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Georgia: Counseling counselors

By: Chloé Morrison
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Michael Thurmond

DALTON, Ga. — Georgia Commissioner of Labor Michael L. Thurmond told about 50 high school guidance counselors Thursday they must battle their students’ “deficit of spirit” and eliminate barriers that can sabotage potential.

“Let me tell you one thing about spirit,” Mr. Thurmond said. “There is an infinite supply of it, if you can tap into it.”

He said the counselors are often working to help students who parents don’t even believe in them.

“But you’ve got to see where other folks can’t see,” he said. “You’ve got to be a light where there is no light.”

Mr. Thurmond’s motivational message at Dalton State College was during the second of a two-day workshop for counselors from Northwest Georgia.

Angela Harris, director of admissions for Dalton State, said the session provided counselors with resources to help their students succeed after graduation.

“The point is to have them be educated and connected with what is going on at the university system, in the technical school system and in Georgia,” Dr. Harris said.

Mr. Thurmond said his high school guidance counselor helped shape his life. When during the spring of his senior year he still hadn’t applied to college, he said his counselor essentially chose a school and a major for him.

“She said, ‘You are going to be somebody whether you want to or not,’” he said.

He attended Paine College in Augusta majored in philosophy and religion, then went on to get his law degree from the University of South Carolina.

Mr. Thurmond said he knows it’s hard to counsel students on preparing for jobs that don’t exist yet because of rapidly changing technology. But he advised that math and science are critical for health care and technology fields that are growing despite a struggling economy.

He said to be careful with their guidance.

“Don’t talk about ‘jobs,’” he said. “Talk about ‘careers.’”

Counselors attended sessions about scholarships, technology and college enrollment during the workshop.

Nancy Prince, Ringgold High School freshman academy counselor, said she learned many skills, and she loved Commissioner Thurmond’s speech, which drew a standing ovation and inquiries about whether he would run for governor.

“He is absolutely a very motivational speaker,” Dr. Prince said. “I think he has been there, done that, and he wants to keep doing it.”

As to whether he will run for governor — “I’ll get back to you on that one,” he laughed.

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