Meet the JH/HS Counselor

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By: Emma Cole

As you all may know, we have a new JH/HS counselor, Mrs. Thompson! She is already a big help to students. Here’s an interview to get to know her better!

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

 “I was born and raised in Putnam County and I absolutely LOVE living and working in a small town to this day! I attended Ohio University for my undergraduate degree in Social Work (Go Bobcats!!!) and attended Bowling Green State University for my masters in education. My husband Zach and I have been married for a year this upcoming October and we spend a lot of our free time watching football, traveling, and being with our family.”

What's your favorite thing about being a guidance counselor?

“It is so hard picking my favorite thing about being a guidance counselor, but I think the most rewarding part for me is when seniors get to graduation and I see the visible joy and pride on students' faces for what they have just accomplished with whatever plan they have in their mind for life after high school. As a counselor, I believe in investing in students to be active, caring, leaders within the community beyond the school building and to see the fruits of my (and the teachers'/administrations') labor come to fruition at graduation gives me the drive to continue my work as a counselor year after year” 

What brought you to Arlington?

“Being from a small community myself, there is something special about working in a small town and within a small school. The moment I stepped foot in this school for my interview I felt that I was surrounded by a staff and community that had my back and would be here to help me help students every step of the way. Coming to Arlington every day for work is like coming home. I feel comfortable here and I believe that there is so much greatness in this school district. I am genuinely honored to be a part of it!”

Why did you decide to become a counselor?

“I chose to become a counselor a few years after my college degree was completed when I analyzed my interests and what I wanted my life to illustrate and represent once I reached retirement. I have always had a heart for giving back to a community and while I was in college I was a tour guide in undergraduate admissions and a football recruiter for game days and in both of those experiences I thoroughly enjoyed talking to high school students about their future plans. With the combination of my passions and my work experience in college, I came to the realization that making a career out of spending time with students talking about their futures, hopes, and dreams, sounded absolutely perfect to me and I am so glad I made that decision!”

What makes you a good fit for this school?

“I believe that I am a good fit for this school because, as I stated earlier, although this is a small school I believe that Arlington is defined by so much more than its size. I believe that students are challenged in the academia, pushed to learn more about themselves in their extracurriculars, and are led by an outstanding example from the staff and community members to evolve into young adults that incorporate their learned experiences into their everyday lives. "Leave a legacy" is something that is talked about a lot here and I think that it's a wonderful platform, but I believe that when students leave here their legacy does not simply end, but instead begins in such a way that wherever life takes them, they stand out because they are graduates from Arlington High School and that legacy follows them wherever they go. As a counselor here, I am all in for helping to harbor that legacy in our students which in return makes me believe that I am a great fit for this school.”