Minority to Majority: Serving Students from Different Cultural Backgrounds

Jenai Hackett Jenai.Hackett@gmail.com

Being a school counselor is a challenging but rewarding career. Students from different ethnic backgrounds can have difficulty relating to school counselors. The advantage of being immersed in a group separate from your own is it can allow counselors to learn about other cultures, challenge their biases, and become part of a diverse community. However, it can also be intimidating when you are the minority in a school. To navigate school counseling successfully as a minority, it is crucial to embrace differences. School counselors must challenge their biases and recognize that each student is unique and that students who are part of a particular cultural group should not be viewed as a monolith.

One thing that a counselor seeking to serve students from different cultural backgrounds should do is ask authentic questions. By asking genuine questions, school counselors can foster an environment of acceptance and understanding within the school community. This will help students feel more comfortable with their school counselor, allowing them to speak with you without feeling judged or alienated. Counselors should also strive to create an atmosphere of inclusion and understanding by embracing different cultures and perspectives. Doing so can create an atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed and accepted regardless of background or identity.

School counselors' awareness of their cultural bias and blind spots can also aid in working in culturally different environments. It is essential to be aware of one's cultural background and recognize that mistakes may occur as one learns about other cultures. Embracing these mistakes as learning opportunities will make it easier for counselors to create an authentic relationship with their students and model for students’ ways to interact effectively with other cultures. This understanding will ultimately foster a relationship of positive regard bringing many benefits for the students and counselors alike.

To build relationships with your students from different ethnic backgrounds, it is essential to understand the cultural experience of your school community. To do this, school counselors must be open to learning about it. The best way to do this is by immersing yourself in the school community. Attending events outside of school and talking to parents, teachers, and community leaders are just a few ways to understand better the culture of the students you are working with. This will help you build relationships and create an environment of trust and understanding. By taking this approach, you can be sure that your interactions with your students are meaningful and effective in helping them succeed academically and emotionally. Understanding students' worldviews through their cultural lens helps us be more effective and empathic counselors. It also allows counselors to explore their own views and cultural practices against the backdrop of another culture. Being authentically yourself is an asset for any school, especially one whose culture differs from yours. Having a posture of learning will help you be accessible in the school community. Maslow's hierarchy of needs list love & belonging as essential in a person's development. A successful school counseling program can be embedded within the school community when it understands the student's perspective and provides unconditional positive regard.