Voice of the Ville reporters Titus Jefferson and Tatiyana London talked with East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney counselor Javelle Hawkins about her career path and challenges on the job. Hawkins has 39 years of experience in education including 27 years as a high school counselor.
Voice of the Ville: When did you decide you wanted to become a counselor?
Hawkins: Honestly, I wanted to be a social worker. However, at the time I was pursuing my master’s degree, Eastern Michigan University did not offer a master’s degree in social work. With that being said, I decided to continue at EMU and major in guidance and counseling with an endorsement in school and agency counseling.
Voice of the Ville: Do you enjoy being a high school guidance counselor?
Hawkins: Yes, immensely! I have a strong passion to serve my community as a high school counselor. I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of the students I serve. There are so many things that I enjoy about being a counselor just to name a few:
• I enjoy helping students navigate the challenges of high school and supporting their academic, personal, and social growth.
• Also, being a source of encouragement to my students to pursue their passions and supporting them through challenges and successes.
• Being an advocate for the students.
• I also enjoy seeing students being successful. My job is to graduate my students.
Voice of the Ville: Are there challenges to your job?
Hawkins: There are several challenges in being a high school counselor. Heavy workload. I have many students assigned to my caseload. It’s challenging to manage a variety of tasks such as academic advising, personal counseling, and college and career guidance. Sometimes it can be very taxing. However, I must say that I still enjoy being a high school counselor. Another challenge is getting students to own their educational journey to success.
Voice of the Ville: Why did you choose to become part of the team at East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney?
Hawkins: I chose EEVPA @ Finney because the administration team’s mission and values aligned with my educational philosophy and values. I wanted to come here because I felt I could have a meaningful impact in the lives of the students of EEVPA @ Finney. The location and of course the aesthetics of this beautiful building, sealed the deal for me.
