What inspired you to do this kind of work?
I had a wonderful counselor in high school and mentor in college. They showed me the power of compassion and support. I really do feel that I am doing the work that was intended for me.
What is your position here and how long have you worked at O’Dowd?
School counselor. I have been here since 2006.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received (generally – it doesn’t have to be related to O’Dowd)?
(Never given to me directly but one of my universal guides)
You have to call the play with your eyes and not your heart. -Vin Scully
What is your favorite thing about your job?
The work I do is a bit of a moving target. I always have a general sense of what I am going to do from day to day, but there are always those things that cause my day to take the most amazing twists and turns. It all keeps me on my toes.
What about your field or position do you think would surprise people the most?
A school counselor really is a “jack of all trades.” Part confidant, part data processer, part motivational coach, part tissue dispenser, part good guy, part bad guy, part event planner, part test giver … you get the picture.
What is the most interesting or surprising thing about you?
Over the past six years I have been able to first lose and now maintain a pretty substantial weight loss.
If you could rescue only one thing from your burning office, what would it be?
My record collection and double big gulp.
Bonus Questions
What is your favorite kind of music/what are your favorite bands?
My musical tastes and interests stretch pretty wide and far. I will say that I am not as fond of the more contemporary county and current pop genres. I am a huge fan of live music, but some of my all time favorite bands include: Pearl Jam, Ben Harper and My Morning Jacket. Hip-hop also holds a special place in my musical world.
What is your favorite sports team or who is your favorite individual athlete?
Being from Los Angeles, I am a fan for all my hometown teams. But there is something special about my Dodgers. Growing up a few miles from and having attended a high school at the footsteps of Dodger Stadium, I have always felt a special connection to my boys in blue. For me, as much as I can appreciate the talents and accomplishments of individuals, first and foremost it has and always will be about the team.