By: GISSELE GONZALEZ
Staff Writer
—————————————————————————————————————————————
El Diamante has welcomed several teachers and staff on campus this year. If you have not had the chance to meet any of them yet, today is your lucky day! Today we are publicly getting to know Ms. Janelli, our new school psychologist.
—————————————————————————————————————————————
How do you like El Diamante so far? “It has always been a dream of mine to work full-time at the high school level. Although it has only been a few weeks, I have been welcomed by staff and students with open arms. I am most happy that we are back full-time and in person.”
Are you satisfied with your current position at El Diamante? Why or why not? “Absolutely! I have the chance to meet with students, families, and staff daily. I am always on my toes, and each day is so different from the other. What is not to love?”
Have you met with any students yet? What do you think of the students? What do you think of the staff? “Yes! I have had the opportunity to meet with many students to work through personal problems, discuss coping skills, relationships, friendships, and everything in between. I love being a trusted adult on campus for students to confide in. From day one, the staff has welcomed me to the team, and they have been very supportive of my first year at El D.”
What encouraged you to pursue your career in psychology and when did you start? “From the age of 16, I knew that I wanted to be a school psychologist. Due to some unforeseen family circumstances, I had the opportunity to meet with the school psychologist for a quick check-in when I was a sophomore in high school. From that day on, I knew that I wanted to be in her shoes someday and support students–and here I am! This will be my second year as a full-time school psychologist.”
Where did you start? Such as, what colleges/universities did you attend while receiving your education? “After graduating from Golden West, I attended College of the Sequoias for two years and earned an AA-T in Psychology. I transferred to California State University, Fullerton, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After living in Orange County for my undergraduate studies, I was ready to come home for graduate school. I attended Fresno Pacific University and earned a master’s degree in Education and Pupil Personnel Services Credentials in School Counseling and School Psychology. The seven straight years of college were ALL worth it to get me to where I am today.”
Did you always want to be a psychologist? What sparked your interest? “Up to the age of 16, I knew I wanted to work with students and be in education. What sparked my interest to become a school psychologist was the interaction I had with my high school psychologist sophomore year. I knew in my heart that I needed to pave my way to become a school psychologist to help out students during difficult times.”
How has the title of being a psychologist changed your life? “If I retire and know that I made an impact on one student’s life, it was all worth it for me. I feel that at the high school level, I can be a support to students before they graduate to the big world out there. Being a school psychologist has allowed me to build and maintain working, trusting relationships with staff and families.”
What advice do you have for El Diamante students who are thinking about majoring in psychology? “Follow your heart! No matter what you want to be in life, I encourage you to go for it. If you are interested in becoming a school psychologist, you are always welcomed to swing by my office and ask questions.”
Is there any information that you would like to share with the school regarding your journey to psychology? “The coursework in college was the best way to start this journey. Each class is unique in its own way, and it is amazing to learn about different strategies to support others during times of need.”