HFL HS Counseling Center News

Teenagers are often inexperienced in relationships so may not realize if they are in a healthy or unhealthy relationship. Being isolated during COVID also robbed them of some of the traditional experiences they would have had with peers. Sometimes jealousy and control can be mistaken for love. This can include friendships! Social media has only increased the ability for a dating partner or friend to monitor or even stalk. Unhealthy treatment can begin with put-downs which are often passed off as joking around.

Unhealthy relationships can be:

• Physically unhealthy: hair pulling, punching, slapping, pinching
• Psychologically unhealthy: shaming or guilting

Signs of an unhealthy relationship:

• Decreased or lost attachments with family/loved ones
• Frequent arguing, fighting
• Unable to attend events without partner/friend
• Isolating from prior friends/activities
• Significant age difference in partners
• Becoming uncharacteristically emotional, anxious, weepy, edgy
• Frequent breaking up and getting back together
• Constant texting

Signs of a healthy relationship:

• Mutual respect, trust and honesty
• You feel good about yourself because your partner/friend makes you feel valued
• Compromise: give and take in activities and points of view
• Partners/friends support each others' interests
• Respect for each others' boundaries
• Equity exists between partner/friend
• Independence: you provide each other space to be yourself outside of the relationship spending time with family and friends

If you suspect you are in an unhealthy relationship the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence has a 24/7 phone number or online chat available at: Call 800-942-6906, Text 844-997-2121, Chat at opdv.ny.gov

College Decision Day:

• May 1st is the universal decision day for college enrollment decisions. If you have questions, please see your school counselor.

Financial Aid:

• Many colleges will be sending out their financial aid packages in the next month. What should you look for? Be sure to read carefully and determine what is a loan vs free money. Here's an article on how to read your financial aid packages.

Graduation Scholarships:

• Applications for scholarships/awards will be available on March 8th on the Counseling Center's website. It will also be available on the Class of 2022 Schoology page.
• Deadline to return the application is April 5th at 3pm.

Many of you have started asking yourself "Where will I be heading after graduation?"

The school counselors will be meeting with each of their juniors this spring to help them start creating a plan for life after graduation whether it is the military, employment or college. To set up your meeting:

1. Select a time you and your parents would like to meet (plan on about an hour) during a study hall, after school, or with prior permission from a teacher.
2. Schedule your meeting after March 14th through Appointlet.
3. Select your counselor and make your appointment.

We look forward to planning with you!

During the first week of April, sophomores will take part in CareerQuest, a two day program, using Naviance, that focuses on helping students explore careers. Students will complete a personality inventory and review the interest inventory they completed in ninth grade. The assessments will match careers to their results. Ask your sophomore to log into Naviance and show you their results after CareerQuest!

It is never too soon to start considering your future! The Seneca Waterways Explorer Posts provides an opportunity to learn more about engineering, skilled trades, firematics, medicine, legal careers and more! Check out their website for more information: Explorers.

Did you know we post enrichment opportunities on your Class Schoology page? Recent opportunities include a free camp through the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Teen Police Academy and The Institute of Optics Photon Camp. Both of these camps are free!

Look to your Classes' Schoology page for these and other opportunities! Enrich your summer!