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We often imagine a secondary school counselor’s office as a place for crises and mental turmoil. But step behind our secondary school counselor, Ms. Brittney Young’s door, and you’re just as likely to find a conversation against sacrificing sleep, jumping on a mini-trampoline, or a heated discussion regarding neuroscience! The stories the walls could tell aren’t just about course selections and test scores; they’re stories of anxiety, triumph, confusion, and growth.
So, how did the person who “loves going to the dentist” end up as a cornerstone of support at AISG? Her journey was anything but linear. Ms. Brittney understands ever-changing college pathways and finds it easy to empathize with students who are hesitant to decide their future career and educational path at 16 years of age!
She shares how she found her passion for counseling in schools. “I thought I wanted to major in International Business and Law, but started by studying General Ed classes to give myself more time to decide. I eventually fell in love with Psychology. I also had to pay for my own education, so I started working for an organization called AmeriCorps. This allowed me to work with students in an after-school program.” Though her work was initially volunteer-based, she ended up delving into International schools worldwide and finding her path in school counselling.
Ms. Brittney strives to support her students in every aspect, meeting with them regularly for one-on-one conferences. She shares, “The foundation of my role is to support students socially and emotionally in their academic and personal growth.”
Her intentions are well-received by Grade 12 Miu. M. “I have met with Ms. Brittney once for the G12 counselor connect. And I think it was very nice of her to make this meeting, as it allowed us to get to know Ms. Brittney before anything went wrong. I think it is important for students to have good connections with their counselor because this last year of high school often can become very overwhelming.”
Her core life advice? “Who you choose to have in your life… shapes who you are and where you can go.”, Ms. Brittney understands the importance of building strong and supportive networks, especially when workloads and academic stress increase within the school’s community.
Not only does Ms. Brittney understand the need for connections, she also helps foster them. Hoping that all secondary students feel comfortable and heard in her office is important to her, and she can be reached easily. She passionately encourages all to “Book your appointment here! Book time with Brittney Young: Counselor Connect .”
Ms. Brittney depicts a role where this ability to guide students through ‘unfair complexities’ doesn’t come from a textbook; it’s born from lived experience. No one understands this more than IB Business Management teacher, Mr. Roneil Omadat, who explains that “Sometimes you just need someone to talk to and share your feelings when things start getting stressful.”
If there’s one thing Ms. Brittney understands, it’s the constant struggle students endure, finding themselves while maintaining academic excellence in a rapidly changing world.
Her early childhood was less than ideal; she shares that she “had to be independent from a very young age. Specifically, some of the impactful things I experienced at a young age were family members with addictions, close family members who were incarcerated, living on both ends of the socioeconomic scale, experiencing illness, losing loved ones, and pretty significant racism within a mixed and blended family. I have had a mix of beautiful and challenging experiences that allow me to understand the ‘unfair’ complexities of life and be able to relate to a wide range of people.”
This frames her past as a source of strength and empathy, not just hardship. It tells students, “No matter what you’re going through, she can understand.” This commitment to student well-being is supported by Mr.Ron, who stresses the fact that students at AISG are well supported and never need to carry life’s burdens alone.
Grade 11 Milli .M. agrees that “Having a counselor who is open to students’ diverse needs can be very beneficial for those who are currently struggling alone.” Support systems at AISG allow students to feel heard and feel that they have taken one step in the right direction.
It’s a reminder that behind the office door at AISG, students won’t find someone with all the answers, but rather a dedicated guide who schedules her priorities instead of prioritizing her schedule, and is equipped with an unwavering belief in their potential and a passion for a mini-trampoline session.
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