Eddie O'Keefe

I never expected to do this work when I was in high school. In fact, I never had any desire to attend post-secondary school. I was a troubled teen and school was far from my list of priorities when I was 17. When I finished school, I went to work in a paper mill. After working in the mill for two years I made a decision that if I was going to be happy, I had to get more schooling.

My former teachers were very surprised that I ended up where I am. I have always remembered this and, as a result, I never give up on children. The impact that you have is not readily noticed. I have done several internships, two at high schools and one at an inpatient rehab center. Once I started post-secondary school there were no unusual twists or turns. Guidance counselling became an interest to me when I started teaching. I interacted with many troubled teens and realized that the majority of them seemed relatable. I shared many of the same experiences that they had.

Many people have interacted with me and guided me in a specific direction. With teaching, an older colleague mentored me to pursue the field of counselling. He saw qualities in me that were suitable for the field. I learned the skills necessary to work in the field, and to interact with supervisors and administrators. The only challenge that I have had in my field is combining administration and counselling. This has found me acting in a disciplinary role and a non-judgmental one. This is a challenge for all guidance counsellors, as they are often required to teach and do guidance. It is only this past seven years that I have had no duties other than guidance. This allows children to have easier access to me.