Being a teenager is stressful — staying up late to finish homework, reading books that get lost in translation after every read and yelling at family to be quiet. Students are balancing personal life and schoolwork while also trying to find their place in the world. 

Luckily at Baruch College Campus High School, we have a vast support system. We have more guidance counselors in our school than the average in NYC public schools. (NYC Department of Education)

Two years ago, the Social Worker for BCCHS, Chelsea Rissner, arranged the peer counseling program as a support system for students. The groups met up once a week during a free period during advisory. 

One of those groups was focused on helping 9th graders cope with anxiety. Rissner would introduce new ways of releasing stress like coloring and creating playlists. Above all, the meetings were a safe space to talk about anything without judgment. Sheyla Saenz was a freshman when she participated in this counseling group. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “…being a freshman at the time, everything was so new and scary (…) the counseling group helped me transition to high school.”

Marielena Hartmann was a part of a counseling group when she was a sophomore. Her group helped students manage schoolwork and also helped them cope with anxiety. As a senior, she looks back on her experience in a positive light. “I’m really thankful for it,” Hartmnn said, “it gave me an opportunity to reflect on things I wouldn’t normally [do] on my own time.” 

However, after Rissner left and the period for advisory was shortened to 15 minutes, those counseling groups ended. This impacted some students who were a part of those groups and felt more comfortable talking to other classmates than guidance counselors. Saenz said, “…there are times where I wanted to talk to someone but [I] wasn’t a part of a counseling group.”

Baruch’s Social Worker, Laura Kaplan, is currently in charge of the peer counseling program. Priority goes to students with IEPs or freshmen to help transition into highschool. Teachers recommend students, but all students are welcome to join a group if they want. Additionally, Baruch has a Mental Health Matters club that meets every Thursday after school in room 313.

BCCHS has supportive guidance counselors, teachers, but also students in general. Although Heartmann’s counseling group ended, it helped her transition into highschool. She said, “I can talk to friends and I feel more comfortable now talking to teachers.” Counseling was a stepping stone that taught students how to ask for help and how to cope with stress on their own. Peer counseling is a great example of how support is always accessible at Baruch. 

If a student is feeling overwhelmed or stressed, they don’t have to bear it on their own. When feelings are suppressed, they are bound to explode. Always reach out and talk to someone — whether it’s a guidance counselor, friend, teacher or staff member — because mental health matters.