COUNSELOR DENIES HE'S SPECIAL, BUT HE'S SURE POPULAR AT SCHOOL

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 28, 1992                   TAG: 9202280223
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-13   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
COUNSELOR DENIES HE'S SPECIAL, BUT HE'S SURE POPULAR AT SCHOOL
Shelley Blumenthal is humble when you ask him about his accomplishments at Blacksburg High School. He tries to make his work as a counselor seem ordinary, as if anyone could be successful at it.
But after being nominated by two senior classes to give their commencement speeches, becoming head varsity soccer coach and meeting and marrying the choral teacher, Blumenthal can't deny his popularity at the school.
Even more recently, he was featured in American Counselor magazine, a national journal published by the American Association for Counseling and Development.
He was recommended as a subject for the article by a parent of some former students. He was glad to be interviewed, but he insists his success is due, in most part, to the other teachers and guidance counselors at the school.
"All the counselors do a good job," Blumenthal said. "My weaknesses are someone else's strengths. In fact, the whole school is a really good team. They go the extra distance."
What makes Blumenthal different is his uncanny ability to be respected but still work with students at their level. That takes the work of one person: Blumenthal.
"I like to think they like me," he said. "I'm not sure everyone does, but I feel good they have the confidence to come and talk to me."
The article in American Counselor focuses on the fact that Blumenthal left his prior job as director of admissions at Lynchburg College to counsel high school students.
"People always ask me why I left such a good job," Blumenthal said. At Lynchburg College, "I got too far away from the students."
Blumenthal said he feels more successful now than he did during his eight years at Lynchburg because "the work is qualitative, not quantitative."
Out of school, Blumenthal stays in touch with students by attending almost every school activity, from theater to sports.
"I like being around the kids and trying to make a difference," he said. "The intrinsic rewards are wonderful and I think it's important to be seen and recognized."
Blumenthal tries to keep his job in perspective. He says he has reached his goal of becoming a high school counselor, but now sets other goals for daily life. He also tries to continually improve on his weaknesses.
"I think the main thing I need to improve is to become more objective," he said. "I tend to over-advocate for the students and overlook the other side of the story."
Over-advocating for the student is a natural response to the expectations put on counselors and educators, he said.
"We're becoming responsible for wearing so many hats. There are difficulties within families, and counselors and educators in general are filling that family role, becoming big brothers and big sisters."
If Blumenthal could leave one impression with the students at Blacksburg High School, he would want them to remember that he was easy to talk to and always there for them.
"It's what we [counselors] all do," he said. "It's why we're here in the first place."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB