Heather Darden

When I decided to apply to graduate school, I applied to three different counseling programs. After interviewing, getting accepted, and learning more about each program, UNC Charlotte’s counseling program was undeniably the best choice for me. I loved how interactive and engaging their program is, allowing me to engage with colleagues both pursuing the school counseling profession and the clinical mental health track. The professors are passionate about the work they teach and desire to act in the best interest of their students. Additionally, I always had a desire to move to Charlotte, and finding this program gave me the opportunity to pursue that desire.

I graduated from my undergraduate program in December 2022 and started my graduate program in May 2023, so I didn’t spend much time out of school. I felt overwhelmed and nervous coming into the program because I wasn’t sure what would be expected of me at a graduate level. However, having the support of my professors helped to ease the transition for me. Every professor was willing to provide me with examples if I was unsure of how to go about an assignment, spend extra time on a concept I didn’t understand, and elicit their office hours for additional time talking with them one-on-one. I feel as though we’re all going to experience imposter syndrome in some way or another, but their support helped me to feel more confident in the work I was doing.

My favorite memory is the experience I had at my first internship. I did my first internship at a K-5th grade elementary school. I was so nervous going into it because I was unsure of how I would get my required hours and still learning what it meant to be a school counselor. I ended up building such a strong relationship with my supervisor and the students. I felt comfortable asking questions when I didn’t understand and appreciated getting feedback on my progress. Additionally, I got to talk to students every day in the cafeteria, and it was my favorite part of the day. I loved checking in with students to find out how they were, and I loved building those relationships.

I am currently a teaching assistant for colleagues in the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education. I have been a teaching assistant since my second semester in graduate school. I got the opportunity through my program director, Dr. Clare Merlin-Knoblich, sending out a mass email to all the counseling students inviting us to reach out if we were interested in the position. I filled out a form to explain my background and interest and was offered the position after a few weeks. In this role, I have served both in person and virtually. In person, I would help to structure the Canvas course, keep track of attendance, grade assignments, and meet with the professor weekly to support in any other ways I could. Virtually, I create assignments, such as quizzes, the midterm, and the final. I grade assignments, answer emails, and support the professor however else possible.

Firstly, I would suggest being honest about what you can take on. I have been a full-time student throughout my entire experience at UNC Charlotte, and my hardest semester was the semester I tried to tack on more than I could bear. It’s important to take a hard look at your schedule and your capacity and be truthful about how much is too much. The normal caseload for a full-time student is three courses, so start from there and see how that feels. Secondly, I would suggest connecting with other students both inside and outside of the classroom. My favorite graduate school memories always involve someone else that I was blessed to become friends with. Even though the counseling program isn’t cohort-based, do your best to connect with others. Get people’s phone numbers, go out for lunch, talk about an assignment, or talk about your favorite foods! You’ll be happy to have those connections when you graduate.