Counselor, Silvia Irianda, has been working at Shadow Ridge High School since 2022. It is her third school year counseling at the Ridge and she has discovered wonderful things about both the Ridge and its students. 

Ms. Irianda decided she wanted to be a counselor several years after she got her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. This allowed her college advisor to influence her to meet with people who were in different careers. Ms. Irianda found a job she wanted to pursue shortly after meeting a middle school counselor. 

“I was privileged enough to have grown close with my college advisor and professor who encouraged me to network and connected me with people in different fields of work. I eventually connected with a very nice lady who loved her job as a middle school counselor. These ladies inspired me to pursue a career where I would be able to impact future generations of students and maybe make a small positive difference in their lives,” comments Ms. Irianda

Ms. Irianda has been through hard moments as a counselor, although she cannot share her experiences, they have all helped her develop as a person and figure at Shadow Ridge High School.

Ms. Irianda states, “There have been many difficult situations I have had to encounter as a school counselor. I, of course, cannot be specific, but all of my experiences have helped me grow and be better. I feel that I have learned so much since I arrived at Shadow and am grateful to have had so much support from the other counselors.” 

As Ms. Irianda’s encounters have been positive and negative ones, she continues to love being a counselor and wants to grow her expertise in the counseling field. This brought her to the Ridge.

“Shadow is the second school where I have been a counselor. I found Shadow as the result of wanting to grow as a professional. I heard many great things about Shadow Ridge and its students and wanted to be part of such a great school community,” exclaims Ms. Irianda.

As Ms. Irianda is going into her third year counseling, she has advice to offer to future counselors who come to the Ridge.

Ms. Irianda comments, ”I would advise them to not be afraid to ask for help. As school counselors in training we do learn a lot but once you are actually on the job things will come up that you may not know the answer to and that is ok, just ask for help. That is one of the things I love about being a counselor at Shadow Ridge, we all support each other and help when one of us is in need.”