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Charlotte Ward

Charlotte Ward

Public School

Career Roadmap

Charlotte's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

School Counselor

I help students with their academic, social, emotional and behavioral needs.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Elementary Education and Teaching

    Texas Tech University

  • Graduate Degree

    Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services

    Sul Ross State University

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors:

Bachelor's Degree: Elementary Education and Teaching

Graduate Degree: Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    Attended community college to start basics with intent to be a counselor, but wasn't sure what kind.

  • 2.

    Transferred to Angelo State University, focusing on starting coursework to become a school teacher in order to become a school counselor.

  • 3.

    Transferred to Texas Tech University to finish coursework because I followed my future husband. Lost some coursework that did not transfer.

  • 4.

    Took three more years to finish my education program at TTU and worked full time.

  • 5.

    Taught for 5 years as elementary teacher, but started Graduate School in my third year of teaching.

  • 6.

    Attended two summer sessions and finished my Masters in less than two years, graduating in the winter of my final year of teaching.

  • 7.

    Worked at the middle school level as a school counselor for six years.

  • 8.

    Loved working with students towards goals of college and career readiness, so I moved to high school in order to work with students in those areas.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    College is expensive and you will not be able to afford it.

  • How I responded:

    I was the first in my immediate family to attend college, and my family could not afford it. I worked hard for scholarship money, took out student loans and also held a job all through college to pay my bills. Doing it all on my own was hard, but I made it work because it was what I wanted. Even when I felt discouraged and overwhelmed, I never quit because I wanted something better for myself.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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