For Pendergrass, counseling is her calling

Imagine you’re sitting down doing your work and someone comes to you and spills out everything going on with their life. That is the story of most guidance counselors around the United States.

West Florence High School guidance counselor Lawanda Pendergrass agreed to do an interview where she talked about her story in becoming a guidance counselor and why she was motivated to become one.

Pendergrass became a counselor more than 10 years ago.

“Ever since 12th grade I’ve been more interested in helping more people in the field of mental health,” Pendergrass said. After high school, Pendergrass attended South Carolina State University where she received her Master’s degree in regular counseling. She later received another Master's degree at Webster University.

Pendergrass comes from a family full of educators which influenced her decision to become a counselor. She first got her start at Sumter High School where she did “school based services and counseling with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health.” She later revealed that while working at Sumter she knew she wanted to become an official guidance counselor.

The pandemic has been Pendergrass’s most challenging obstacle she has faced since becoming a guidance counselor.

“I went to school and prepared for it but actually experiencing it during the pandemic is probably one of my biggest obstacles,” Pendergrass said. During the pandemic she was still able to help students and the parents by using her outgoing personality as her main resource to help build relationships.

During her journey in becoming a counselor Pendergrass said that her family, God, and her sorority, The Alpha Kappa Alpha or AKA, helped her get to where she is now.

“There are so many of us that are educators so I have to say my sorority,” Pendergrass said.

Even though Pendergrass loves her job she wouldn’t recommend it to everyone.

“I would only recommend becoming a guidance counselor if you are able to handle personal and emotional situations,” Pendergrass said. “You need to have control of your own personal situations before you handle someone else’s.”

Pendergrass believes that if you are strong enough to handle the emotions that come with being a counselor then you should become one.

Her favorite aspect about being a counselor is the relationships with students.

“I have those days where I don’t want to come to work but guess what? I always remember why I’m doing this and why I always push myself,” Pendergrass said, citing how much work went into her becoming a counselor.

“Of course I had to go back to school, put in a lot of hours, and dedicate myself in order to help others,” Pendergrass said.