TCU social work interns help Haltom High School students
By Natalie Clarke Schieffer School of Journalism
Two TCU seniors have decided to go back to high school; but, they go only two days a week. Seniors Haley Cole and Vaughan Gallins go to Haltom High School every Tuesday and Thursday, but they do not attend classes. Cole and Gallins attend school as part of a crisis counseling internship. They say this internship is unusual; the work is different and there is no such thing as a routine day.
The interns meet with students in two ways: they are either referred by administration, or they can meet voluntarily. The interns deal with a variety of issues that high school students face. They discuss issues like relationship problems, problems at home, abuse, drugs and alcohol, suicide, academic issues or simply just life and the battle of growing up.
Cole, a senior social work major and psychology minor from Tulsa, OK, says, “I get to work at around 8 a.m. on every Tuesday and Thursday. That is usually the most routine thing that happens at Haltom because there is no routine.”
Gallins, a senior social work major and sociology minor from Winston-Salem, NC agrees that no two days are alike. She says, “I never know what I am going to be doing when I come into work because every day is something new.”
The interns are gaining valuable experience working first hand with students in crises. Gallins and Cole have the ability to step out of the classroom and apply what they have learned here at TCU. Students enrolled in the social work department at TCU are using what they have learned in the classroom, to help the students of Haltom High School and the community of Birdville I.S.D. The program between TCU and Birdville I.S.D. has been going strong now for around 10 years.
Gallins says, “I am learning so much working as a crisis counselor. I have learned how to apply all the social work skills and knowledge that I learned in my classes. I am learning how to work with diverse individuals about a variety of problems.”
“The students who I work with have such a wide range of concerns that I have gained experience in so many areas of social work,” said Gallins. “I have learned how to respond to individuals in a crisis situation and make assessments based on the situation. I am also learning about the resources that exist in the Fort Worth area where I can refer students and their families.”
Cole agrees when she says, “I am learning so many things. It is difficult for me to pinpoint everything that I have learned about myself, social work, counseling, adolescents… I could go on. I think the most important thing that I have learned is that kids have an incredible amount of potential and that sometimes they are simply in need of someone to point that out and give them the opportunity to succeed.”
“I have learned that I am passionate about working with adolescents and specifically pregnant and parenting teens. I learn every day at Haltom, whether it is what the cool new item of clothing is for the kids, or about how to handle a certain problem, or just about a student and their history.”
Both Cole and Gallins feel they are learning more than they ever imagined about the field of social work. However, were they prepared for everything the high school students were dealing with?
Cole says, “I am learning that every job is a learning experience and that no matter how much I have studied, I may not be prepared for what I encounter sometimes, and that is ok. I am learning about the dynamics of high school from an outside perspective, which is a great deal different from the inside perspective.”
Not only are the interns learning how to help the students of Haltom High School, but they are also learning a lot about themselves. Although Cole and Gallins are supposed to be the sources of advice, they say they learned do much from the high school students.
Gallins says, “The students whom I work with at Haltom are from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. I have become a more culturally competent social worker as a result of interacting with so many diverse individuals.”
“These students have taught me so much through their experiences and hardships. The problems that some of my students have to deal with seem impossible and I have learned just how important social workers are when helping people.”
Cole could not agree more, she says, “Never judge a book by its cover. It seems like a lesson I should have learned a long time ago; however, I have met such an eclectic group of people and very few of them fulfilled every assumption I had about them from their appearance.”
“We try to promote the idea of dismissing judgment with our kids, and ironically I think they have taught me the same lesson.”
The interns work closely with the students to help them get through the day, in hopes of teaching them life long lessons. They want students to leave their offices with advice that they can use, again and again throughout their lives.
Cole says, “I want these students to make conscious decisions, to work for what they want, to respect themselves and others, to value themselves and to take advantage of resources that are there for them.”
Gallins speaks similar words when she says, “I help students learn skills in the present that they can use later when dealing with other problems. Students are often in situations that require action and advocacy on their part and I can help them do this. It is important for students to learn how to address their concerns now and in the future. I also help students look at their current situation from another perspective.”
Cole and Gallins work under the supervision of Stephanie Pennington, the crisis counselor at Haltom High School, for the past three years. She spoke about how she feels this internship really helps the people of the Birdville I.S.D. community. Haltom High School is one of four high schools in Birdville I.S.D.
Pennington says, “I definitely believe this internship benefits the community on so many levels. Obviously, the job of a crisis counselor is to assist the students with personal issues so they can be more successful academically. Overall, in the long run the community will benefit because the more socially adjusted and educated one is the more they can contribute to the community.”
Two TCU seniors have decided to go back to high school; but, they go only two days a week. Seniors Haley Cole and Vaughan Gallins go to Haltom High School every Tuesday and Thursday, but they do not attend classes. Cole and Gallins attend school as part of a crisis counseling internship. They say this internship is unusual; the work is different and there is no such thing as a routine day.