Ms. Seithi Guides Students Through Tough Times
Photo Credit: Noelle Dumont
By NOELLE DUMONT
"When one of my students is upset or just now getting in trouble, it's very important that they know that I'm always going to be on their side,” guidance counselor Ms. Prairna Seithi said, “even if they did do something wrong.”
“I'm on your team,” she added. “I also make sure my students are heard, making sure I get the full story and finding a way to make a solution."
Ms. Seithi is one of Midwood’s many counselors on the first floor who offer students someone to come to when they need to talk about their problems, whether they deal with academics, family issues, stress, or personal relationships.
"I like working in this environment because it gives me the chance to see what challenges kids are going through and to think of ways to help them,” she said. “It doesn't always have to do with school work. I'm always there for whatever my students need. I also like working here because it's very well balanced between student or teacher interaction and paperwork."
Ms. Seithi earned her bachelor's degree at New York University, where she majored in psychology. After she graduated, she took some time off to start working.
"I took a year off before going back to school,” she said. “I worked on researching educational policies. After that, I went back to school for my master's degree in counseling." Soon after came her job at Midwood High.
"I got other job offers, but Midwood caught my eye,” she said. “When I was there, I got to see the other counselors, and the diversity between the students and the staff. I thought it was a good fit for me."
During her free time, Ms. Seithi is a big reader. “Just the feeling of enjoying a book when I'm home is great,” she said. “Also, I like to paint, and I recently started learning to cook. I started doing those food in boxes delivery things, where they give you a recipe and all the food components and you have to make it yourself. I really like doing that. I’m learning new things every day."
“Ms. Seithi, is very kind and very cool,” said Cori Vaughn ’23, one of Ms. Seithi's students. “She is there for you whenever you need something or to discuss something. I have two free periods and she'll let me sit in her office if I don't feel like going to the cafeteria or the library, and I could talk with her. If she needs to get a student from their class to talk, I would volunteer to go get that person and bring them back to her office. She's very nice, and I can go to her for anything."
Ms. Seithi is driven to be the kind of counselor she wishes she had back in high school.
"I just remember that when I was in school, I only met with my guidance counselor once for college applications and stuff,” she said. “And it made me realize that I wished I had someone to talk to for my day-to-day problems and the little things I could've needed. So I decided to help kids and give them an opportunity to have a voice."