Various students come to school thinking about classes, tests, and what they are planning to do after school. What many students don’t think about are the people behind the scenes who help keep everything running at school. At Hayfield Secondary School, counselors and administrative assistants play a major role in supporting students with schedules and emotional support, even if they don’t receive recognition.
At the beginning of the school year, many students may have questions about schedule changes, college applications, and even personal struggles.
“[Counselor Eric Williams] has been very helpful,” senior Lara Elbedour said. “I wanted to switch out of [AP] Comparative Government into just regular AP Government … he didn’t just tell me ‘no’ straight up, he figured a way to do it, and he even gave me a free period.”
Counselors go above and beyond, putting academics aside.
“There were times when I genuinely had a lot going on, so I just couldn’t really physically be in class,” junior Tatum Pilla said. “[Counselor Molly Redican] let me sit there and talk in her office. Sometimes seeing her was the only reason I would come to school most days.”
Ghil Hong, a counselor at Hayfield, works tirelessly to help students. He explained that various students misunderstand what counselors actually do.
“We focus on mental health support and provide short-term solution-focused counseling, but we are not clinicians,” Hong said.
Hong explained that when students need long-term or outside support, counselors work very closely with school psychologists, social workers, and families to ensure that students get the help they need. Beyond meeting students, counselors handle crisis responses, academic and career planning, and student advocacy.
“We do far more than sit in our office, talking to a student,” Hong said.
Hong believes that when students feel supported, “their voices begin to come out,” allowing counselors to see the strengths that have always been inside the student.
“The most rewarding part of supporting students is when they begin to feel safe and seen,” Hong said. “We are just happy to be a stable stepping stone that gives them the confidence to move forward as their authentic self.
“Mr. Hong is the best counselor at Hayfield,” senior Kayla Spiess-Ki said. “He helped me choose the right classes for myself and made school feel like a safe place. Whenever I had questions or felt overwhelmed, he always took the time to listen and help me figure things out.”
Administrative assistants are equally essential. Many people think their work is simple because they sit at a desk all day. Robbin Pratt, an administrative assistant for the assistant principal, Kelly Gardner, explained,
“I think the most misunderstood thing about my job is that, because I sit behind the desk, people think I don’t work just because I’m not running around doing stuff,” Robbin Pratt, an administrative assistant for the assistant principal, said. “But there are a lot of administrative tasks that need to be done.”
Pratt starts her day early, preparing for absences and coverage.
“I get here at 7 to make sure that whatever teachers are absent have sufficient coverage,” Pratt said. “If that job remains open and no sub picks it up, I have to scurry around to find somebody to cover their classes. On busy days, I can end up finishing that portion of my day around 9:30 or 10 o’clock.”
Despite their demanding jobs, both counselors and administrative assistants say supporting students makes it worthwhile.
“Even on the busiest days, knowing I helped a student or teacher makes it worth it,” Pratt said.
Counselors and administrative assistants may not always be in the spotlight, but their work is vital for the school. They help students navigate academic challenges, offer emotional support, and make sure the school runs smoothly. The next time you pass by the counselor’s offices, remember, these staff members are quietly making Hayfield Secondary School a better place for everyone.
