Good evening everyone, My name is Shree Billa and I am a recent graduate of Amador Valley High School. As someone who has experienced the vital support of school counselors firsthand, I'm here to emphasize the importance of maintaining and expanding these positions rather than reducing them.
When I was a freshman in high school, I was still living in my biological parents house which was severely abusive. I didn’t feel like I had a trusted adult to go to to report what was going on. I met with my school counselor, Ms. Parry, for the first time in November of my freshman year. Ms. Parry initially met with me in response to concerns raised by one of my teachers. Despite my initial reluctance to open up, Ms. Parry continued to meet with me. I gradually began to trust her, eventually confiding in her about what was going on at home. As a mandated reporter, she made several reports every time I disclosed something. CPS got involved several times, but didn’t do much. CPS wasn’t going to place me in foster care even though it was necessary, but Ms Parry fiercely advocated for me and even reached out to the police department which led me to being placed into foster care ultimately saving my life.…show more content… Throughout high school, I was dealing with a lot, from the pandemic to foster care to multiple court hearings a week. But no matter what was going on in my life, I felt like I could always go to Ms. Parry’s office and I wouldn’t be judged for how I was feeling. She provided a safe space where I felt understood and supported. She communicated with my teachers advocating for my needs both academically and personally. Not only did she advocate for me, Ms. Parry helped me find my own voice so I could advocate for
