose clarity will be more noticeable than qualifications.
Start documenting your journey as well. Keep a record of the circumstances you've faced, the lessons you've learnt, and your personal development. Writing personal statements or getting ready for interviews in the future will be considerably simpler as a result.
Being more intentional rather than merely going through the motions is something that many individuals wish they had done sooner. Not only do they acquire experience, but they also actively consider it and relate it to their long-term goals.
You’re already on a strong path. If you stay focused on meaningful experience, mentorship, and skill-building, you won’t miss what matters; you’ll build it step by step.
Best wishes!
Updated
Hema’s Answer
Nicole, you’re already setting yourself up really well by working as a paraprofessional—it gives you hands-on experience with students, schools, and the challenges they face. To really stand out later,
A lot of people say they wish they had started networking earlier. It’s easy to focus only on grades or training, but the relationships you build now—with mentors, professors, and colleagues—can make a huge difference later.
You’re already on the right path. If you keep layering experience, connections, and learning, you’ll not only stand out—you’ll feel confident that you didn’t miss anything important.
Keep your curiosity alive and keep Rocking !!
A lot of people say they wish they had started networking earlier. It’s easy to focus only on grades or training, but the relationships you build now—with mentors, professors, and colleagues—can make a huge difference later.
You’re already on the right path. If you keep layering experience, connections, and learning, you’ll not only stand out—you’ll feel confident that you didn’t miss anything important.
Keep your curiosity alive and keep Rocking !!
AZIZUR RAHMAN
Technical Representative in hp and Mathematics Teacher for 7th–10th grade students.
22
Answers
Updated
AZIZUR’s Answer
Hey Nicole,
Hey there! It's super cool that you're thinking ahead and being so intentional about your path to school counseling/mental health grad school. Being a paraprofessional already gives you a fantastic head start with hands-on experience, which is definitely a huge plus.
Here's what I think would really help you shine and set you up for success:
Gain Diverse Experience: While your paraprofessional role is awesome, try to diversify your experience. Look for volunteer opportunities or part-time roles that expose you to different age groups, settings (like community mental health centers or non-profits), or specific challenges (like grief counseling or crisis intervention). This shows a broad understanding and commitment to the field.
Networking & Mentorship: Building connections is key! Reach out to school counselors, therapists, and professors in your area. Informational interviews can be super helpful—you'll learn tons, and these connections can lead to mentorship opportunities or even letters of recommendation down the line. Attending relevant workshops or conferences can also broaden your network and show initiative.
Sharpen Your Academic Skills: Grad school can be intense academically. If it's been a while since you were in a traditional academic setting, consider taking a psychology or counseling-related course at a local community college or online. This will refresh your study habits and show grad schools you're ready for the rigor.
Research & Explore Specializations: The field of mental health is vast. Spend some time researching different theoretical orientations (like cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy) or specializations (like trauma-informed care or college counseling). Understanding what truly resonates with you will help you tailor your applications and future career goals.
If I were starting out, one thing I wish I did differently is probably to have reached out to more people for advice and mentorship sooner. Sometimes we think we have to figure everything out on our own, but there are so many experienced folks out there who are genuinely happy to share their insights and guidance. It can really help clarify your direction and open doors you might not have even known were there!
You're already on a great track by being proactive and thoughtful about this. Keep that energy up, and you'll be amazing.
Hey there! It's super cool that you're thinking ahead and being so intentional about your path to school counseling/mental health grad school. Being a paraprofessional already gives you a fantastic head start with hands-on experience, which is definitely a huge plus.
Here's what I think would really help you shine and set you up for success:
Gain Diverse Experience: While your paraprofessional role is awesome, try to diversify your experience. Look for volunteer opportunities or part-time roles that expose you to different age groups, settings (like community mental health centers or non-profits), or specific challenges (like grief counseling or crisis intervention). This shows a broad understanding and commitment to the field.
Networking & Mentorship: Building connections is key! Reach out to school counselors, therapists, and professors in your area. Informational interviews can be super helpful—you'll learn tons, and these connections can lead to mentorship opportunities or even letters of recommendation down the line. Attending relevant workshops or conferences can also broaden your network and show initiative.
Sharpen Your Academic Skills: Grad school can be intense academically. If it's been a while since you were in a traditional academic setting, consider taking a psychology or counseling-related course at a local community college or online. This will refresh your study habits and show grad schools you're ready for the rigor.
Research & Explore Specializations: The field of mental health is vast. Spend some time researching different theoretical orientations (like cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy) or specializations (like trauma-informed care or college counseling). Understanding what truly resonates with you will help you tailor your applications and future career goals.
If I were starting out, one thing I wish I did differently is probably to have reached out to more people for advice and mentorship sooner. Sometimes we think we have to figure everything out on our own, but there are so many experienced folks out there who are genuinely happy to share their insights and guidance. It can really help clarify your direction and open doors you might not have even known were there!
You're already on a great track by being proactive and thoughtful about this. Keep that energy up, and you'll be amazing.
Updated
Janice’s Answer
I'm so glad to hear you are looking to go into counselling. We need good counselors these days.
I agree with the previous advice above, but would add just a few more points.
I would suggest seeing if you could find a local mentor who would allow you to shadow on the business side of their practice.
This is extremely important for your next steps after you get your counseling license/certificates.
You will need to learn how to work with insurance companies and do online tasks with patients in a secure environment. COVID changed a lot of the rules and regulations around counseling. The more you know, the better off you will be in advocating for yourself within the "business side" of healthcare.
Depending on what type of counseling you would like to go into, I would also suggest spending time with local DV groups and even asking your local court systems to shadow, so you can get a better understanding of how the court systems utilize counselors. Even if you stay in the school system as a counselor, you will find much value in this experience. Networking is also key and should be a constant throughout your career path. I hope this helps you along in your journey. Good luck!
I agree with the previous advice above, but would add just a few more points.
I would suggest seeing if you could find a local mentor who would allow you to shadow on the business side of their practice.
This is extremely important for your next steps after you get your counseling license/certificates.
You will need to learn how to work with insurance companies and do online tasks with patients in a secure environment. COVID changed a lot of the rules and regulations around counseling. The more you know, the better off you will be in advocating for yourself within the "business side" of healthcare.
Depending on what type of counseling you would like to go into, I would also suggest spending time with local DV groups and even asking your local court systems to shadow, so you can get a better understanding of how the court systems utilize counselors. Even if you stay in the school system as a counselor, you will find much value in this experience. Networking is also key and should be a constant throughout your career path. I hope this helps you along in your journey. Good luck!