Quoting an African proverb, Hilary Clinton famously said, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Although the School Counselor is not the Mayor of that village — the parent is — he or she is nonetheless a top official at City Hall. That’s because it’s the job of the School Counselor to help students as a steward of their personal and educational development.

As a School Counselor, often known as a Guidance Counselor, you accomplish that goal in collaboration with Teachers, Administrators, Psychologists, parents, and community groups. Employed by elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, you assist students with academic and emotional decision-making. What that means, exactly, depends on the age of your students.

When you work with young children, for instance, it often means counseling students who have physical handicaps or social and behavioral problems, helping them understand and overcome their developmental challenges. With teenagers, on the other hand, it typically means preparing students for post-secondary education and careers — for instance, by helping them choose classes and extracurricular activities, practice job search skills, navigate the college application process, explore vocational training opportunities, and apply for scholarships. With students at all levels, it could also mean moderating conflicts with parents or arbitrating quarrels with peers.

No matter what you counsel them on, your typical day as a School Counselor involves meeting with students to help them set goals, then create plans for achieving them.

Think of it this way: Because school for most students is a job, you’re kind of like a Human Resources Officer. You’re there to mediate conflicts and help students make the most of their educational “careers.”