By: Camille Ortega '21
Ms.Yorkanis pictured at her desk, taken by Camille Ortega
Dunellen High School welcomes Ms. Kristen Yorkanis as the new counselor due to Mrs. Axelrod’s retirement for the 2018-2019 school year. Ms.Yorkanis found out she truly wanted to go into counseling after she did an internship at a charter high school in Pennsylvania. She realized that the school field corresponded to her and that working with high school students was something she wanted to set forth in. As she continues to adjust to certain procedures Ms.Yorkanis hopes to do more career exploration with the younger students here at DHS.
When asked about what it is that she likes about working with high school students Ms.Yorkanis said, “ I like to see somebody go from maybe a difficult time freshman year and then by the end of freshman year they excelled. I like to see when the students get excited about maybe what they want to do with their life. I like to see your passion, like you guys, are so youthful and you guys have all these ideas.”
Our new school counselor was able to discuss that there are many factors that she finds pleasing, such as the responses she receives from students. Although Ms.Yorkanis is very passionate about her career in counseling she was initially thinking about going into the medical field but that all changed after she did her internship at the Charter High School as mentioned before. She found that experience very enjoyable and the age group is what leaned her more towards becoming a counselor for young adolescents. Something interesting to note is that Ms.Yorkanis also did her internship here at DHS.
When asked if there are any fears she may have Ms.Yorkanis said, “I'm actually really excited because I loved my internship here, I loved the students here when I was here so I really don't have fears I'm just really excited.”
Ms. Yorkanis ended up achieving her master's degree at Kean University after receiving her bachelor's degree at York College of Pensylvania. She is ready to help students and demonstrate what she has to offer to our program and we wish her the best going forward.