Sarah Lecker-Tolentino

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December 14, 2022

ASCA School Counselor Standards and Competencies Reflection

The ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies is an important resource for
all school counselors as it provides a foundation and list of criteria to ensure all school counselors are
practicing ethically and implementing/utilizing an effective school counseling program. When utilizing
the self-assessment, I was able to identify strengths as well as areas for growth.

One of my areas of strength would be B-PF 6, “Demonstrate understanding of the impact of cultural,
social and environmental influences on student success and opportunities.” As a Native Hawaiian,
cultural plays an important role in my life and I have experienced and witnessed how this directly
impacts students’ academics and mental health. Another area of strength would be B-SS 3, “Provide
short-term counseling in small-group and individual settings.” My practicum and internship experience
led me to getting hired full time at my site as a school counselor, and a large percentage of my time is
spent in individual counseling sessions, leading groups, and teaching social emotional learning classes. In
my role as a school counselor, I have also been able to fulfill B-SS 6, “Collaborate with families, teachers,
administrators, other school staff and education stakeholders for student achievement and success.” My
indirect hours are primarily spent in collaboration with other counselors, teachers, staff and admin on
how to better support students as well as direct contact with parents and families on student needs.

My areas of growth would definitely be B-PF 2 regarding “understanding of educational systems,

legal issues, policies, research and trends in education.” This is something that I am actively working on
to find reputable sources to stay up to date on this. Additionally, an area of growth would be B-PF 9,
“Create systemic change through the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program.” I
believe with more experience, I will feel more confident in and have more opportunities to be a part of
more systemic change.

Mastering the standards and competencies will help me to be the most well-rounded and equipped
school counselor I can be. School counselors have many different roles and responsibilities; therefore, it
is important to prioritize and spend my time appropriately. It also gives me something to continuously
work on and refer back to and even consult with a more experienced professional in the field if I feel like
I need more opportunity and supervision in mastering a specific standard or competency. Never getting
complacent or stagnant is important to me as I enter the school counseling field as there is always room
for growth.