Jenny Patrick
Bangs ISD
Bangs, Texas USA
"The grass isn't always greener. Do what you love!"
Career Roadmap
Jenny's work combines: Education, Numbers, and Helping People
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Goldthwaite High School
Bachelor's Degree
Communication
Texas A&M University
Graduate Degree
Educational Psychology
Texas A&M University
Certification
4-8 Generalist Teaching Certification
ITeach Texas
Vocational
Principal Certification
ITeach Texas
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a High School Counselor:
Bachelor's Degree: Communication
Graduate Degree: Educational Psychology
Certification: 4-8 Generalist Teaching Certification
Vocational: Principal Certification
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
High school job as a gift shop clerk: Taught me about communication and customer relations.
2.
High school job as a bank teller: Taught me about working with different age groups and responsibility/time management.
3.
College job as a holiday employee at a major brand then worked my way up to management. This job taught me so much about customer service, managing a team, teamwork, and hard conversations.
4.
I had to go before the Dean of the Education College at A&M to defend a grade I had made ( a C). You had to maintain at least a B to stay in the program. This taught me courage!
5.
I LOVED my first counseling job. But my mind told me that I wanted more money. So I jumped to a WAY larger school and hated it. The grass isn't always greener. Do what you love!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
"Don't ever major in something related to psychology!" This is something that I warn my students about as well. I think the key is "specializing" in a certain area.
How I responded:
Build a list of why you want to pursue this path. For example, if you are wanting to major in psychology, try and make a list to narrow your work down to a specialization. Are you wanting to work with adults, couples, young children, teens? Office setting vs hospital vs school? These types of visual thoughts can help you really understand where you want to be while you are getting your education.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My parents were in that weird cap where they "made a little too much" but couldn't afford college either. I graduated in 2 1/2 years with my bachelors degree to save money.