THE CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS MAKES ITS DEBUT ON HIGHLAND ACADEMY CAMPUS

On November 2, 2002, the ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the Center for Student Success commenced. The center is a needed and greatly appreciated addition to the services Highland Academy can offer the student body, including counseling services, testing, and a quiet place to study and relax.

The center was developed because of the uptick in anxiety and other mental health struggles affecting the student body after COVID-19 changed so much of society and campus life. Not only is our new Center for Student Success a beautiful renovation project, but it also serves some very important roles on our campus.

Mrs. Logan Johnson, the school psychologist running the center, revealed in an interview why the counseling center is such a big deal and its purpose. Johnson and other staff members, after much discussion, have come to the conclusion that students are under a lot of pressure. I’m sure any student reading this would agree, and it is nice to hear that someone sees the struggle. They understand student struggles and hear their cry for help.

The Center is the answer to this persistent struggle.

Not only do students deal with the pressure of getting good grades and keeping up with extracurricular activities, there is also a lot more that goes on in the life of a typical student that no one may know. The person right next to you could be struggling with all sorts of issues from trouble making friends to home life issues. Supporting each other by being kind and compassionate is incredibly important, but sometimes more is needed, and that is what this center is designed to address.

When asked how she felt about the new center, Johnson said, “I feel very fortunate to be in a position to meet students where they are.”

As Highland Academy’s school counselor, Mrs. Johnson specifically provides psychoeducational counseling. Psychoeducational counseling is more goaldirected and specific than traditional counseling. Psychoeducadional counseling not only focuses on students mental health, but also helps students learn important social skills, and offers academic support.

Mrs. Johnson is certified to diagnose students with various learning disabilities, giving them access to the help they need. Students who struggle with scholastics are now being given new opportunities to help catch up and keep up.

The center gives students opportunities for what they think will work for them. Nothing is more frustrating than being told how to tackle an issue even when you have tried the method given and know it does not work for you personally. Mrs. Johnson wants to make sure that each student is able to find what works best for him or her individually. She said “(It’s important to) understand why a child might be struggling and create a game plan with them not for them.”

We need options to learn how to best help ourselves. Now we are being given access to a much wider variety of resources and tools.

Looking for help is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, it is an important part of reaching goals and learning about yourself. God did not create us to walk this earth alone. We are to work in community and uplift one another. Thankfully throughout the years, people have become more open to asking for help, but there are still some reservations held by many.

“A major goal of The Center for Student Success is to break down those leftover stigmas that asking for help is a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it is a sign of strength and self-advocating,” said Johnson.

We emphasize that there is no reason for you to suffer in silence. There are now resources for anyone who is struggling with their mental health or even scholastically or socially. The new Center for Student Success is a great addition to the Highland campus and is here to help students succeed as the name suggests. It is not just here for mental health, although that is definitely part of it. Students are offered resources to help them do well in school, and opportunities to learn more about how they learn and what they can do to help themselves learn even more. Students are encouraged to seek the help they need, and we are reminded that asking for help is worth the effort.