Happy National School Counseling Week
I fell into the school counseling program at Russell Sage College almost by chance. It was mid-July after I graduated from college and while I had accepted an entry-level role at a local middle school, my heart was set on becoming a college basketball coach. At the end of my playing career, coaching felt like the only path I truly knew I wanted. I had just joined Mike Griffin’s staff at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and we were deep into recruiting at academic elite showcases and camps across the country.
Coach Griffin connected me with a former assistant of his who had completed the school counseling program at Sage years earlier. That one conversation changed the course of my life. Within hours, I completed the application and started preparing for graduate school. At the time, I thought I would become a coach with a school counseling background, someone who could differentiate himself as an educator and mentor.
Then Day 1 happened. Sitting in Dr. Michael Stahl’s course during the first week, everything shifted. I realized immediately this was where I was meant to be. It did not take long for my perspective to change entirely. I was not meant to be a coach who understood counseling. I was meant to be a school counselor who coaches.
That realization came from reflecting on the gaps I experienced throughout my own education, from elementary school through college. It also made me fully understand what school counselors truly do: they guide students through uncertainty, advocate for their growth, and help them navigate the moments that shape their future. The American School Counselor Association’s celebration of National School Counseling Week is a reminder of just how essential school counselors are, not only for academic success, but for student confidence, wellbeing, and long-term opportunity.
That mission is exactly what drives Polaris Athlete. We amplify student-athlete success by bridging the gap between academics, athletics, and the college process so families do not have to piece together support from multiple places. Through our College Counseling x NIL Education, student-athletes receive purposeful preparation that builds lifelong confidence. Our partnership with Revolution Prep adds direct academic support through two free hours of tutoring or test prep, helping student-athletes build stronger academic habits and confidence. We also provide guidance around NIL, so student-athletes can understand the evolving landscape, protect their eligibility, and build their brand without losing focus on what matters most.
When I think back to that first day in Dr. Stahl’s class, I realize how much that moment still shapes my purpose today. Polaris Athlete is not a departure from school counseling, it is an extension of it, built to support the people who support student-athletes.
As we prepare to launch the v1 of our web application, we are especially mindful of who this work is meant to serve. This tool is being built to support the work of school counselors by streamlining guidance, reducing fragmentation, and strengthening the systems around student-athletes and their families. This week, we celebrate the school counselors who change lives every day through leadership, advocacy, and care. If you are a school counselor, athletic administrator, coach, or district leader who wants to help shape what comes next, we would love to connect.
Join our early access list for the Polaris Athlete platform and be part of the v1 launch, built to support counselors and elevate student-athletes through every step of their journey!
