Stressed about maintaining a high GPA? Overwhelmed by heavy schoolwork or trying to balance school, personal interests, and relationships? ISHCMC-AA’s counselors are here to help, listen, and understand. Whether you need a safe space to talk or support in making sense of difficult emotions, you are always welcome in Room 405. Simply stop by and knock on our counselors’ door—they will take the time to support you, help you work through your challenges, and care for your well-being by navigating those emotional “burdens.”
Why should we care about student well-being?
Challenges and pressure are part of the journey of growing up, and it is important for students to learn how to manage them. Without healthy ways to cope, pressure can quietly build up and have a significant impact on students’ mental well-being.
Why? Because stress doesn’t affect only emotions, it can lower academic performance, weaken memory, reduce focus, and increase anxiety. If a student left it unaddressed, it would contribute to more severe mental health issues over time. So what is the key to managing it effectively? Communication.
The Power of Communication: A “Secret Superpower”
Communications carry far more value than just exchanging words. It benefits how we think and behave with others. There are numerous hidden benefits that not everyone knows:
- Relieving stress: Communication helps release long-held tension and clears up misunderstandings, boosting well-being.
- Resolving conflicts effectively: Open conversation allows students to express our feelings and perspectives, helping them to truly understand others as well as providing a chance to express our true feelings.
- Building better relationships: Communication is key to reconciling, rebuilding trust, and deepening connections, minimizing conflicts and misunderstanding between students.
Keeping Students Balanced: How ISHCMC-AA Helps?
At ISHCMC-AA, student well-being always comes first. Thus, the counselors always design diverse approaches to check in with students and support their mental health. Communication is always our priority to help us approach students and help them eliminate their stress. Even just a few minutes of sharing can make a real change, helping students quickly overcome and manage their pressures.
After meeting with our counselors, students consistently feel lighter, supported, and more capable of handling challenges. These ongoing connections help ensure every student continues to feel supported, valued and empower them to grow both personally and academically.
Voices of ISHCMC-AA Counselors: Student Well-Being is our First Priority
Ms. Khuê, a Student Counselor at ISHCMC-AA who supports students in navigating stress and challenges, shared her insights on promoting student well-being: “It’s really important not only for humans to communicate effectively, but also to help identify your feelings, understand them, and know what to do next. Students usually come to my room to figure out their true feelings at the time, and it really helps when we reflect together and get them out.
We have designed lots of approaches to help students manage stress; actually, we could do so much more. This year, my goal is to generalize the population. For example, I always remind students to prioritize their mental health by organizing the “Be Well Station”. In particular, it has 10 stations, each of which offers different activities to help build connection, gratitude, and reflection. Sometimes, kids have been there to earn house points, but it’s OK too, because the main point was to get them involved in the activity. We did the bulletin board as well to boost engagement and participation. That’s how we build community!“
Besides that, Mr. Rob, who is a counselor of our students, also wants to share his points about student well being in ISHCMC-AA with the hope of spreading awareness
“The first and most important thing is listening. Good communication always starts with truly listening to students – understanding what they need, how they’re feeling, and giving them your full attention. I also try to be very open and direct by asking questions like why they came to see me, what’s causing their stress, and what kind of support they’re looking for. As a counselor, sometimes students just want someone to listen, and other times they want help finding a solution. I don’t like to make assumptions, so I always ask what they need from me and how I can best support them.
However, there are various reasons why some students may not yet feel ready to seek counseling or share their concerns with us. They may still feel shy or hesitant and not sufficiently comfortable expressing themselves. Some may feel that their problem isn’t serious enough, or they worry they’re making too big a deal out of it. Others might be afraid that sharing something personal could get them into trouble. Sometimes, students simply feel unsure or uncomfortable because they don’t know the counselor well yet, which can make them hesitant to open up.”
For this reason, ISHCMC-AA fosters a supportive and caring environment where students feel safe and confident to share their thoughts and express their emotions whenever they need. With the dedicated guidance of our school counselling team, students’ mental wellbeing needs are thoughtfully heard, supported in a timely manner, and guided through positive and healthy coping strategies. By nurturing trust and understanding, the school empowers each student to navigate challenges with resilience and to grow with confidence throughout their personal and learning journey.
