Guidance!

     Ok after sitting here with Andrew filling out his SAT application online for over half an hour I need to Bitch! Especially since we can't finish the application until he gets a code from his guidance counselor. That would be the same smart woman who told him to go online to register at home. Too bad we can't do that until he has that code! Let me back track a little for you here...
     Becasue of Andrews PDD diagnosis and extra schooling early on he still has modifications to his schooling. The only thing he still gets is extra time for tests. He is permitted to have time and a half for all his tests should he need it. Every year since he has been in school I have had to attend an IEP or now its called 504 meeting. This is to make sure the mods. whatever they may be are still working and still needed. Needless to say he had a lot of mods. in the beginning of his school career and is now down to just this one. They have told me many times to just keep it as it's there if he needs it but does not have to use it. To try and get it back after giving it up is a lot harder they say.
     At this years meeting I was told they could apply for his extra test modification to also be used on the SAT. I thought "great", any advantage he could have should be used. The funny thing is, it was his Social Studies teacher who told me about it NOT his guidance counselor! And shouldn't she have said something about this when he signed up and took the PSAT last year?? Anyway the paperwork got started the next day thanks to Andrews teachers who were at the meeting. No thanks to the guidance counselor. Andrew brought home a sheet for me to sign requesting the extra time for the test a week or so ago. Today he told me that the guidance counselor told him that the extra time was approved. She also told him to go online to the college board website to register for the test.
     Of course this was what we were just doing as the test is coming up in November and the registration deadline is in early October. And we were plugging away, me hating every minute of it because the tediousness of all the forms just makes me crazy. I even complained outloud about how long it was taking to my husband and said how it sucks but of course I'm doing it for Andrew. I'm doing it, but I'm allowed to complain about doing it. So we're nearing the end and we get to the part about the approval number for the modifications. Boy did I get pissed. I went off. How could the guidance counselor, who is supposed to know what she's doing to help my son, tell him to get online and fill out the form without the approval number. After going off quite loudly to my husband about the stupid counselor I went back to the form and attempted to finish. I checked yes for the modifications and left the approval number blank. Of course I could not continue as I needed to fill in that number. The computer told me so nicely at the top of the page. So I printed that page with the pretty message on top for Andrew to show he's smart guidance counselor. The one who said he wouldn't need the number, I found out after my loud bitching session. Unbelievable!
     I don't know if he'll even show her the page when he goes to get the number from her tomorrow. I'd throw it in her face but he'll probably ask nicely and tell her we couldn't fill out the form without it. If I could call now to get on her case I would. Too bad it's after school hours. Sure I could call tomorrow but I figure I'll give Andrew the chance to straighten things out. If he can't get to guidance tomorrow than I will call the next day. That should be some fun.
     I know part of my hatred for guidance counselors comes from my own wonderful experience with mine. I never got any help or guidance from my parents. We never talked about my future or what I wanted to do with my life. We barely talked at all actually. It was up to me. What the Hell did I know at 17? I certainly wasn't thinking about my future and what I'd be doing for the rest of my life.
     I had my required meeting with my guidance counselor junior year of high school. She asked what I wanted to do. I wasn't sure. She gave me this test that would show where my interests lie and what area might be good for me. I took it home and filled it out. She told me she'd score it and then we'd go over it together. I never talked to the woman again. She never called me down. Never said another word. Never! I was having fun being a teenager. I didn't think about her actions until later. Sure some of it's my fault, some of it's my parents, and some is hers too. It still ticks me off. If she had called me down. If we had talked about it. If she had told me about student loans who knows where I'd be. I wanted to go away to college. I didn't think I could. I didn't know how.
     Not that where I am now is a bad place. But I'm sure life would be a lot different. Maybe money-wise a lot easier. I'd loved books since I was a kid. If someone had told me about becoming a librarian to be around those books... If I had ever even had that idea in my head early on... If someone had talked to me about reality... well yeah things would be different. I never had any direction. I really could have used some. I hope I can at least give some to my kids and help them find their way before it's too late. We've already had plenty of conversations about interests and what may be good for them. Or at least I try to give them ideas of things I think they might like to do. No one gave me any so I'm giving them as much guidance as I can.