Harriet Levy is a guidance counselor. 

Football pervades our society so we must be prepared to deal with it

Conditions
September 19, 2022

It’s not that I hate football; truly I don’t. I try hard to get into it. I scan the sports page to become familiar with names, rivalries, predictions, and opinions. I tune in to Sports Extra on Sunday nights for the weekend analysis and wrap-up. I watch the introduction to televised games for the opening excitement and colorful background of the teams. I’ve enjoyed a few episodes of Hard Knocks.

Why …

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Football pervades our society so we must be prepared to deal with it

How to motivate a “lazy” teen

Conditions
September 6, 2022

A high school objective: take in young, immature students, work on them in various ways for four years and send them out educated, confident and purposeful. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Perhaps that’s the way it used to be. But things are different now.

On editorial pages and talk show stages, school systems are routinely blasted by an indignant public. Fingers are pointed. Blame is placed. Why …

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How to motivate a “lazy” teen

10 suggestions for a smoother high school experience

Conditions
June 13, 2022

I used to spend most of my day listening.

As a high school counselor, I encouraged teenagers to talk. Feeling stressed, they said, is their automatic response to demanding teachers, parents’ high expectations, and the drama of shifting friendship alliances.

Daily dilemmas and problems affect everyone: the terrified boy who just heard rumors he was going to be jumped after school, the teary-eyed girl whose teacher embarrassed her in front of the …

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10 suggestions for a smoother high school experience

In a moment of crisis, I made a decision to survive

Patient
January 27, 2022

One day in a moment of crisis, I made a decision to survive.

I did not ever expect to make such a decision. Just the week before, I had high hopes for a new beginning.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” my husband smiled. “We can just keep driving, head straight to Key West.” Instead, we walked into the hospital, my leg burning with sciatica, my back pinched tight with …

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In a moment of crisis, I made a decision to survive