Crookston High School Student Counselor Tara Klein is in her first year in the role. She says she has adjusted to the position well and is currently helping Seniors prepare for college by helping them with what classes they will be taking next semester and applying for different schools.
When she isn’t spending time helping the upperclassmen at Crookston High School plan their futures, she has been helping students with mental health. Klein says there is no priority by grade level regarding mental health, and she hopes to help anyone struggling. “This whole office has worked on different components when it comes to mental health,” said Klein. “I am more in the role of helping kids on a day-to-day basis where they may not need constant ongoing support but rather just someone to talk to for that day. That’s where I come in to play and can try and help students and let them know that whatever they’re going through, they can get through it and that there are people around them to help them.”
While Klein has maybe spent more time helping students with mental help than she would’ve hoped due to the tragic incidents, she is always ready to step in and talk to students. Klein says she is always available to talk to students when things aren’t going well and wants them to know they can come to her with any issues.
Klein’s message is to make sure that if you see someone or know someone struggling, you report it, because sometimes the ones struggling don’t seek help. “Kids know that we’re here for them, but sometimes it’s having someone else or friends step in and say something and help them to get here,” said Klein. “The message is that you need to have a support system and people that you can talk to and relate to. That’s what we’re working on with our students in asking them if they’re okay and who their support system can be. A lot of kids have a great support system, but sometimes these problems in life become too big, and that’s when we need to seek help for those students and do everything we can help them.”
If any student is struggling with mental health, even if they think it’s small, Klein would love to sit down and talk and help in any way that she can. Klein will continue to work with students throughout the year to serve their needs best and help the graduating seniors prepare for college.
For the entire conversation with Tara Klein, you can tune in to KROX Saturday morning at 8:35 for the Focus on Education program. Klein also discussed information on the 2022 FAFSA for graduating Seniors and their parents and discussed other ways she is helping students as the school year moves forward. You can listen on 105.7 FM, 1260 AM, or by clicking “Listen Live” at the top of this page.
